Seamless gutters are available in various sizes from 5, 6, 7, or even 8 inches. By installing the proper size of seamless aluminum gutters, you can better protect your home by allowing water to be safely diverted away before it can do damage. Preventing water damage from occurring in and around your home is much more affordable than repairing water damage once it has occurred.
The standard size for residential seamless gutters will depend largely on the style and size of your home. Many homeowners are choosing to upgrade to 6″, 7″, or even 8″ ‘oversized’ gutters for their homes. Even though a 6″ gutter is only an inch bigger than a 5″ gutter, it can handle 40% more water. In certain cases, larger or “oversized” gutters are necessary for your home or specific parts of your roofline.
What size is necessary for your home?
5-Inch Gutters
When to consider 5-inch gutters:
● Gutter lengths under 40 feet with at least one downspout● Gutters over 40 feet in length should have at least two downspouts● Gutters do not overflow during normal rains● Asphalt shingles with a proper drip edge installed● 5-inch gutters should not be used to catch runoff from upper roofs with gutters
6-Inch Gutters
For residential homes with steep or large roofs in areas that experience high volumes of precipitation, 6-inch gutters may be your best solution. 6-inch gutter systems are usually seen on office buildings and commercial buildings. For many homes, there is great benefit in using a combination of 5-inch and 6-inch sizes. 6-inch gutters can handle about 40% more water than 5-inch seamless gutter systems. When we install 6-inch gutters, we use 3×4 oversized downspouts that allow more water and debris to flow freely through the gutter system.
We have even encountered many homeowners interested in the larger sized 6″ gutters in recent years. Since the roof pitch varies greatly from home to home, designing a custom gutter system for your roof is essential. Roof pitch greatly affects how the rain will flow down into your gutters. Many homeowners find that smaller 5-inch seamless gutters will overflow in heavy rain. You should consider the following when choosing between 5-inch and 6-inch gutters for your home.
When to consider a 6-inch gutter:
● Gutter lengths over 40 feet that cannot have two downspouts
● Lower gutters that have an upper gutter that drain into them
● Long runs over 60 feet
● Rooflines that cause large amounts of water to concentrate in a small section of the gutters
● Inside roof valleys where the water flows quickly and sometimes overflows during heavy rains
● Metal roofs
7-Inch Gutters
While 6-inch gutters are becoming the new 'standard size,' in some situations, they may not be large enough. In these situations, 7-inch or 8-inch gutters can be installed. For example, climates that get large amounts of precipitation have a style of roof requiring a wider gutter system to collect rainwater, and homes with different gutter heights are great candidates for larger gutter systems.
When to consider a 7 or 8-inch gutter:
● You require more protection from water damage
● The capacity of water flowing into gutters is more than a 6-inch gutter can handle
● Lower gutters that have upper gutters that drain into them
● Slate tiles, concrete shingles, or clay tile roofs with longer overhangs will require wider gutters
● Areas that experience a significant amount of rainfall
Our gutters are available in various, and we can often match them to your home. For example, if you want to match your downspouts to your home's siding, we will most likely be able to do that. Not only can Gutter 911 help you protect your home with practical solutions, but we can also work with you to design a gutter system that matches your home's aesthetic.