Should I go with 5” gutters or spring for the 6” gutters?

There’s many factors to take into account when deciding if you should go with 6” gutters over the standard 5” gutters. Here are a few factors to take into consideration.

Things to take into account when deciding

• Square footage of roof
• Pitch and style of roof
• Shingle or metal roof
• Amount of rainfall
• Your preference of looks

Cost to benefit ratio

The cost to upgrade to 6” gutters over standard 5” gutters Is around 21% but gives you a whopping 50% more water handling capacity. They also come with 3”x4” downspouts compared to the standard 2”x3” downspouts, making them 50% more efficient In directing water out of the gutters and away from your home’s foundation, basement, or crawl space. The larger gutters are easier to clean out due to having a larger gap between the roof’s edge and the face of the gutter. They give greater protection against clogs and over flows due to increased flow capacity and a larger outlets.

Capacity

6” gutters hold double the capacity of 5” giving them 50% more water moving capacity over the standard 5” gutters.

Protection

5” gutters only cover a portion of your facia leaving a portion subjected to the elements, causing fading, discoloration, and possibly water damage, it also leaves the uncovered portion to build up dirt and grime. 5” gutters clogs easier then 6” gutters which can cause overflow leading to water damage to facia, walls, foundations, crawl spaces, and basements.

Curb appeal

6” gutters are much more robust, giving them a larger profile that stands out more then standard 5” gutters. In most cases will completely cover your facia eliminating the gap that’s left with the 5” gutters. They also give your roof a more full look.

Peace of mind

6” gutters will out preform standard 5” gutters by 50% in rain water management, substantially more resilient to clogs due to both the 50% better flow rate and the larger 3”x4” downspouts, 6” has better curb appeal with the beefier look and in most cases completely covering the facia. The cost over 5” gutters is only around 21% and does 50% more work, which makes the benefits outweigh the costs.

In conclusion

If you have a larger roof, a steep pitched roof, have or plan on getting a metal roof, or have had issues with overflow then you definitely should think about 6” gutters. If you have a smaller, low pitched roof then 5” gutters will work just fine. With all that said, upgrading to 6” gutters will cost a little more upfront but will do twice the work of the standard 5” gutters. The 6” are less likely to clog up then the 5” gutters due to there much larger size and flow rate. Going to the 6” upgrade can actually save you money in the long run by preventing costly water and facia damage. If you are a DIY person and clean your own gutters then the 6” gutters will make cleaning them out a bit easier and will save you time due to the larger gap between the roof’s edge and face of the gutter. Remember, we are just a phone call away to help answer any questions or concerns.