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Discussion Forum

slope for gutters?

hmj | Posted in General Discussion on September 21, 2007 02:14am

What is the recommended slope for rain gutters? The ones I am looking at drop 1 1/4 or 1.5 inches over 24ft. Is that enough? Thanks

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Replies

  1. User avater
    DDay | Sep 21, 2007 02:16am | #1

    how large of a roof is the gutter handling?

    1. hmj | Sep 21, 2007 02:35am | #2

      These are on a garage, each side of the roof is ~ 320 sf

  2. User avater
    Sphere | Sep 21, 2007 02:39am | #3

    1/8th pr ft of run, depending on how long it is and where the drops are,and what size the gutter and drops are.

    Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

    "If you want something you've never had, do something you've never done"

    1. CAGIV | Sep 21, 2007 03:48am | #4

      theoretical question...

      why does a gutter need a slope?

      If you had proper sized gutters and down spouts wouldn't it self-flow?

      As the water flow's down the down-spout it would flow on its own as the level dropped.

      I guess it's not that theoretical of a question, I know at least one gutter company here that puts the gutters on dead level and has for years.

      It's not the company we use, but I assume if they had problems with them, they' change their policy

       

      1. User avater
        Sphere | Sep 21, 2007 03:55am | #5

        You can install dead level. We often have to stretch out a long run with slope/level/slope/level.  But dead level will eventually have lull spots where it will cause a sag, a snag, a freeze or a clump of crud.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

        "If you want something you've never had, do something you've never done"

      2. Lapun | Sep 21, 2007 01:01pm | #7

        A positive in favour of a minimum fall in rainwater plumbing is the elimination of ponding, in which nasties, such as mosquitos can breed. Some very undesirable viruses are contracted by householders in this manner. I vote for intentional falls on rainwater eaves guttering.Lapun.

        1. DanH | Sep 21, 2007 01:31pm | #8

          Yeah, but it gets so cold up there in intentional falls that the water freezes.
          If your view never changes you're following the wrong leader

          1. Lapun | Sep 21, 2007 01:40pm | #9

            Dan,
            thanks for pointing out that mosquitos are not likely to breed in frozen pools of gutter ponding. Those of us who do not have to endure that kind of weather are inclined to overlook such details.But we do have experience of malaria, dengue, and Ross River fevers, and are not keen to see others share those delights.Lapun.

      3. User avater
        JeffBuck | Sep 22, 2007 06:56am | #14

        dirt ... leaves ... and bird poop build up on sunny days.

        Jeff    Buck Construction

         Artistry In Carpentry

             Pittsburgh Pa

  3. DanH | Sep 21, 2007 05:46am | #6

    1/8 inch per foot is the standard. Can be stretched a bit in long runs, especially if leaves aren't a problem.

    If your view never changes you're following the wrong leader
  4. Hackinatit | Sep 21, 2007 02:22pm | #10

    how ever much the house is tilting...

    ;-)

    Troy Sprout

    "A free people ought not only to be armed and disciplined, but they should also have sufficient arms and ammunition to maintain a status of independence from any who might attempt to abuse them, which would include their own government."
    -- George Washington

    1. User avater
      Sphere | Sep 22, 2007 01:42am | #11

      Funny you say that. I wanted my 42' length to mostly dump out the east side, I have a water trough there close to a garden..I wanted to get as much rain runoff as I could in the trough.

      Well, my house had other ideas..a built in 3" drop to the WEST...arrrggghh. So, I high centered the gutter and off set it as far as I could to the west, and by the time I got to the trough end, I am 3'' below the drip edge..LOL

      Luckily, it's out back and no one can really see it well.  But I got water by gad!Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

      "If you want something you've never had, do something you've never done"

      1. Hackinatit | Sep 22, 2007 04:48am | #12

        I got 2" in 32'...

        Gravity wonTroy Sprout

        "A free people ought not only to be armed and disciplined, but they should also have sufficient arms and ammunition to maintain a status of independence from any who might attempt to abuse them, which would include their own government." -- George Washington

  5. User avater
    RichBeckman | Sep 22, 2007 05:16am | #13

    "The ones I am looking at drop 1 1/4 or 1.5 inches over 24ft. Is that enough?"

    If the downspout is at the low end and you want the water out, then that should work fine.

    or....

    If the downspout is at the high end and the gutter is there to hold water for the rooftop live stock, then the slope is insufficient. Very little livestock can be watered with what would be held by such a set up.

    :)

    Rich Beckman

    Proprietor, Beckman's Rooftop Ranch and Bordello

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