Roof Slope Gutter Clearance

You can measure pitch with a 2 foot level and a tape measure.

Roof slope gutter clearance.

Required clearance of gutter below extended roof line roof pitch clearance below extended roof line 0 in 12 2 in 12 1 3 in 12 5 in 12 6 in 12 8 in 12 9 in 12 or greater. It depends on who you ask this question. Slope the gutter down form there towards the spout. 12 in 12 or higher 1 3 9 in 12 to 11 in 12 1 2 6 in 12 to 8 in 12 1 1 4 in 12 to 5 in 12 1 05 flat to 3 in 12 1.

It s usually expressed as a number that looks like a fraction such as 1 12 for a very shallow roof or 18 12 for one that s very steep. If the gutter slope isn t properly positioned it will pool in the system and spill over the sides. As a general rule gutter slope is set at 1 4 inch per 10 feet of guttering. Below the projected roof plane.

For a 1 12 roof for every 1 foot it rises vertically it runs 12 feet horizontally. For a steeper 7 in 12 pitch 1 2 in. Water will blow in there and rot the timber facia. Roof pitch is very important for right roof gutter sizing.

Hold one end of the level against the roof level it and then measure the distance between the roof and the underside of the level at its midpoint which gives you a 12 inch run. Not only do your gutters need sloped at a precise angle but the downspouts need specific direction as well. The distance below the projected roof plane varies with pitch. This means the downspout end of the gutter should be set 3 4 of an inch lower than the other end.

The angle of a roof on a house is referred to as the roof pitch. For example if you have 30 feet of guttering the calculation is 1 4 x 3 0 75 i e. Roof pitch roof pitch factor. There is no building code citation that forbids a gutter from draining onto a lower roof.

The general rule is to slope the gutters at 1 4 th inch per 10 feet of gutters. So it s a matter of what the home inspector or contractor considers acceptable. For a gently sloped 5 in 12 pitch place the front lip of the gutter 3 4 in. If the slope is slanted too sharply the gutters can t function at full capacity.

Start at the highest point with the back of the gutter as high as it will go up against the bottom of the slate or tile or galvanised iron roof. If the run is long you may need flashing to cover the exposed part of the facia. Generally a contractor that drains a gutter onto a lower roof will say that it is an industry standard whereas a contractor that rants against it will say that it s not best building practice. The numbers indicate the rise of the roof over it s run.