When replacing your gutters, you need to ensure you choose the right size. In today’s post, gutter guard systems expert ABC Seamless Siding takes an in-depth look at choosing the right gutter size when buying new gutters.
The Right Gutter Size
Gutters are designed to route rainwater away from your home’s foundation. If the soil around this area becomes overly saturated with water, it will be too soft to bear the weight of the house. The concrete that the foundation is built from would then absorb this excess moisture, leading to a host of serious problems.
Proper gutter sizing is important because it ensures that your gutters have the capacity to handle the amount of rainwater that flows from your roof. Your gutters need to be deep enough to avoid overflows, but not so deep that they allow standing water within.
Gutter Sizing
There are two gutter profiles available: K-style and half-round. K-style gutters have flat backs and bottoms, with an outer profile that looks like crown molding when viewed from the ground. Half-round gutters feature a shallow U-shaped profile. Both styles are available in widths between 4–8 inches; typical residential gutters are 5–6 inches wide.
Three factors determine appropriate gutter sizing:
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Roof Area – The roof area often ends up bigger than the floor plan, especially if the roof design includes many peaks. Bigger roof areas need bigger gutters.
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Roof Pitch – Pitch measures the steepness of the roof. The steeper the roof is, the faster the gutters fill up with rainwater. Therefore, steeply pitched roofs need high-capacity gutters to match.
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Rainfall Rate – Information about the rainfall rate in the area can be obtained from the National Weather Service.
Gutter Helmet®
Gutter Helmet is a gutter protection system that prevents leaves and debris from clogging up your gutters. Unlike other types of gutter protection systems, Gutter Helmet isn’t a one-size-fits-all product. Each Gutter Helmet product is custom-made to fit your existing gutters to ensure optimum performance
To learn more about installing properly-sized gutters and our gutter guard systems, call ABC Seamless Siding today at (866) 405-8248. You can also fill out our contact form to schedule a free quote and appointment. We serve Anchorage, AK, and surrounding areas.
