How far should gutters extend past the house?

I did an inspection last week on a new home and put in my report, “The leaders do not extend a minimum of 6 feet from the foundation and 10 feet is preferred. One problem you may find is that your shingles extend too far out at the base of your roof. Shingle installation guides usually state that the shingles should extend no more than ½ inch to ¾ inch beyond the drip edge of the roof flashing. In many markets, drip edges aren’t code, which means they’re not required.

In these cases, roofers may install shingles deep into the gutters. This can lead to sections of gutter filled with debris and trapped pools of water. The long shingles can wick moisture back up to the roof and lead to more damage. Just extend the downspout location over the roof to move the flow of water straight into the lower gutter system.

Few homes can handle the appearance of anything larger than a 6 inch, commercial-sized gutter, so these wider rain gutters may not suit your home. It is common for homeowners who install gutters themselves to leave too big of a gap between the roof and the siding. Rather than let them drape into the gutter trough, you may want to have your gutter installer trim the shingles back. 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.

Your home’s architecture and the local climate also play a large role in determining the correct size and positioning of gutters. If gutters are not attached in the right spot on the edge of your roof, water will not be redirected through your downspouts. Well, if you didn’t know already, now you’ve got some real examples of gutter-related issues to consider when installing new gutters. Rain gutters are essential to preventing structural issues that could jeopardize the stability of your foundation.

There are so many options when it comes to choosing gutters for installation that it can be overwhelming to choose what you want. When there are errors caused while the seams are screwed in place or the placement of hangers is incorrect, the gutters can become unstable causing them to tilt forward or begin sagging after a while. We create custom seamless gutters that are hand-crafted on-site with meticulous attention to detail so they will perfectly fit your home. Determining the pitch, dimensions, and length the gutters need to extend past your roof is a complicated process.

References: