Gutters · Kendale Lakes

Gutters in Kendale Lakes, FL

In a 10-year storm, 5 minutes of rain in Kendale Lakes can fall at 10.8 inches an hour, and a 100-year burst reaches 15.4. Gutters sized for a light rain overflow under that load. Sizing them for the real burst rate keeps water off your walls and foundation.

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Updated October 2026

Glass entrance doors of a pale yellow building with painted figures and palm trees in front. — Photo: View of Kendale Lakes Branch Library by Alexandra Rincon, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped

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. — Photo: View of Kendale Lakes Branch Library by Alexandra Rincon, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped

Rainfall first

How hard it rains in Kendale Lakes and how that sizes your gutters

The rain that matters for gutters is the burst, not the daily total. A 1-hour rain in a 10-year storm falls at 3.34 inches an hour here, and a 24-hour storm of that size drops 8.42 inches. A gutter has to move the peak rate off the roof before it spills over the front edge.

Close-up of an old sagging gutter pulling away from a rotted, water-stained fascia board with peeling paint and mildew under the eave (illustration)

Illustration: rotted fascia

Florida's plumbing code sizes horizontal gutters from the flow off the roof. It lists a 6-inch half-round gutter at a 1/8-inch-per-foot slope as carrying 110 gallons per minute. By our arithmetic, that is about 49 percent more than a 5-inch gutter at the same slope, so a long roof run may call for the larger size.

Miami-Dade's rain arrives in a long wet season. At Miami International Airport, about 76.6 percent of the yearly 67.41 inches falls from May through October, and June is the wettest month at 10.51 inches. Gutters that clog in June are the ones that fail first.

Code and drainage

Downspout discharge rules and where the water goes on your lot

Under the Florida Building Code, a house with eaves projecting less than 6 inches needs gutters with downspouts, except at gable end rakes or where a roof sits above another roof. Where eaves are short, the rule forces water into pipes instead of letting it drip along the wall.

On a typical flat lot with a 1980 median build year, many original gutters are likely worn. The code asks for at least 1 foot of clearance between the downspout outlet and the sidewall. Any of these will do the job: buried drainage pipe, a downspout tail extension, or a splash block.

Leader capacity matters as much as the gutter. A 4 by 5 inch or 5 inch round leader carries 360 gallons per minute, a 3 by 4 1/4 inch or 4 inch round leader carries 192, and a 2 by 2 inch leader carries only 30. Check each corner's leader against the roof area draining into it.

Keep it clear

Oak leaves, pollen and gutter cleaning timing

Southern live oaks drop leaves and fruit that become a litter problem, and oaks and pines are among the main pollen sources. Pollen season here runs from January to June, peaking in March and April. The autumn pine-needle drop peaks from September through November.

Under heavy canopy, clean after the spring oak drop, before the June through September storm season, and after the autumn needle peak. Tower Hill Insurance Group advises at least twice a year, and more often under overhanging trees. Clogged gutters here can lead to water damage and foundation problems.

Rain on your roof

Roof area (square feet)Rain (inches)

Preset: 8.42 inches, the 10-year 24-hour rain (NOAA Atlas 14 at Kendale Lakes).

10,491 gallons run off that roof, all of it toward the gutters and downspouts.

Math: square feet × inches × 0.623 gallons.

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Questions

Gutters in Kendale Lakes: questions

How much rain falls in a Kendale Lakes storm?

A 5-minute burst in a 10-year storm falls at 10.8 inches an hour here, and a 100-year burst reaches 15.4 inches an hour. Over 24 hours, a 10-year storm drops 8.42 inches. Gutters and downspouts should be sized for these burst rates rather than an average day, because short intense rain is what overflows a gutter. Ask a qualified roofer to measure your roof area before choosing a size.

Source: NOAA Atlas 14 Volume 9 version 2, partial-duration intensity estimates at the Kendale Lakes 2020 Census internal point (25.7069, -80.4116), read Oct 5, 2026

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How big should my downspouts be for a Kendale Lakes house?

Downspout size depends on the roof area draining into each one. In Kendale Lakes, a storm burst of 10.8 inches an hour means a 2 by 2 inch leader, which carries only 30 gallons per minute, is likely too small for most roof corners. A 3 by 4 1/4 inch or 4 inch round leader carries 192 gallons per minute. Check each corner against the roof area before you buy.

Source: NOAA Atlas 14 Volume 9 version 2, partial-duration intensity estimates at the Kendale Lakes 2020 Census internal point (25.7069, -80.4116), read Oct 5, 2026

Related: Gutters

Where should downspouts discharge on a Kendale Lakes lot?

Downspouts need to discharge at least 1 foot from the sidewall under the Florida Building Code. In Kendale Lakes, where the median home dates to 1980, many downspouts were set before current practice and may dump water at the foundation. Underground piping, a tail extension or a splash block all meet the rule. Your building office issues permits in Miami-Dade County, so confirm there for any larger drainage work.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates (2020-2024), table B25024, via Census Reporter API, read Oct 5, 2026

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How often should I clean gutters near oak and pine trees in Kendale Lakes?

Clean them at least twice a year, usually in spring and fall, and more often under heavy canopy. With Kendale Lakes' June wettest month at 10.51 inches, aim to clear gutters before June. A practical schedule is after the spring oak leaf drop, before the June through September storm season, and after the autumn pine-needle peak. Tower Hill Insurance Group gives the twice-a-year guidance.

Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (access data service), read Oct 5, 2026

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