The Importance of Proper Gutter Sizing
November 19, 2018Whether you choose steel or aluminum gutters, your gutters have to be the right size. Today Gutter Helmet of Eastern NY explains why your gutters need to be a precise fit to ensure proper function.
The Right Size Is Important
Gutters are designed to direct precipitation that lands on your roof safely away from your home to prevent water damage. Without functional gutters, water can seep into your home’s foundation, causing major structural damage.
To avoid overflowing rainwater, your gutters need to be in good shape and able to handle torrential downpours. While investing in a gutter protection system like a gutter filter can help prevent clogs and other problems that compromise the gutters’ functionality, it’s also important that your gutters are correctly sized. To ensure their functionality, they need to have the right depth; otherwise, you run the risk of standing water in the gutters.
How Gutters Are Sized
There are two gutter profiles that you can choose from: K-Style gutters, which have flat bottoms and backs and feature an outer profile that looks like crown molding, and half-round gutters with rounded bottoms that are usually shallower than the K-Style. Both come in widths between 4 and 8 inches, with a typical residential installation being 5 or 6 inches wide.
There are three factors that determine the appropriate gutter size. The first is the entire roof area, which can be bigger than the floor plan, especially if there are many peaks. The bigger the roof area, the larger the gutters should be. Next is the roof pitch, which is a measurement of the steepness of the roof. The steeper the roof, the faster the rainwater will flow into the gutters, which means the gutters will need to be able to handle a higher capacity of precipitation. The last factor is the rainfall rate in the area, which you can obtain from the National Weather Service.
To learn more about our products and services, including whether it’s worth investing in a gutter cap for your gutters, call Gutter Helmet of Eastern NY today at (866) 252-9400. You can also fill out our contact form to schedule a free in-home consultation.
