Gutters do not get the respect they deserve. They are not glamorous, nobody posts about them on social media, and most homeowners only think about them when something goes wrong. But poorly installed or undersized gutters cause more water damage to Alpharetta homes than most people realize, and much of it is completely preventable.
We see the consequences of bad gutter installation work every week: eroded landscaping, stained siding, flooded crawl spaces, and foundation damage that costs thousands to address. So let’s talk about what actually matters when it comes to gutters and what the typical homeowner gets wrong.
The biggest gutter mistake: choosing the wrong size
Most residential gutters in Alpharetta are 5-inch K-style, which is the standard builder-grade option. For many homes, this is perfectly adequate. But for homes with steep roof pitches, large roof areas, or valley concentration points that funnel heavy water flow into specific sections of gutter, 5-inch gutters simply cannot handle the volume during a serious Georgia downpour.
We regularly get called to homes where the gutters are overflowing despite being clean and in good condition. The homeowner thinks the gutters are clogged, but the real problem is capacity. When your roof collects hundreds of gallons of water during a heavy storm and channels it through valleys into a few concentrated collection points, a 5-inch gutter at that location fills up and overflows.
The solution: 6-inch gutters on sections that handle high water volume. The difference in material cost between 5-inch and 6-inch is modest, but the difference in performance during heavy rain is dramatic. We size gutters based on the actual roof area draining into each section, not just the linear footage of the roofline.
Pitch matters more than most people think
Gutters need to slope toward the downspouts so water flows and does not stand. The correct pitch is roughly 1/4 inch per 10 feet of gutter run. That is not much, and it should be invisible from the ground - if you can see your gutters sloping, they are pitched too steeply.
But here is where problems develop: many gutter installers use a one-size-fits-all approach and do not verify that every section is actually draining after installation. Sections that are too flat create standing water that breeds mosquitoes, adds weight to the gutter, and accelerates corrosion. Sections that are too steep look awkward and can cause water to overshoot the gutter during heavy flow.
What to check on your existing gutters: After a rain, look for sections where water is standing instead of draining. If you see standing water 30 minutes after the rain stops, those sections need adjustment.
Downspout placement: the most overlooked factor
You can have perfectly sized, perfectly pitched gutters and still have water problems if the downspouts are in the wrong locations or there are not enough of them. The general rule is one downspout for every 30-40 linear feet of gutter, but this assumes uniform water distribution, which rarely exists on real roofs.
In practice, downspouts need to be placed where the water actually concentrates. A 25-foot section of gutter that catches runoff from a major valley needs a downspout more than a 50-foot section on a side of the house with a simple roof slope.
Where the water goes after the downspout matters too. Downspouts that dump water right next to your foundation are not solving a problem - they are relocating it. Every downspout should discharge water at least 4-6 feet away from the foundation, either through extensions, splash blocks, or underground drain lines. In Alpharetta neighborhoods with clay soil, which drains slowly, this becomes especially important because water sits against the foundation longer.
Seamless vs. sectional gutters
Sectional gutters come in 10-foot pieces that are connected with joints. Seamless gutters are fabricated from continuous coils of aluminum to the exact length of each gutter run, with joints only at corners and downspout connections.
For Alpharetta homes, we strongly recommend seamless gutters for one simple reason: every joint is a potential leak point. Georgia’s temperature swings cause metal to expand and contract, and over time, sectional gutter joints work loose and begin to drip. Those drips hit the fascia board behind the gutter, and because the fascia stays wet between rain events, rot develops.
Seamless gutters cost modestly more than sectional, but they have fewer failure points and last significantly longer. The investment pays for itself in reduced maintenance and fewer leak-related repairs.
The gutter guard conversation
Gutter guards are a polarizing topic. Some homeowners swear by them, others have spent money on guards that made their gutter problems worse. Here is an honest assessment:
What gutter guards do well: They keep large debris like leaves and twigs out of your gutters, reducing the frequency of cleaning needed. For homes surrounded by pine trees (common throughout Alpharetta), guards can make a real difference in maintenance.
What gutter guards do not do: They do not eliminate the need for gutter maintenance entirely. Fine debris like shingle granules, pine needles, and pollen can still accumulate on top of or within certain guard types, creating a different kind of blockage. And some guard designs restrict water intake during heavy rain, causing overflow on the very storms when you need your gutters most.
Our recommendation: If you get gutter guards, choose a micro-mesh style that allows high water flow while blocking debris. Avoid solid-top designs that rely on surface tension to guide water into a narrow opening - these fail during heavy downpours, which is exactly when functional gutters matter most. And budget for annual maintenance regardless of what any salesperson tells you.
When to replace vs. when to repair gutters
Gutters do not last forever, but they do last longer than many homeowners expect when properly maintained. Aluminum gutters typically provide 20-30 years of service. Here is when repair makes sense versus replacement:
Repair if:
- Individual sections are damaged but the overall system is sound
- A few joints have started leaking but the gutter material is in good condition — a straightforward gutter repair
- Hangers have pulled loose from the fascia (usually a hanger issue, not a gutter issue)
Replace if:
- Multiple sections show extensive corrosion or holes
- The gutters have pulled away from the house due to fascia rot behind them
- You are replacing your roof (this is the ideal time to upgrade gutters since the roofer already has access to the eaves)
- Your current gutters are undersized for your roof’s water management needs
The best time to address gutter issues is during a roof project. The gutters typically come off anyway during roof replacement, so upgrading the gutter system at the same time adds minimal labor cost compared to doing it as a separate project later.
Ready for New Gutters? Contact Best Alpharetta Roofer
Whether you need a complete gutter system for a new build or your existing gutters are overflowing and undersized, we can help you choose the right solution for your home. Best Alpharetta Roofer has serviced 2,473+ roofs across Alpharetta and North Metro Atlanta since 2016. Call (470) 888-0030 for a free gutter assessment or schedule your estimate online.
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