The Importance of Proper Sizing for Gutters

Gutters are a key piece of every roofing system.

By Chelsea Welsh, Gutter Helmet.

If gutters are not the right size, they can’t do their job efficiently and you might as well not have them at all! Three elements go into helping choose the right gutter size.

Area of Your Roof Bigger roofs collect more rain, therefore requiring larger gutters. You’ll also need to look at the style of the roof. Roofs with dormers or upper levels falling onto lower levels means more rain falls onto the roof area that runs into the gutters. The greater the area, the larger they need to be.

Roof Pitch The steeper a roof, the faster rain can run off and into the gutter. Steeper roofs also allow for more wind-blown rain to hit the roof and run into the gutters. Roof pitch on most homes ranges from 4:12 (low pitch) to 9:12. A 9:12 roof will require larger ones than a 4:12 roof.

Rainfall Rate Different areas of the country experience rainfall at different rates. For example, areas around Seattle have frequent rain, but it’s rarely heavy. By contrast, Orlando experiences rainfall at the rate of several inches per hour for most of the summer. The heavier and faster the rain falls, the larger the gutters need to be, even if it’s a low slope or small roof. For most homes, 5-inch or 6-inch ones are sufficient, although the number of diverters and downspouts will vary.

Why Size Matters Improperly sized gutters will not hold the rainfall coming off the roof, and it will be as if there aren’t any at all. When rain overflows them, it creates a waterfall effect. When there are no gutters, or the they are too small or clogged, there is the risk of foundation damage and flooded crawl spaces or basements. Landscaping may be destroyed or mulch washed away.

Sometimes it’s not the size of the gutter that causes the problem, but simply that it’s clogged. If that is the case, ask about leaf shield gutter protection from Gutter Helmet®. Only the best gutter guards for leaves will prevent gutters from becoming clogged and keep them gutters functioning as they should.

Learn more about Gutter Helmet at www.gutterhelmet.com

Chelsea Welsh is the national marketing manager for Gutter Helmet, a Gibraltar Industries company.

Editor’s note: This article first appeared on Gutter Helmet’s blog and can be viewed here.