Gutter Sizes in Greater Los Angeles

For most LA houses, 5 inch is the right size. Large or steep roofs, tile and metal roofs, and long runs usually need 6 inch, which carries roughly 40 percent more water. 7 inch is for commercial buildings and very large roof areas. A Solutionist measures before recommending anything.

If water shoots over the gutter during heavy rain, or the gutter overflows along the whole run even when it is clean, it is probably undersized. A clog overflows at the clog, while an undersized gutter spills evenly. Lower roofs that catch water from upper gutters are another common trouble spot.

The main factors are the roofline, the roof’s surface area, its pitch and the climate. A steep, large roof sends more water faster than a small, low one. Mixing two sizes on one house can be a cost-effective answer when only some areas need more capacity.

As a rule of thumb, a gutter under 40 feet can work with one downspout, and a gutter over 40 feet should have two. If a long run cannot have a second downspout, that is a reason to go up to 6 inch. More downspouts in the right places often fix overflow without changing the gutter.

We form 5 inch, 6 inch and 7 inch seamless gutters on-site, with 5 and 6 inch available in both K-style and half-round. If your building needs something larger, ask your Solutionist about oversized options. We choose the size from your roof area, pitch and how the water collects, rather than defaulting to whatever is standard.

It matters more than people expect. Los Angeles gets much of its yearly rain in a handful of storms, and a February storm can drop two inches in a day. Gutters have to be sized for that peak rain, not the average. An undersized gutter that seems fine all summer will overflow in the first real storm.