BENEFITS OF UPSIZING GUTTER SYSTEMS TO 6 INCH

Upsizing gutter systems from 5″ to 6″ can be beneficial in many ways.  Larger gutter and downspouts work together to divert water away from your roof and foundation more efficiently than standard sized systems.  Ensuring the rain water is safely contained and routed away from the home helps avoids costly damages.

• LESS LIKELY TO CLOG

• LESS FREQUENT CLEANINGS/EASIER TO MAINTAIN

• HANDLE UP TO 50% MORE WATER

• WORK BETTER WITH COMPLEX ROOF LAYOUTS

• CURB APPEAL

---

LESS LIKELY TO CLOG

Arguably the number one reason for upsizing gutter systems from 5 to 6 inch, is larger sized gutters and downspouts are much less likely to clog.  Since 3×4″ downspouts are about twice the size of 2×3″ spouts, leaves and other debris are less likely to form blockages.   

Due to the smaller sized pipe and drain outlet, 2×3″ downspouts are prone to clogging very easily.  It doesn’t take much for a small debris pile to accumulate cover the smaller sized drain outlet, as well as forming clogs within the pipe.  By upsizing the gutter system, a lot of smaller debris that would normally form clogs or blockages are often able to easily flush through the larger 3×4 inch downspouts.

 

( The math checks out!  2″ x 3″ is 6 inches squared, while 3″ x 4″ is 12 inches squared. )

---

LESS FREQUENT CLEANINGS/EASIER TO MAINTAIN

Since upsized gutters and downspouts are less likely to clog, they will require less frequent maintenance than with standard 5″ gutters.  Less frequent cleanings means lower gutter maintenance costs, which will save you money overtime. For example, a home that requires 3 or 4 cleanings per year with 5″ gutters, may only need 2 or 3 cleanings once the gutters are upsized.

For homeowners that are able to clean the gutters out themselves, an upsized gutter is easier to maintain than smaller sized. The wider mouth at the top of the gutter makes it easier to scoop debris out by hand. Especially when the shingles overhang the edge of the roof more than the standard 2 inches.

 

---

HANDLES UP TO 50% MORE WATER CAPACITIY

One common misconception with larger gutters, is that since 6 inches is only 1 inch bigger that 5, then they must only be about 16% bigger (1/6th).  However, upsized gutters are actually about twice the size of standard by volume, and are able to handle double the water volumes in heavy rain situations.

For comparison, the photo below shows a 5″ gutter end cap over a 6″ end cap. If you look closely you’ll notice the extra space of the 6″ gutter is about equal to the size of the 5″ gutter.

 

---

 

WORK BETTER WITH COMPLEX ROOF LAYOUTS

The size and architectural design of the roof have a lot to with how fast water comes off of the roof and into the gutters. Homes with larger roofs, steep pitched roofs, or metal roofs are all examples of roof styles that benefit from upsizing the gutter system to 6 inch.

In addition upsized gutters work better with roof lines that have excessive shingle overhang. We often seen situations where roof shingles hang 3-4 inches over the roofline. With smaller sized gutters, this excessive shingle overhang can cover most of the opening of the gutter. When this happens water is able to go over the gutter and completely miss it.

---

CURB APPEAL

An upsized gutter system adds to the overall curb appeal of the home.  Larger gutters offer a more robust look than standard, and contribute to a more enhanced structural appeal.  They will make your house stand out, and help compliment any matching color trims on the home.

---

OTRHER KEY FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN DECIDING GUTTER SIZES

• Amount Of Rainfall Per Year    

• Tree Coverage In Your Neighborhood

• Roof Pitches & Overall Roof Size

• Type Of Roof

• Downspout Placements & Drainage

When trying to decide which size gutters would work best on the home, there are several key factors to consider.  The amount of rainfall your area receives annually, and the amount of trees around your home should heavily influence your decision.  Homes in areas that receive average to above average rainfall will need to focus more on the gutters functioning properly, compared to homes in more arid areas. Tree coverage around the home directly relates to how much debris end up in the gutters, and how often they’ll need to be cleaned.  Homes with larger gutters will have much less problems than homes with standard gutters when it comes to rainfall and leaf debris accumulation.

The roof size, type, and pitches should also play a huge role when considering upsizing gutter systems. The steeper the roof, the faster the water comes off of the roof.  Roofs that are made from slick materials such metal, composite, slate, or tile often experience water splashing over the gutters in heavy rain situations.  The water simply comes off the roof too fast to be contained by smaller gutters. Another key point to remember is the bigger the roof, the bigger the volume of water the gutters will need to handle.  Therefore, larger sized gutter systems should almost always be paired with most styles of roof to efficiently contain the rain water.

When dealing with longer gutter runs of 40 ft. or more, the amount of downspouts and the placements should also be considered. At minimum there should be a downspout every 30 – 35 ft. for 5 inch gutters. Whereas 6 inch gutters can be up to 60 ft. with one downspout. Therefore, when the home has long gutter runs without many places for downspouts, upsized gutter systems will be the solution to the problem.

---

CONCLUSION

Upsized gutter systems perform better than standard sized gutters in every way. Efficiency, performance, and durability are key factors to consider. Since gutter systems help keep rain water from damaging your home, ensuring your gutters are unable to handle the amount of rainfall is vital.

Homes that fall under 1 or more of the below categories should consider upsizing the gutters when it comes time for gutter replacement.

• Current Gutters Don’t Handle The Water In Moderate To Heavy Rains
• Current Gutters Are Prone To Clogging Easily 
• Homes In Heavy Rainfall Areas
• Heavy Tree Coverage Around Home
• Steep Roof Pitches
• Large Sized Roofs
• Metal, Composite, Slate, Tile, or Solar Roofs
• Complex Roof Configurations (excessive corners or roof valleys, bay corners, overlapping roof sections, etc..)
• Metal Roof Channels
• Homes With Long Gutter Runs (40+ ft.)
• Homes With Limited Downspout Placement Options

---

MY GUTTER DOCTOR

93 Monocacy Blvd. A-6

Frederick, MD 21701

240-820-3209

info@mygutterdoctor.com

Follow us on Instagram or Facebook

---

RELATED ARTICLES BY MY GUTTER DOCTOR

How Long Do Aluminum Gutters Last? by My Gutter Doctor

7 Signs Of Improper Gutter Slope by My Gutter Doctor

Downspout Clog Prevention by My Gutter Doctor

Worst Gutter Guards: Products To Avoid by My Gutter Doctor