5-inch gutters were standard on KC homes for decades. But Lee's Summit's growing home sizes have made 6-inch the right call for many properties. Here's when to size up.
The Lee's Summit home size shift
Older Lee's Summit subdivisions (1980s-1990s) feature 1,400-1,800 sq ft ranches and bi-levels with simple roofs. 5″ gutters handle them fine.
Newer Lee's Summit subdivisions (Stonebridge, Raintree Lake, Eagle Creek, The Trails, Woodside Ridge) feature 2,400-4,500 sq ft 2-story homes with complex rooflines, multiple valleys, and bigger roof catchment areas. 5″ gutters are borderline on these homes.
The capacity math
A 5″ K-style gutter handles about 1.2 gallons per minute per linear foot. A 6″ K-style handles about 2.0 GPM per linear foot — nearly double.
KC summer storms regularly produce 3-4 inches per hour during peak intensity. For a 2,500 sq ft roof, that's around 1,500 gallons per hour flowing through the gutter system. A 5″ system with 5 downspouts can be at capacity or overflowing.
When to choose 6″ in Lee's Summit
- Roof area over 2,000 sq ft (most newer Lee's Summit 2-story homes)
- Steep pitch (6/12 or steeper) — water moves faster and floods 5″
- Multiple valleys feeding into one section — concentrates flow
- Currently overflowing during heavy rain — direct evidence you're undersized
- Mature canopy (oak, maple) — debris reduces effective capacity
- You're replacing anyway — the ~$1.50/ft upgrade is worth it for headroom
When 5″ is fine in Lee's Summit
- 1980s-1990s ranches under 1,800 sq ft roof
- Gable roof with no valleys
- No history of overflow
- Budget-constrained project
The Lee's Summit pricing math
For a typical 180 ft install:
- 5″ K-style aluminum: $1,530-$1,800
- 6″ K-style aluminum: $1,800-$2,520
Difference: $270-$720. For a home you'll own 10-20 years, the marginal cost of the upgrade is $13-$72/year. Worth it for the storm capacity.
Downspout pairing
- 5″ gutter pairs with 2x3 downspout (standard)
- 6″ gutter pairs with 3x4 downspout (oversized)
The downspout upgrade is essential. Putting 2x3 downspouts on a 6″ gutter wastes the extra gutter capacity — the bottleneck moves to the downspout outlet.
What we recommend for typical Lee's Summit homes
- Older ranch (Sunny Slope, Pleasant Lea): 5″ with 2x3 downspouts
- 1990s 2-story (Westridge, Lakewood): 5″ or 6″ depending on roof complexity
- Stonebridge / Raintree / The Trails 2000s+: 6″ with 3x4 downspouts
- Newer executive (Eagle Creek, Woodside Ridge): 6″ standard, sometimes 7″ for very large estate homes