How to fix gutter sloping?

flummoxed01

hi all

i’ve beent trying to work out best way to reslope gutter (just one side) water banks up towards the other end away from down pipe..i have cleaned, pressure washed and tested..its definitely sloped away from downpipe.

What’s best way to adjust it? How do you remove internal brackets holding them up? I am pretty handy with tools etc..just need to know best way to go about it.

Thanks.

EricL

Hello @flummoxed01

From your photo, it does look like the gutter is holding water even though it's clean, which is a good indication that the fall is incorrect rather than a blockage. The internal brackets you've shown are concealed gutter brackets, and they don't simply unclip from underneath. They are usually screwed into the fascia through the top of the bracket, with the gutter hooked over the front lip of the bracket.

If it's only one side of the house, the easiest method is usually to remove the gutter from the brackets rather than trying to remove each bracket individually. Start by removing the end cap if needed and disconnecting any joints or the downpipe. The gutter can then be lifted to unhook it from the concealed brackets. Once it's off, establish the correct fall by running a string line from the high end to the downpipe. You're only aiming for a very slight slope. As a guide, the gutter should drop about 2mm for every metre towards the downpipe. Over a 10-metre run, that's only around 20mm of total fall, so it doesn't take much to get the water flowing in the right direction.

You can then loosen the screws holding each concealed bracket to the fascia, move them up or down to the string line, tighten them back up, and finally clip the gutter back into place.

If the brackets are older or difficult to release, a gutter removal tool can make the job much easier, but many people simply use a flat screwdriver to carefully lift the locking tab while pulling the gutter forward. Take your time so you don't bend the front edge of the gutter.

From what I can see, your gutter appears to be in reasonable condition, so correcting the bracket heights should solve the ponding without needing to replace the gutter itself.

Let me call on our experienced members @Dave-1, @Nailbag, @Noyade and @DIY4Knuckleheds for their recommendations.

Please remember to wear personal protection such as gloves and goggles.

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric