How Wide Should Gutters & Downspouts Be?

You might think that installing something like gutters should be a fairly easy and straightforward process. As with most things in life, however, that’s not always the case. Did you know that gutters come in a variety of different sizes? There are many factors that you must keep in mind when considering the size of your gutters in Portland, in other words, and there is no real one-size-fits-all approach that can make the process simpler. Other than visiting a professional and asking for their advice, here are a few things to take into consideration when sizing your gutters and downspouts.

Drainage Area

The first consideration you should have when determine what size gutters to purchase is the drainage are of your home. This alone can be quite the headache to calculate as it requires you to determine a variety of measurements. You need to know the size of your roof, for example, including the length and width of all of its parts. Find these figures for one side of your home and multiply them together. Then add those numbers together and you’ve got the drainage area of your home. If your roof is complex, of course, the math required to determine this number will increase in complexity accordingly.

Roof Pitch

Another factor to keep in mind when determining the best size of gutters in Vancouver, WA for your home is the roof pitch. If your roof is steep, for example, you’ll need to opt for larger gutters. This is because with steep roofs, water slides quickly into the gutters faster and with more force than it does with larger roofs that have different shapes to break the water’s fall, so to speak. So, make sure to calculate the pitch of your roof and multiply that number with the drainage area and water intensity to help you better determine gutter size.

Does all of this sound a bit confusing? That’s why you should work with a professional team! From gutter cleaning in Portland to gutter repair, the team at Gutter Empire can help with all of your needs.