If you have a concrete or clay tile roof in Southwest Florida, you’ve probably watched water shoot right over the front of a gutter during a summer storm. That’s usually not a clog. It’s a gutter that’s too small for the roof above it. Here’s how we decide between 6″ and 7″ gutters, and why most tile homes we work on get 7″.
QUICK ANSWER
Do tile roofs need 7-inch gutters?
Most do. Tile sheds water fast, tile homes here tend to have large roofs and deep overhangs, and valleys concentrate water into a few spots. A 7″ gutter holds and moves much more water than a 6″. We size every home by its roof, not its roof type alone, but the majority of tile homes we install on get 7″ gutters in .032 aluminum. We don’t install 5″ K-style gutters on Southwest Florida homes at all. They can’t keep up with our storms.
6-inch vs 7-inch at a glance
| 6″ seamless | 7″ seamless | |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminum | .027 standard; .032 available in white | Always .032 |
| Downspouts | 3×4 | 3×4 on most homes; 4×5 for heavy water or tight spots; always 4×5 on commercial |
| Best for | Most shingle and many metal-roof homes | Tile roofs, large or steep roofs, long runs, valleys, commercial |
| Cost | Lower | Somewhat higher: bigger gutter, heavier metal |
Why tile roofs push more water
- Tile sheds water fast. Water runs off concrete and clay tile quickly and hits the gutter hard instead of trickling in.
- Bigger roofs. Many tile homes in Naples, Estero, Bonita Springs and Cape Coral have large, complex rooflines, so each run of gutter collects water from a lot of roof.
- Deep overhangs. Water leaving a tile edge can carry past the back of a small gutter.
- Valleys. Where two roof planes meet, the valley funnels a huge amount of water into one spot on the gutter.
- Summer storms. Southwest Florida’s afternoon storms dump heavy rain in short bursts. That’s the moment a gutter has to handle.
How we decide
We don’t pick a gutter size off a chart. On every estimate we look at:
- How much roof drains into each run.
- The pitch and the roof material.
- Valleys and upper roofs that dump onto lower ones.
- Where downspouts can actually go on the house.
- Whether there’s a pool cage, entry or walkway where overflow would land.
Size is mostly a question of roof size and water volume. Some large or steep metal roofs get 7″ too. Some smaller tile roofs do fine with a well-placed 6″ system. We’ll tell you which one your house needs and why, in writing.
Don’t forget the downspouts
A bigger gutter only helps if the water can get out. On most 7″ homes we use 3×4 downspouts because they look cleaner on the house. Where the water load is heavy, or where a downspout can’t go where it ideally should, we step up to 4×5. If downspouts are dumping right next to the foundation, underground drainage carries the water away.
Guards on tile roofs
Yes, we install gutter guards on tile roofs. The guard has to be fitted to the tile profile without lifting or cracking tiles, which is part of why we look at every roof in person. Adding ONE Gutter Guard to new Brothers gutters adds 5 years to the 5-year workmanship warranty, for 10 years total.
Questions we get
Can I put 6-inch gutters on a tile roof?
Sometimes, on a smaller tile roof with good downspout placement. On most tile homes we recommend 7″.
Are 7-inch gutters too big for a house?
Not on the right house. On a large tile home they look proportional, and with 3×4 downspouts the system stays clean-looking.
What about 5-inch gutters?
We don’t install 5″ K-style gutters on Southwest Florida homes because they can’t keep up with our storms. The only 5″ we install is a roll-formed box gutter on carports and manufactured homes.
More detail on each size: 6-inch gutters · 7-inch gutters · all gutter sizes.
Not sure which size your roof needs?
We’ll measure the roof, look at every valley and downspout spot, and give you a written recommendation. Free.
Written by Garrett Schempp, co-owner of The Brothers That Just Do Gutters of Fort Myers–Naples, a veteran-owned, state-licensed gutter company (CBC1270165) based in south Fort Myers.