Undersized gutters often look normal until a hard rain arrives. Then water spills over the front edge, roof valleys overwhelm the run, and downspouts cannot keep up.
Signs your gutters may be undersized
- Overflow during heavy rain even after cleaning
- Water spilling near roof valleys
- Stained fascia or siding below the gutter
- Mulch washing out below the roofline
- Downspouts that cannot move water fast enough
Cleaning may not solve the issue
If gutters overflow because they are clogged, cleaning can help. If they overflow because the system does not have enough capacity, the same problem will return during the next strong storm.
Why Summerville Gutter starts new installs at 6 inches
New gutter systems from Summerville Gutter start at 6 inches and larger. That gives rooflines more capacity and works better with gutter guards and strong downspout planning.
Existing gutter guard options
If your existing 5-inch gutter is properly functioning, gutter protection may still be an option. If it is undersized or failing, replacement may make more sense first.