How Big Do My Gutters Really Need to Be?
When looking to see how big your gutters need to be we need to look at a few different factors. Let’s take a few minutes to go over the different things you need to consider when choosing your gutter size.
It’s Raining Its Pouring
Living in south Florida we all know it rains a lot more here rather than other parts of the country. According to the U.S. Weather Bureau, in Florida it can rain 7.7 inches in just one hour. That averages out to over 60 inches of rain per year for the past 10 years. A small five-inch gutter is not going to be able to handle that drainage.
That Is a Little Steep
Also consider the pitch of your roof. The steeper the roof is, the faster the water is going to come down it. And that also means you need a bigger gutter. If you have the wrong size the water will run right over it and miss the gutter completely.
That’s A Lot of Real-estate
Let’s think about this. The bigger the roof, the more area it has to catch all that water coming down. It is obvious to say the bigger your house the bigger the gutters you will need.
Where Do We Go Now
Now that you got the big gutters, what is next? The rain has to go somewhere. That is where the downspouts are important also. Make sure that you have enough of them to effectively redirect all the water that the gutter is catching. If you do not have enough, the water will start to back up and start poring over the edges. This will increase erosion and potentially cause problems in your homes interior.
The Final Word
This is just a little taste of what goes in to selecting the correct gutter and size. Sometimes it is better to get a professional to do a job the right way the first time. Get rid of all the guessing work and give us a call at (561)424-1188.