How to Keep Your Gutters From Sagging

Knowing the most common reasons for a sagging gutter is useful to help prevent this from ever happening. So here we explain some of the most common problems homeowners face.


Choosing the Wrong Kind of Gutter 

Gutters help divert rainwater away from your home’s foundation and roof, but to do that, they would need to support the combined weight of water, as well as any debris, washed away by the rain. Sections of your gutter system will start to sag if: 


The gutters aren’t the right size – A standard gutter system measures 5 inches long and 6 inches wide while standard downspouts are 2 x 3 inches or 3 x 4 inches in length and width and 3 or 4 inches in diameter. However, there is no one-size-fits-all approach in home improvements, and your gutters are no exception. The correct size of your gutters will ultimately depend on the amount of rainfall your area receives. In general, the higher the slope of your roof is, the faster water slides down, the larger your gutters need to be. 
The gutter material isn’t suited to the area – Of course, even a correctly sized gutter system won’t be able to handle the combined weight load of water and debris if it’s made of flimsy material. Not to mention climate conditions can affect the durability of your gutters. That’s why you should always do your research before choosing a gutter system. 


Flimsy Gutter Support 


The gutter hangers or mounting system are just as important as the size and type of the gutter system you install. Without a sturdy support system, sections of your gutters might begin to sag or end up collapsing altogether. As such, homeowners should at least have a basic understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of the different kinds of gutter hangers. 


To help you get started, here’s an overview: 


Spikes and ferrules – As the name suggests, this type of gutter hanger uses a spike driven through a metal tube to attach the gutter to the fascia board or the long, narrow board at the edge of your roof. Spikes and ferrules are fairly easy to install and relatively inexpensive. However, since metal contracts and expands depending on the temperature, spikes and ferrules can become loose after summer or winter. 
Brackets and straps – Usually paired with half-round-gutters, bracket-and-strap hangers wrap themselves around your gutters, providing sturdy support. The manner in which they’re attached to your gutters also makes them resistant to thermal movement. 
Hidden hangers – This type of hanger is screwed to the fascia board from inside the gutters, which is why homeowners who are quite particular with their facade prefer them. 


Poor Installation Work  

Choosing the wrong sort of gutter or adding the wrong size gutters and flimsy gutter hangers—these are all beginner mistakes that no professional serviceman would make. Usually, these are also the kind of mistakes DIYers make. 

Aside from using the wrong type of materials, amateurs often space the gutter hangers too far apart. It doesn’t matter if they’re putting up the right kind of gutter. If the hangers are spaced more than three feet apart, sections of the gutters will begin to sag. Unless you had prior professional experience working on home improvement projects, it’s best to leave gutters to professionals with a little more experience. If you'd like to learn more about gutter repair Montgomery Gutter Installation Service can help you out.