Gutters · North Lauderdale

Gutters in North Lauderdale, FL

North Lauderdale rain can fall at 10.7 inches an hour for five minutes in a 10-year storm, based on NOAA Atlas 14 figures for this city. Gutters here must handle that short burst, not the average rain of an ordinary afternoon. Many homes in the city date to a median build year of 1978, so the gutters on them may predate today's sizing rules.

Request a quote 407-242-2840

Updated October 2026

Drone view of a single-story home with a brown-gray shingle roof and box vents under large oak trees, a metal carport roof in the corner and a street behind.

Rainfall and sizing

Gutter capacity against the North Lauderdale storm rate

The rain rate you size for depends on the storm you plan for. A 25-year storm drops rain here at 12.5 inches an hour over five minutes. A 100-year storm reaches 15.4. The one-hour rate for a 10-year storm is 3.44 inches an hour, so the short burst is far stronger than the hourly figure.

Close three-quarter view of a new white seamless K-style aluminum gutter along the eave of a single-story stucco ranch home with a dark shingle roof, live oaks and cumulus sky behind (illustration)

Illustration: seamless k style white

The plumbing code sizes horizontal gutters by roof flow, and a 6-inch half-round gutter at 1/8 inch per foot slope carries 110 gallons a minute. The 5-inch size moves only 74 gallons a minute. Going up one size adds about 49 percent by our arithmetic, which matters in a city where the median home dates to 1978 and a 5-inch gutter may still hang on the fascia.

Rainfall is heavy across the year too. A 24-hour rain in a 10-year storm reaches 8.98 inches, and in a 100-year storm 15.9 inches. Gutters that clear a short burst can still overflow during a long soaking rain if the downspouts are undersized.

Downspouts and code

Downspout size and where the water must discharge

Downspouts must match the gutter's flow. A 2 by 3 inch leader carries 30 gallons a minute per the code table, and a 3 by 4 1/4 inch leader carries 192. Many homes with a single 2 by 3 downspout on a long run of roof will overflow in a heavy burst.

For a North Lauderdale lot, the question is where that water lands. Water discharged against the foundation can soak the soil beside the slab. The code gives the 1-foot minimum, and a longer tail moves the water further out.

Debris and upkeep

Leaves, pollen and cleaning gutters near trees

Southern live oaks shed leaves and fruit that become litter in gutters. Oaks and pines are major pollen producers, with the Florida pollen season running January to June and peaking in March and April. Autumn is when pine needles drop hardest, so check gutters again by early December.

In Broward County, 71.9 percent of the normal annual rain falls from May through October, and June is the wettest month at 9.55 inches. A florida insurer's guidance says to clean gutters at least twice a year, and more often under overhanging trees. Clearing them in late April gets them ready before that wet stretch begins.

Rain on your roof

Roof area (square feet)Rain (inches)

Preset: 8.98 inches, the 10-year 24-hour rain (NOAA Atlas 14 at North Lauderdale).

11,189 gallons run off that roof, all of it toward the gutters and downspouts.

Math: square feet × inches × 0.623 gallons.

Request a quote

Questions

Gutters in North Lauderdale: questions

How hard does it rain in North Lauderdale?

A 5-minute downpour in a 10-year storm falls at 10.7 inches an hour here. A 100-year storm reaches 15.4 inches an hour for the same five minutes. Those are the NOAA Atlas 14 figures for this city. The one-hour rate for a 10-year storm is 3.44 inches an hour, and a 24-hour total in a 10-year storm is 8.98 inches. Gutters should be checked against the short burst, because that is when water spills over the edge and runs against the wall.

Source: NOAA Atlas 14 Volume 9 version 2, partial-duration intensity estimates at the North Lauderdale 2020 Census internal point (26.2124, -80.2214), read Oct 5, 2026

Related: Gutters

What gutter size do I need in North Lauderdale?

The plumbing code sizes gutters by roof flow, and a 6-inch half-round gutter at 1/8 inch per foot carries 110 gallons a minute. A 5-inch gutter carries less, so the larger size gives more margin. The size that fits depends on the roof area draining into it, and a 10-year North Lauderdale burst of 10.7 inches an hour sets the stress test. Have a building official or a gutter installer measure your roof before choosing.

Source: 2023 Florida Building Code, Plumbing, 8th ed., Chapter 11 (UpCodes viewer, unofficial transcription), read Oct 5, 2026

Related: Gutters

Where should my downspouts drain in North Lauderdale?

The code requires downspouts to discharge at least 1 foot from the building's sidewall. In North Lauderdale, where a 5-minute 10-year burst reaches 10.7 inches an hour, a short splash block may not move enough water away. A buried line or a longer tail keeps that runoff off the slab edge. Check the discharge after a hard storm to see where the water lands.

Source: 2023 Florida Building Code, Residential, 8th ed., Chapter 8 (UpCodes viewer, unofficial transcription), read Oct 5, 2026

Related: Gutters

How often should I clean gutters near trees in North Lauderdale?

An insurer's guidance says at least twice a year, typically in spring and fall. Under overhanging trees, clean them more often. In North Lauderdale, the 24-hour 10-year rain of 8.98 inches can wash debris from a clogged gutter straight onto the ground beside the house. With 71.9 percent of Broward's normal rain falling May through October, a cleaning in late April is the one that matters most.

Source: thig.com, read Oct 5, 2026

Related: Gutters

Nearby