Built-in or box gutter

Question

I am having a problem with my gutters. I have a mid-century (1952) single story house with an all but flat roof (slight pitch, very slight) and the gutters are not carrying the water all the way along the gutters to the downspout. The water is overflowing the gutter in several locations into the garden creating deep pools. I called several gutter install/repair companies and they said that they don't do Box Gutters (built in's). WHO DO I CALL???  Gutter Specialty Co (if they exist)?  Roofer?  Real Estate Agent (haha)  
Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank-you
(I live in Seattle and so my gutters get used a lot!)

SLS Construction & Building Solutions LLC · Answer

Sorry I don't know who to call in your area, but I would number one check that all the scuppers / downspouts are cleared. next how is the pipe size - large enough to handle / way to enlarge or add more?

As for who to call - find a company that specializes in flat roofs / small commercial. I am sure they can either handle it in-house or have someone they can call

Laurie Logan · Answer

You should also have a gutter pro check the angle on the gutters. There needs to be a slight pitch toward the downspouts to allow the water to flow freely. A perfectly level gutter will only hold the water like a trough. Good luck!

Hope Williams · Answer

Hi Nancy T.  I just googled box gutter repair in Washington.  I got several for you:  www.jhgutters.com,   www.hhgutterservice.com,   Renton Gutter Repair, and Cascade Gutter Services.  Give them a call and if they are not servicing your area, get recommendations for someone who is.  These were all on Angie's list.

Johnchip · Answer

This is a roofer/carpentry issue. It can be done and should not be that expensive to open it all up a bit more to get the proper drainage. Some will want to rip it all out and re-do. Skip them!

Jim Saurman · Answer

I would agree with SLS, the gutters or downspouts are clogged with leaves or some other foreign object. Laurie is correct that the gutters need to have a downward angle, but I'm sure that the builder installed them with a proper angle, so I doubt that is the issue. If the angle was the problem, that would have been noticed within months of when the house was originally built. This sounds like something that has just cropped up recently so I doubt the angle or pipe size is the issue, really has to be a clog of some sort. Someone needs to go up on the roof and assess the situation. Most clogs can be cleared with not much effort, scoop the leaves out by hand and blast it out with a garden hose if needed, it's not difficult.

Nancy T · Answer

Thanks Laurie, that's what I was wondering about. I wonder why they built them so flat?

Nancy T · Answer

Thanks Jim, We do live in the PNW and so we have A LOT of pine trees that shed all year long. I guess I'll just have to get someone up on the roof and get to work clearing them. My husband swears that they should be fine because he cleaned them in September but obviously that isn't as often as they need cleaned. Thanks again

Dot D Collett · Answer

Nancy, if your husband does like cleaning gutters every couple of months, perhaps gutter screens would work. More downspouts with an underground drain field might also be the solution. Those deep pools could be filled in regularly or raised to shed the rain water.

Teresa · Answer

You could use a regular gutter and box it in with plastic wood. We live in Oregon and have had to use this product for areas where there is a lot of weather up by our gutters. Its a PVC type of product and looks like wood and coming in white and can be painted if you want. You can find it a Home Depot or other Home improvement stores.

Kristen Rikli · Answer

Without a doubt, they would need to be cleaned. Depending upon how many trees you have near your home, you may need to have this done: Once a year for one tree, or if you have a couple trees, but they're not close to the house. I can see trees in your picture so I would suggest at a minimum, once a year. You may need to do it a couple times a year if you have quite a few trees. Once in the spring, and once, or twice (for many trees) when the leaves have dropped from the trees in the fall. 
I would call roofers, and ask if they clean gutters. Some will, some won't. Just about anyone can do it.
You'll want to make sure you are getting this done though, because having your gutters full of wet debris could cause some damage from all of the moisture and from the weight of the gutters, to the roof
It's not at all too difficult to do yourself. Since your roof isn't that high or pitched, you could get on the roof and do it from there. Otherwise from a sturdy ladder. You could buy a nice ladder and end up saving money if you did it yourself. You can dig it all out by hand, putting it in a bucket, and have someone help by dumping the bucket as needed, and also watching the ladder. Then spray the remaining debris with a hose. You could get them done quick with a jet spray, but if you don't get some of it out by hand first, it's likely to dump it up and over the gutters, and all over your yard.
You can buy gutter guards and either install them yourself, or have a roofer install them. There are holes in them to allow water to drain in them from the roof. However, the holes are big enough to allow seeds, and other small debris in too, so you will have to check them annually to see if they're getting plugged up, and it would be a good idea to hose the small debris out annually as well.

Nancy T · Answer

Thanks so much for the information. I really appreciate it and will look into calling a roofer ASAP.
Thanks again

DORLIS · Answer

I would start with a roofer and short of fixing them, create rain gardens in the spots where the water sits. Dig out a trench so it slants away from the house and leads to an area where it can sit. Then plant flowers that like a bog condition like Japanese iris, cardinal flowers and make a lovely garden there.

DORLIS · Answer

If you do not like cleaning gutters, hire some teenagers (i you have any willing to work) to clean them. They are better able to work at heights. I am 75 and cannot do gutters nay more so I got a couple of teens from church who love to climb ladders, etc.

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