What we saw → Gutters pulling away or sagging
Gutters pulling away or sagging
Photo to come
What it looks like
- A gutter line that dips between the corners instead of running straight.
- A gap opening between the back of the gutter and the fascia board.
- Hangers or spikes backing out of the wood.
What causes it
- Hanger spacing and metal thickness. Wide hanger spacing is faster and cheaper to install, and it is the most common cause.
- Thin gutter distorts under a winter’s ice load, pulls away from the fascia and works the hanger loose.
- A ladder leaned against thin gutter dents it.
- Rotted fascia can’t hold a fastener.
What it leads to
- Once the pitch is off, the gutter holds standing water, which makes it heavier — and the next winter is worse.
- Standing water in a gutter means weight, mosquitoes and faster failure.
How we fix it
- A new seamless .032 aluminum gutter — significantly sturdier, and it holds a fastener. See gutters.
- Hanger spacing sized for the span and the ice load.
- Hangers go into sound fascia. If the fascia needs work, it goes on the contract, priced, before any work goes ahead.
Questions and answers
Why do gutters sag?
Hanger spacing and metal thickness. Wide hanger spacing is faster and cheaper to install and is the most common cause. Thin gutter distorts under a winter’s ice load, pulls away from the fascia and works the hanger loose. Once the pitch is off the gutter holds standing water, which makes it heavier, and the next winter is worse.