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3 Benefits of Large Rain Gutters

Posted by Kevin Leahy on December 27, 2022

If it is time for new rain gutters on your home, there is a lot to think about? Do you hire a professional or do it yourself? What type of gutters should you get? And of course what size gutters are going to give my house the best protection?

There has been a lot debate over whether most homes really need large rain gutters, the over-sized 6 inch, 7 or 8 inch variety or if the standard 5 inch gutter will do. Is bigger really always better?

Here are 3 benefits of large rain gutters:

Better Protection from Water Damage

In this case, bigger is better. Large rain gutters can handle almost double the amount of water and the oversized downspout that comes with it also has more capacity for debris. This translates to better protection from water damage and probably means less upkeep as well because your gutters won’t clog so easily.

If you have a larger roof or a roof with a real steep pitch that makes the water run down a lot faster than larger gutters are a must to protect your home. What material your roof is made of can also play a role. A metal roof, for instance, causes the water to rush down a lot faster than an asphalt roof. Even the type of gutter can matter too. Because half round gutters are so shallower, experts recommend a larger size for better results.

Works Well with Complicated Systems

Large rain gutters can also be useful when because the size of the roof or the construction of the house, you need a more complicated gutter system. Large rain gutters work better than the standard 5 inch size when you have upper gutters draining into lower gutters and other complicated layouts that cause an increased volume of water.

Can Add to the Beauty of Your Home

One big worry a lot of people have about installing large rain gutters on their home is how it will look. They worry that they will stick out like a sore thumb but that isn’t the case. When the right materials are chosen and they are installed right, large rain gutters can actually enhance the beauty of your home.

If you decide to install the new gutters yourself, there are some DIY tips you should keep in mind:

  • Avoid hanging the gutter hangers too far apart. The gutter hangers are the way you mount the gutter system to your home so they need to be spaced properly. If you leave too much space between the hangers, the rain gutters will actually sag causing the water to pool instead of flowing through. If this keeps happening and you have a lot of water pooling in different sections of the gutter system, the extra pressure is going to make the system separate from your home. The rule of thumb is to place the gutter hangers about every three feet or so, unless where you live there is a lot of snow and ice, then every 2 feet is better. Remember that while you think you might be saving yourself time and money to use fewer hangers, in the long run all the damage that will happen as a result will end up costing you a lot more.
  • Don’t ignore the pitch of the rain gutters. And you thought you would never need geometry again. The angle at which your rain gutters are hung is an important detail when it comes to a successful installation. Both too much of an angle and not enough of an angle can affect the speed at which the water flows through the system. In this case, moderation is best. Experts recommend that you allow for a ¼ inch slope towards the downspouts for every 10 feet of gutter. The most important thing to remember is that the gutters should never be level.
  • Where you place the gutter system matters too. You know the gutters go on the roof, but do you know exactly where? It is not enough to just hang them on the edge of the roof. Technically they need to be a few inches lower than your roofline to prevent water from damaging the fascia boards and siding.
  • Avoid having too many seams. The seams in your gutter system are a weak point in the system where leakage can happen so you don’t want to have too many of them in your gutter system. When shopping for your gutter system, look for one that doesn’t have a lot of seams or better yet one that is seamless.
  • Don’t forget the downspouts. How you place the downspouts and how many of them you install is also important. Not having enough downspouts will lead to standing water and overloading of the system during heavy rains. And when they are not placed properly you open yourself to erosion around the area, structural damage and even insect infestation, all of which can end up being pricey to fix.

Another product that can make maintaining your gutter system easier is TheSpoutOff. It works real well with large rain gutter outlets because TheSpoutoff outlets are designed with a larger opening allowing for water to still run down even if other parts of the gutter are clogged. Another great plus is that these outlets are easy to keep clean through the removable downspout that allows you to check on the outlets without having to climb a ladder. With TheSpoutOff, a fear of heights or balance concerns will no longer keep you from properly taking care of your home and it is a lot cheaper than hiring a professional cleaner to come regularly to clear out all the debris.

The SpoutOff can be retrofitted to your current gutter system or it can be added to a new one, depending upon your needs. The instructions are relatively easy to follow so it is something you can easily install yourself, but any local gutter company can do it for you as well.

Want to learn more about how TheSpoutOff can make your seasonal outdoor chores a lot easier? Contact TheSpoutOff today to learn how it can take the hassle out of cleaning your gutters.

14 Comments

  1. Millie Hue says:

    It’s surprising to know that using large rain gutters could still be aesthetically pleasing by using the right materials and installing them in the right place. We just moved in, and the gutters need to be replaced because they are quite old. It good to know that having large ones could also be more useful than the regular-sized gutters. Thanks for the help!

  2. Kenneth Gladman says:

    I had no idea how important placement was when installing a gutter. I can’t get up on the roof at my age, so I would need professional help. It is probably in my best interest to do my due research on the company before hiring.

  3. Bethany Birchridge says:

    I liked that you mentioned the angle of the gutter is very important for pr We need to get a new roof, so we’ve also been thinking of getting a new gutter, as it is sagging. I’ll share this article with my family, so we can choose the right gutter system for our home.

  4. Ashley Turns says:

    Thanks for pointing out that large rain gutters will be better at protecting our home since it can handle twice as much water. My husband and I are in need of some new rain gutters, so we are wondering what type to get. We’ll have to get larger ones since they’ll be able to handle twice as much water.

  5. Todd Stauffer says:

    I like how you said that large rain gutters can handle a lot of water and debris. My wife and I have noticed that it rains quite a bit where we live and this seems like it would be a good thing to invest in. We’ll have to see if there is a gutter repair service that can help us install new gutters if we get them.

  6. Ashley Maxwell says:

    Thanks for your comment about how a roof gutter should have protection from water damage. I also like how you said that it will mean you have to take care of it less. We are looking for roofers to repair our house gutters.

  7. Jim moore says:

    Need oversized system for church addition in Landrum,SC. 29356

    864-895-8333

  8. Michael Lee says:

    I like how you wrote that large rain gutters are better with complicated gutter systems. I used to have smaller gutters on my house and they would back up during heavy rainstorms. Eventually, I hired a guttering service to fix the problem and that’s exactly what they did. It turned out that the gutters on the lower level were just too small to keep up.

  9. Joe says:

    I’m interested in the large round gutter shown in the picture on your home page.

    Do you have installers in the Austin, Texas area that do the turn key job?

  10. Anna Marie Wier says:

    Very informative website
    How may I get an estimate for putting in large gutters on our house in zip ode area 77055, Houston, TX?
    Also compare prices from various companies or installers?

  11. Russell Magill says:

    How much for a double wide mobile home in 70×24? russell.magill@yahoo.com

  12. Mary says:

    How are gutters installed on FLATRoofs. Need new gutters on a Spanish house. Built 1939. 850 sq. Feet

  13. KAREN DAVENPORT says:

    i LIKE THE PICTURED SYSTEM . LARGE GUTTERS WITH THE SPOUT OFF. I LIVE IN TREVOR WISCONSIN. ZIP 53179. DO YOU KNOW OF ANYONE I CAN CALL TO DO THIS WORK ? THANK YOU

  14. I find it fascinating that rain gutters help protect your living space from excess rain! I can see how this could help homeowners who live in very stormy areas. I will share this with my friend so he can have one installed around his home someday.

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