5-inch or 6-inch eavestrough: what does your roof need?

What changes the sizing conversation?

Alu-Rex identifies five-inch as a common residential gutter size and six-inch as an option for greater water volumes, including steep roofs. That is a starting point, not a promise that one size will suit every house of a particular floor area.

Show the contractor the whole roofline. A short section receiving water from a large roof area or valley deserves particular attention. Include upper roofs that discharge toward lower sections, and explain where you notice problems during rainfall.

Does overflowing eavestrough mean it is too small?

Overflow is a symptom to describe before choosing a replacement. Tell us whether it happens along the full front edge, at one corner, near a valley or beside a downspout. Also note whether the section appears loose, bent or full of debris.

Photographs taken safely from the ground during or just after rain can be useful. They do not replace an assessment, but they help separate a general capacity concern from a problem concentrated at one location. Avoid committing to a larger size solely because water appeared outside the gutter once.

What should be included with the new gutters?

Ask the quote to show the included runs, corners, end caps, outlets and downspouts. Discuss where the water will go at ground level, and whether extensions or changes to an existing discharge route are part of the work.

Fascia condition should be considered before a new system is attached. If supporting material needs attention, identify how that work will be handled. Colour selection should also account for the fascia, soffit and neighbouring trim that will remain.

When should you decide about leaf guards?

Bring up leaf protection while the gutter scope is being planned. Some products are intended for existing gutters and others are integrated into a new system. The product should fit the selected gutter and the conditions around the home.

Ask for the actual product name and current terms, then compare the complete installation. A quote for bare gutters and a quote with a particular protection system are not directly comparable until those differences are made clear.

Common questions