So it’s time to replace or add to your home. What do you pick? Let’s find out!
There are a few factors to think about as you pick a gutter size. In this post, we’ll discuss:
- Technical factors
- Personal preferences
- How to pick a rain
As a quick note, we want to go over the different sizes available for residential gutters. There are two typical sizes, along with some smaller options and larger custom options. The most common sizes today are and 6 inch gutters. Some older homes still have 4 inch gutters, but those are becoming more rare. On or large custom homes, you may see options in 7 inch or 8 inch sizes.
The inches refer to the width of the trough. While an inch may not seem like much, it increases the total volume significantly. As an example, a will hold 40% more than a .
In addition to the sizes, you also have different sizes. The most common sizes are 2×3 inch or 3×4 inch (measuring the width and depth of the downspouts).
Phew! Okay, now that we know what options there are, let’s figure out what size is best for your home!
Technical factors that influence the best size gutters
The two biggest factors that influence what you should install are the climate and the size and structure of your house. Let’s start with climate.
Nature
Rainfall
How much do you get each year? Is it usually light or heavy rain? In the Raleigh, North Carolina area, for example, we receive the full spectrum of weather with sun, snow, light rain, , and even hurricanes.
Heavy storms can easily overwhelm your as the flows into the gutters. This is especially true if you live in a wooded area. Your gutters can quickly fill with leaves, which will lead to an .
For more arid climates, or areas with minor to moderate , rainfall and gutter overflow isn’t much of a concern. In some cases, you may not even need gutters at all.
Temperature
What about temperature? If you live in a colder climate with heavy snowfall, many people opt for smaller gutters. Since homes in colder climates are prone to ice dams, a smaller means a smaller ice dam, as less ice can accumulate in the trough. This can keep your gutters from coming loose.
If you live in a cold climate but need large gutters, you can take precautions by using more (preferably speed screw hangers) & making sure your fascia is in good condition.
Trees
Lastly, how many trees are in your area and around your property? The more trees you have on your property, the quicker your gutters can clog. If you have guards, this is less of a concern. However, if you do not have guards, large gutters will help with water flow since it takes longer for the gutters to fill with .
Your Home
Size
What is the ? A catches more that must drain into the gutters. equals .
What number of eaves does your house have? Eaves are any parts of the roofline that run parallel to the ground. The more eaves you have, the less each section will need to catch since the can drain off to multiple areas. More eaves mean smaller gutters.
Roofing Material
Next, what type of do you have? Metal, slate, and tile roofs allow for quicker water flow compared to asphalt shingle roofs. The can quickly rush into the gutters. A slicker with less friction could mean .
Shape & Pitch
Most importantly, what is the shape and pitch of your ?
By shape, we mean how complex is your ? Do you have a simple gable ? Or do you have multiple areas that direct the into one valley and ? Does your house have multiple stories where an upper drains all the into a lower ?
Roofs with large valleys or second-story gutters usually need to handle the large amount of waterflow directed into certain areas.
And what about ? In technical terms, the is the steepness of your shown as a ratio of inches (height/rise) to feet (horizontal length). But all you really need to know is that the larger the pitch, the steeper the . A steeper pitch means faster flowing into your gutters, just like with slicker roof materials.
Current Gutters
Finally, what gutters do you have now? Do they work well, or do they tend to overflow? If the size you currently have works well, then you can keep that size. But if you’ve noticed overflowing during heavy , or that the gutters clog too quickly, you can upgrade to a bigger size.
Preferences that influence the best size gutters
Yes, technical factors are important, but remember this is your home. Let your personal preferences help you make that final decision.
First off, what style gutters are you looking for? Do you want or a ? If you are looking for , you may want to consider a . Due to their shape, hold less overall than K style gutters.
Next, what material do you want? Most materials come in at least and 6 inch options including , zinc, steel, and copper. are the only material that does not come in 6 inch. Still, what is available will depend on what area of the country you live in and what your local companies will install.
Thirdly, are you open to different throughout the property? If so, you could install sections in the areas with more runoff, and smaller gutters in areas with less runoff. This is a good option if you only need a partial , or if you want a certain look for your gutters at the front of the house, but don’t care as much about the back of the house.
Last but not least, will you be installing guards on top of the gutters? High-quality guards can promote better water flow, prevent clogged gutters, & provide some protection against ice dams. By choosing to pair quality guards or leaf covers with your gutters, you are guaranteeing a better functioning , regardless of the size of the gutters.
Caveat: Even with a gutter guard, you may still need bigger gutters.
So what are the right size gutters for my house?
We know that was a lot of information, so how does it work together? Here you can download a short free quiz to help you decide what size gutter is right for your home.
But what about the importance of each factor? That is a great question. This is where intuition comes into play. If you have a relatively simple , for example, but the is extremely large and metal, you can deduce that 6″ gutters would be better.
If you are still unsure, you can also reach out to a local expert. They will be able to inspect your home and offer for your property.
Final Advice on Gutter Installations
Above all, what matters more than the is the quality of the materials and the workmanship. Regardless of what you choose, make sure the gutters are secured properly with speed screw hangers and with the right number of hangers. Not only that, make sure that your contractor thoroughly inspects the fascia boards behind the gutters and replaces any rotted or damaged wood. By ensuring a quality installation, you can be confident that your gutters will be secure and function properly.
Looking to install or upgrade your gutters? Quality Seamless Gutters specializes in 6″ seamless gutter systems. We install aluminum gutters for their customizable options and affordability. Because North Carolina has plenty of trees and lots of , we find that 6″ gutters work best on most properties. Click here for a free estimate or inspection!