What Size Gutters are Best for Florida?

One thing that all residents of Central Florida have to deal with is the heavy rainfall we face, especially here in New Port Richey. We average around 51 inches of rain annually! Our wettest months of the year are June-August where we can average around 8 inches of rain per month. When it rains here, it pours, which is why you want gutters that are designed to handle the inevitable torrential downpours we see during the summer months.

The two most common size gutters are 5″ and 6″ gutters, so which size is best for homes in Central Florida? While you may think 5″ gutters offer enough protection and can cope well enough with the rainfall here, we prefer 6″ gutters. In fact, 6″ seamless gutters are the only size gutters we offer. There are many reasons why we prefer 6″ gutters over 5″ gutters. Let’s take a look at them.

6″ Gutters Hold More Water – Way More Water!
First, it’s worth considering the main benefit of bigger seamless gutters – they hold more water. Although it may not seem like such a big jump in size to go from 5″ to 6″ gutters, that extra inch allows your seamless gutters to hold 50% more water! If you notice your 5″ gutters struggling to keep up with downpours, switching to 6″ gutters can fix that. Six inch rain gutters are just better at holding more water and handling torrential rainfalls than 5″ gutters.

6″ Gutters Look Better and Have That “X-Factor”
You’ll appreciate the change that 6″ gutters will have on the look of your home. They look more substantial and more expensive, and can give your property’s curb appeal that “x-factor.” They can really dress up the exterior appearance of your Florida home.

6″ Gutters Better Protect Fascia Boards
The fascia boards on your roof are those trim pieces that run just below it. The fascia boards are behind the gutters. They are subjected to a lot of wear and tear over time due to sun and rain exposure. When you have 6″ gutters, though, the fascia boards are covered and protected more than they are with smaller 5″ gutters.

6″ Gutters are Best for Larger Roofs
Did you know that the size of your roof should always be considered when choosing the size of your gutters? While 5″ gutters may be enough for a standard roof size of 600-800 square feet, if you have anything larger, 6″ gutters are always preferred. In short, 6″ gutters are going to be the perfect size for any size roof in Florida.

6″ Gutters are Not That Much More Expensive
Obviously bigger gutters are going to cost more because more material is required, but the added cost isn’t as much as you’d think. You’ll only pay about 50 cents to 1 dollar more per foot for 6″ gutters. For some installations, you may actually pay less for 6″ gutters. Because 5″ gutters hold less water, they require more downspouts for long runs. With 6″ gutters, you may be able to eliminate some of those downspouts.

Given the heavy rainfalls we experience here in Central Florida, and the many benefits of 6″ gutters, we only install 6″ seamless gutters. We believe in offering the best gutter solutions for our customers here in Central Florida at the most affordable prices. Use our gutter cost calculator to get an estimate to install seamless gutters, and then if you like the estimate you see, call or text us at (352) 777-6553 and we’ll come out and measure your home and give you a specific quote for free!