Guttering Between Two Pitched Roofs

If there s standing water it s not pitched properly.

Guttering between two pitched roofs.

The detail can be formed using preformed polymer based products traditional lead work or more modern lead replacement flashings. To correct this yourself you ll need to measure from the peak to the downspout. Get on a ladder after a rainstorm and look in the gutter. They ll cost more and probably require a custom order through a professional installer.

The steeper a roof s pitch the more windblown rain it can collect. Roof pitch is very important for right roof gutter sizing. The valley gutter problem areas can be made worse where there are surrounding trees and associated leaves and branches that can block the valley gutters up. Gutters need to be pitched toward the downspouts for the water to flow properly.

Valley gutters are generally considered to be a problem area. Get 7 or 8 inch gutters. For example between a double lapped plain tile and a single lapped large format interlocking tile. Increase the pitch of the gutter.

A bonding gutter refers to a detail which weathers the vertical junction between different roof coverings. Pitched roofs have peaks and valleys that direct water downward in very specific directions. 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. A 5 inch gap for instance is a 5 in 12 pitch.

Once you know pitch you can find your roof pitch factor in the table below. Increasing the pitch increases a gutter s handling capacity but the gutter may look askew over a long run. Flat roofs operate with the same basic principle but of course their lower angles mean that gravity isn t quite as effective in shedding water rapidly. You can measure pitch with a 2 foot level and a tape measure.

Take one look at a pitched roof versus a flat roof and the structural differences are quite obvious.