5-Inch vs. 6-Inch Seamless Gutters: Which Does Your Home Need?

Seamless gutters are formed on site from a single piece of aluminum, so there are no joints along the run to leak or separate. The main choice most South Jersey homeowners face is size: 5-inch or 6-inch.

A 5-inch gutter is the long-time residential standard and handles the roof area of many smaller and mid-size homes well. A 6-inch gutter moves roughly 40% more water, which matters on larger roofs, steeper pitches, long runs between downspouts and homes that see heavy downpours off the Atlantic.

Homes near the Shore also deal with wind-driven rain and pine needles. A larger gutter paired with the right downspouts and, where appropriate, gutter guards can cut down on overflows and cleanings.

The honest answer is that it depends on your roof. During a free estimate we measure your roof area, look at the pitch and valley flow, and recommend the smaller size that will actually do the job — not the bigger one by default.