What Size Gutters Do Treasure Valley Homes Need?
Most homes in the Treasure Valley are well served by 5 inch seamless K style gutters, but homes with steep pitches, large roof planes, or heavy tree cover usually need 6 inch gutters with larger downspouts. Dodd Roofing and Exteriors sizes gutters by roof area, pitch, and how fast water comes off during a summer cloudburst instead of putting the same size on every house.
What is the difference between 5 inch and 6 inch gutters?
The number describes the width of the opening at the top. A 6 inch gutter carries close to 40 percent more water than a 5 inch gutter, and it pairs with a 3 by 4 inch downspout instead of the standard 2 by 3 inch. That larger downspout moves roughly twice the volume, which matters more on most homes than the trough width itself. Both sizes are formed on site from one coil, so a seamless run has no joints to separate.
How do I know my gutters are undersized?
Water sheeting over the front edge during a hard rain is the clearest sign. Others include stains on the fascia, rock and mulch washed out below the roofline, ice piling at the eave in January, and gutters sagging between hangers because they hold more water than they were built for. If they overflow while they are clean, the size is the problem and not the debris. Our gutter cleaning and repair guide covers the difference.
Which Treasure Valley homes need 6 inch gutters?
Steep roofs in Eagle and the Boise foothills throw water fast, so the trough has less time to catch it. Long single plane roofs in newer Meridian, Kuna, and Star subdivisions drain a lot of square footage into one run. Homes under mature trees fill faster and clog sooner, and the wider opening stays open longer between cleanings. A valley that dumps onto one section is another common reason to upsize just that run.
Should gutters be replaced at the same time as the roof?
Usually yes. Tearing off shingles means working over the gutters, and the drip edge and starter course line up correctly when both go on together. One visit also costs less than two separate mobilizations, and a single crew owns the finished result. We walk through the timing in our post on replacing gutters with your roof.
Do larger gutters cost more?
Six inch material and 3 by 4 downspouts run modestly higher per foot than the standard size, and the heavier hangers add a little more. On most homes that difference is small next to repairing rotted fascia or drying out a crawlspace. Financing is available if you are bundling gutters into a larger roof or siding project.
Who sizes gutters in the Treasure Valley?
Dodd Roofing and Exteriors measures your roof, checks the pitch and drainage points, and puts a recommended size in writing before any work starts. Call (208) 295-9421 to schedule a free look at your gutters and roof.
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