How Far Should Gutters Extend Past Your Roof?

Installing gutters for your home may seem like a straightforward enough task. However, it can be quite an involved process that requires precision and attention to detail. As a homeowner, it is important to consider everything from the size of your gutters to the materials that will be used.

Most homeowners understand the purpose of rain gutters: they catch rainwater from your roof and redirect it down a drainage path to prevent excess water from pooling around the foundation of your home. Rain gutters are essential to preventing structural issues that could jeopardize the stability of your foundation. What many homeowners don’t know is that if the wrong gutter size is installed, it can cause major damage to your foundation and walls.

Determining the right gutter size, dimensions can be difficult. How far should gutters extend past your roof and house? Luckily, you’re not alone in the process. We have created a comprehensive guide that discusses a variety of important factors to consider when installing rain gutters at your home.

Determining the Size of Your Gutters

One of the most important details in installing gutters is nailing their positioning. If the gap between the roof, gutters, and the siding is too large, it can lead to spills, peeling paint, and possible roof and fascia damage.

Your home’s architecture and the local climate also play a large role in determining the correct size and positioning of gutters. It is common for homeowners who attempt do-it-yourself (DIY) gutter installation to have too large of a gap between the gutters and the roof.

To avoid this problem, our team of professionals utilize the following guidelines when performing gutter installation services:

• Gutters Should Extend Slightly Beyond the Edge of Your Roof Shingles: Three-fourths of the gutter’s width should extend past your roof’s shingles to catch water and redirect it through the downspouts.
• The Gutter Needs to be 2-3 Inches Away from the Edge of Your Roof: While 2-3 inches away from the roof is a good rule of thumb, the exact number is determined by the pitch of your roof and where the downspouts are placed. If you are struggling to determine exactly where to place your gutters, don’t hesitate to get in touch with one of our contractors who can help you ensure that your gutters are installed correctly.
• Make Sure There is a Slight Slope in Gutter System: Properly installed gutters will be slightly inclined with a slope of about half of an inch toward the downspouts for every ten feet. On average, the length of a gutter will be around 20 feet. However, this varies by house.
• Ensure Proper Gutter Placement: The gutter needs to sit behind the drip edge to stop water from flowing through the gap and into your home’s siding.

The Importance of Measuring Properly

Neglecting to follow any of the steps mentioned above will cause water to go behind the gutters. This means that your home’s walls and foundation will get soaked every time it rains. This can lead to expensive damage, so it’s important to get it right.

Another problem caused by improper gutter measurement is roof damage. If gutters are not attached in the right spot on the edge of your roof, water will not be redirected through your downspouts. This can lead to yet another very expensive and annoying headache: rotten roof fascia.

An overly slanted gutter with too many seams is an additional problem that plagues many do-it-yourself (DIY) gutter installations. When seams are not screwed into place properly or the placement of the gutter hangers is incorrect, the gutters will become unstable with time causing them to tilt upward or begin to sag.

Sagging gutters and the other issues mentioned above are only a few reasons why it is critical to ensure that your gutters are measured, fitted, and installed correctly.

Read More: My Home Was Built Without Gutters. Should I Invest in Them?

3 Mistakes to Avoid When Installing Rain Gutters

You can save yourself a lot of time and money by making sure your rain gutters are installed properly.

Here are a few mistakes that can be avoided when you rely on a professional to install your gutters:

1. Choosing the Wrong Type or Size for Your Rain Gutters

There are several small but critical factors to pay attention to when installing rain gutters. These include the size of your house, how much rainfall you get each year, and the pitch you plan to use.

You will also have a whole slew of materials to choose from including aluminum, zinc, vinyl, steel, and copper. It is important to be meticulous and pay attention to detail when making these seemingly small decisions about your gutters.

2. Using too Many Seams

Rain gutters are only as strong as their seams, and seams are extremely fragile and easily broken. For this reason, you will want to keep the number of seams you use to a minimum.

When you choose to work with the team of professionals at Ned Stevens, you will receive a beautiful seamless gutter system that is designed to resist water leaks and other issues. A seamless system is appealing to many homeowners because it is low-maintenance, easier to install, has fewer leaks, and has a longer lifespan before needing to be replaced.

3. Improper Hanger Spacing

Spacers mount the gutters to your home. A common mistake many homeowners make is spacing them too far apart. This can lead to a slight sag in your rain gutters, which in turn creates pools of water that can separate the rain gutters from your home causing further issues.

Gutter hangers should be placed every three feet for proper support, and even closer if you live in a cold climate that gets a lot of ice and snow.

Our Team of Professionals Offer Custom Seamless Gutter Installation Services for Homes Across the Nation

As discussed above, rain gutter installation is a lot more complicated than it may seem. Determining the pitch, dimensions, and length the gutters need to extend past your roof is a complicated process. This is why you will ultimately save yourself a lot of time and money by hiring our team of professionals.

With 60 years of experience under the belt, the team at Ned Stevens have satisfied countless homeowners. Our technicians are committed to providing superior gutter installation services in Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and other areas across the county.

hHomeowners experience a wide array of different climates and weather conditions throughout the year which makes choosing the right gutters and installing them properly a very complicated task. Luckily, our specialized team of experts is there to help you navigate the entire process from start to finish.

We create custom seamless gutters that are hand-crafted on-site with meticulous attention to detail so they will perfectly fit your home. You can even choose from our selection of over ten different gutter colors so your system will seamlessly blend into your home. We’re so confident that you’ll be pleased with our service that we guarantee all materials for 20 years and workmanship is guaranteed for a year. Contact our team at (888) 616-3307 to receive support with installing new gutters.