discountedroofingllc
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Ask any roofer what causes the most catastrophic foundation and water-intrusion problems, and they won't point to the shingles. They'll point to the eaves. A failed water-management system—what you call gutters—is the root of countless expensive problems. At DISCOUNTED ROOFING LLC, we spend as much time engineering the water's exit as we do the roof's primary surface. Most homeowners, and even some "splash-and-dash" contractors, fundamentally misunderstand what a gutter system is supposed to do.
First, let's be clear: 5-inch gutters are not the standard just because they're common. They are common because they are adequate for a simple, 4:12-pitch roof with a short eave-to-ridge run. But the "standard" 5-inch K-style gutter can only handle so much water volume. The industry is rapidly shifting to 6-inch gutters as the new default, and for good reason. A 6-inch gutter holds approximately 40% more water than a 5-inch one. In an era of more intense, sudden rainfalls, that 40% is your margin of safety.
The calculation is what separates a pro from an amateur. A true installer doesn't just measure the horizontal run of the gutter. They must calculate the roof's "watershed"—the total square footage of the roof plane that drains into that specific gutter. They also must factor in the roof's pitch. A steep 12:12 pitch roof dumps water into the gutter at a much higher velocity than a 4:12 roof. A 6-inch gutter with a larger trough is far more effective at catching that high-velocity water without it overshooting the edge.
Then, you have to talk about downspouts. This is where most systems fail. A gutter can be 12 inches wide, but if it only has one small 2x3-inch downspout, it's going to fail. The downspout is the "drain." A 5-inch gutter is typically paired with a 2x3 downspout. A 6-inch gutter should always be paired with a larger 3x4 downspout. A 3x4 downspout can handle almost three times the water volume of a 2x3. It is also significantly less likely to clog with debris.
When we design a Gutter Installation in Philadelphia, we are thinking about "outlet capacity." A single 3x4 downspout can typically drain about 1,200 square feet of roof area. If a single 60-foot run of gutter is draining more than that, it needs a second downspout. We also ensure the gutter itself is properly "pitched" toward the downspout—about a quarter-inch of drop for every 10 feet of run. Without that pitch, you get "ponding" in the gutter, which is where debris collects and overflows begin.
Finally, we look at the discharge. The entire system is useless if the downspout dumps all that concentrated water directly at the foundation. All that work just to create a worse problem. The downspout must have an elbow and an extension that discharges the water a minimum of 5-6 feet away from the home, ideally onto a splash block that directs it even further. This is the entire point: to get the roof's water load away from your foundation.
Stop thinking of gutters as a cosmetic trim. They are a non-negotiable part of your home's structural protection. The size of the gutter, the size and number of the downspouts, and the pitch of the system are all engineering decisions that have a direct impact on the health of your foundation.
First, let's be clear: 5-inch gutters are not the standard just because they're common. They are common because they are adequate for a simple, 4:12-pitch roof with a short eave-to-ridge run. But the "standard" 5-inch K-style gutter can only handle so much water volume. The industry is rapidly shifting to 6-inch gutters as the new default, and for good reason. A 6-inch gutter holds approximately 40% more water than a 5-inch one. In an era of more intense, sudden rainfalls, that 40% is your margin of safety.
The calculation is what separates a pro from an amateur. A true installer doesn't just measure the horizontal run of the gutter. They must calculate the roof's "watershed"—the total square footage of the roof plane that drains into that specific gutter. They also must factor in the roof's pitch. A steep 12:12 pitch roof dumps water into the gutter at a much higher velocity than a 4:12 roof. A 6-inch gutter with a larger trough is far more effective at catching that high-velocity water without it overshooting the edge.
Then, you have to talk about downspouts. This is where most systems fail. A gutter can be 12 inches wide, but if it only has one small 2x3-inch downspout, it's going to fail. The downspout is the "drain." A 5-inch gutter is typically paired with a 2x3 downspout. A 6-inch gutter should always be paired with a larger 3x4 downspout. A 3x4 downspout can handle almost three times the water volume of a 2x3. It is also significantly less likely to clog with debris.
When we design a Gutter Installation in Philadelphia, we are thinking about "outlet capacity." A single 3x4 downspout can typically drain about 1,200 square feet of roof area. If a single 60-foot run of gutter is draining more than that, it needs a second downspout. We also ensure the gutter itself is properly "pitched" toward the downspout—about a quarter-inch of drop for every 10 feet of run. Without that pitch, you get "ponding" in the gutter, which is where debris collects and overflows begin.
Finally, we look at the discharge. The entire system is useless if the downspout dumps all that concentrated water directly at the foundation. All that work just to create a worse problem. The downspout must have an elbow and an extension that discharges the water a minimum of 5-6 feet away from the home, ideally onto a splash block that directs it even further. This is the entire point: to get the roof's water load away from your foundation.
Stop thinking of gutters as a cosmetic trim. They are a non-negotiable part of your home's structural protection. The size of the gutter, the size and number of the downspouts, and the pitch of the system are all engineering decisions that have a direct impact on the health of your foundation.
