Have you noticed if the gutters are clear too? Even a slight blockage can back things up and mimic slope issues. Had a client once who thought the pitch was off, turned out leaves were the culprit...
Good point about the gutters—have you checked the downspouts too? I've found sometimes the gutters look clear, but the downspouts are clogged halfway down with pine needles or debris. Had a similar issue a couple years back, thought it was a roofing slope problem because water kept pooling weirdly. Turned out to be a baseball-sized clump of leaves and twigs jammed deep in the downspout. Cleared that out, and suddenly everything drained perfectly.
Also, have you noticed any sagging or loose brackets on the gutters themselves? Even a slight dip can cause water to pool and overflow, making it seem like your roof's pitch is off. Might be worth a quick walk-around to check for any subtle signs of sagging or loose screws...
Good catch on the downspouts—those sneaky clogs halfway down can definitely mess things up. Had a tenant once who insisted the roof was angled wrong because water kept spilling over in one spot. Turns out, just like you said, it was a hidden wad of leaves and dirt stuck deep inside. I'd also second checking for brackets or sagging gutters; even a tiny dip can cause weird pooling issues that look like bigger roofing problems...worth double-checking before calling in the pros.
"even a tiny dip can cause weird pooling issues that look like bigger roofing problems"
This is exactly what happened to me last spring. I noticed water spilling over one corner and thought my roof was toast. Turned out the gutter had a slight sag—fixed it myself with new brackets, problem solved. Have you checked yours closely yet?
Had a similar issue at one of the properties I manage last year. Tenant called me in a panic, convinced the roof was about to cave in because water was cascading down the siding after every rainstorm. I climbed up there expecting the worst, mentally preparing for a hefty repair bill... and found nothing but a gutter that had pulled away slightly from the fascia board. It was literally just a half-inch gap causing all that drama.
It's funny how gutters can trick you into thinking your roof is on its last legs. Even a tiny misalignment or sagging bracket can cause water to pool and overflow in weird spots, making it look like you've got serious structural issues when it's really just gravity doing its thing.
If you haven't already, I'd suggest grabbing a ladder (carefully!) and checking along the gutter line for any dips or loose brackets. Sometimes it's not even obvious until you're right up close—especially if leaves or debris have built up over time. A quick clean-out and tightening of brackets usually does the trick. If brackets are rusted or bent, swapping them out is pretty straightforward too.
Also worth checking downspouts while you're at it—I've seen some bizarre blockages over the years (tennis balls, bird nests, even an action figure once... don't ask). Blocked downspouts can back things up quickly and cause overflow issues that mimic bigger problems.
Anyway, good luck with it—hopefully your roof isn't secretly plotting against you!
