To fix a sagging gutter, clear the debris weighing it down, check the fascia for rot, remove failed spikes or hangers, then install hidden hangers every 24 inches (closer under heavy trees) with long screws driven into solid fascia or rafter tails, setting the run back to a slope of about a quarter inch per 10 feet toward the downspout.
Step by step
Empty the gutter
Wet debris adds a lot of weight. Clean the run before adjusting it.
Inspect the fascia
Press the fascia with a screwdriver. Soft or crumbling wood must be replaced or no fastener will hold.
Remove failed fasteners
Pull loose spikes and ferrules or broken hangers.
Set the slope
Snap a chalk line along the fascia that drops about a quarter inch per 10 feet toward the downspout.
Install hidden hangers
Place hangers every 24 inches, or every 18 inches under heavy trees, and drive screws into solid wood.
Water-test
Run a hose at the far end and confirm water flows to the downspout without pooling.
Common causes of sagging
- Old spike-and-ferrule fasteners that work loose over time
- Hangers spaced too far apart for the debris and water load
- Rotted fascia from years of overflow
- Ice and heavy wet needle mats in winter
- Ladders leaned directly against the gutter
When sagging means a bigger problem
If the fascia behind the gutter is soft along long stretches, water has been getting behind the gutter for a while. Plan on fascia repair and consider new seamless gutters with proper drip edge so the problem does not return.
Frequently asked questions
How far apart should gutter hangers be?
Every 24 inches is standard. Under heavy conifers or in ice-prone areas like the Gorge, 18 inches adds strength.
Can a sagging gutter be fixed without replacing it?
Usually yes, if the gutter itself is not bent or rusted and the fascia is solid.
Need a hand?
- Gutter Repair: Leaking seams, sagging runs, loose hangers, bad slope and crushed downspouts fixed in one visit.
- Gutter Replacement: Old, rusted or undersized gutters torn off and replaced with properly sized seamless runs.
- Gutter Cleaning: Hand-cleaned gutters, flushed downspouts, roof edge cleared and everything bagged and hauled away.