Everyone in Lawrence blames the big, obvious villains:
- the 90-year-old pin oak that drops limbs
- the golf-ball hail in May
- the 65-mph straight-line winds
But after 15+ years of climbing Lawrence roofs, we can tell you the quiet killer that actually causes more long-term damage than all of those combined:
Improper gutter pitch (slope) — or more accurately, sections of gutter that secretly slope the wrong way.
It’s the mistake we find on 6 out of every 10 homes we inspect in Old West Lawrence, East Lawrence, Oread, and the older parts of West Lawrence. And once it’s there, it quietly destroys your roof, fascia, soffit, and even interior walls for years before anyone notices.
How One Tiny Slope Problem Becomes a Roof Nightmare
Gutters are supposed to slope ¼ inch per 10 feet toward the downspout. When they don’t:
- Water pools in the low spot instead of draining
- In winter → standing water freezes solid → ice backs up under shingles (instant ice dams even on properly ventilated roofs)
- In summer → mosquito breeding + constant moisture against fascia = rot in 3–5 years
- Year-round → overflow pours directly behind the gutter, soaking the fascia board and roof edge
We regularly find fascia boards on Massachusetts Street and Tennessee Street homes that are literally mush behind perfectly good-looking aluminum gutters — all because one 8-foot section was accidentally pitched ⅛ inch backward when it was installed (or sagged that way over time).
Real Lawrence Examples We’ve Seen This Year Alone
- 1898 Victorian on Rhode Island Street: “No hail damage in 15 years,” the homeowner bragged. Then we pulled the gutter and found the entire fascia board rotted through because the middle 12 feet of gutter sloped backward. $11,000 repair.
- 1960s ranch in Hillcrest: Owner paid for gutter guards twice. Water still overflowed every rain. One section had zero pitch for 20 feet. New gutters + fascia repair = $4,800 he could have avoided.
- Craftsman bungalow on Louisiana Street: Ice dams every winter despite R-60 attic insulation. Rear gutter sloped toward the house instead of the downspout. Fixed the pitch + added heat cable = no ice dams last winter.
The 3 Most Common Ways Lawrence Gutters End Up Pitched Wrong
- DIY or low-bid installs that never used a level (shocking how often this happens)
- Hangers installed too far apart → gutter sags in the middle over time
- Old spike-and-ferrule systems that pull loose and twist the gutter backward
How to Check Your Own Gutters in 5 Minutes (Do This Today)
- Wait for the next steady rain (or use a garden hose).
- Stand back and watch every section of gutter.
- If you see water standing more than ½ inch deep anywhere after the rain stops → you have reverse pitch.
- Look for dark water stains running down the fascia directly behind the gutter — classic sign water is overflowing the back edge.
The Fix Is Simpler (and Cheaper) Than You Think — If You Catch It Early
- Minor sag: Re-hang with hidden hangers every 24 inches + re-pitch
- Major reverse slope: Full gutter replacement with proper ¼-inch-per-10 pitch (usually $12–$18 per linear foot in Lawrence)
- Add oversized 3×4 downspouts and micro-mesh guards while you’re at it — Lawrence oaks and maples demand it
Do nothing? That $800 “gutter problem” turns into a $8,000–$15,000 fascia + roof-edge replacement in 3–7 years.
Stop the Silent Killer Before It Costs You Thousands
Trees and hail get all the headlines, but improper gutter pitch is the slow-motion disaster that destroys more Lawrence roofs than every storm combined.
Contact Summit Roofing today for a free gutter-pitch and fascia inspection. We bring a 4-foot level and a thermal camera — we’ll show you exactly where water is pooling or overflowing the back of your gutters before it rots your house from the top down.
Because in Lawrence, the most expensive roof damage usually starts with the cheapest part of the system.
Don’t wait for the fascia to turn to oatmeal. Message or call us today — we’ll check your pitch for free and tell you straight whether you’re safe or one winter away from disaster.
