Gutters · Medley

Gutters in Medley, FL

Medley's 10-year, five-minute downpour falls at 10.8 inches an hour, according to NOAA Atlas 14. The gutters and downspouts on a Medley home have to carry that burst off the roof. A gutter sized for a light shower can overflow in one of these bursts, so sizing matters more here than in most places.

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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.

Sizing for local rain

Sizing Medley gutters for a 10.8-inch burst

Plumbing code sizes horizontal gutters by the water the roof sends into them. A 5-inch half-round gutter at 1/8 inch per foot slope carries about 74 gallons per minute. A 6-inch one at the same slope carries about 110. That step up costs little and gives a wide margin against a Medley burst.

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

Downspouts need the same attention. A 2 1/2 by 3 inch leader moves about 92 gallons per minute and a 3 by 4 1/4 inch leader about 192. By our arithmetic, one 2 by 2 inch leader at 30 gallons per minute is badly undersized for a long run of roof draining into it. Add half the area of any wall that sheds rain onto the roof before you pick the size.

Florida design tables use the 5-minute, 10-year rate for gutter sizing, and that rate is high in Medley. Some older tables put Miami at 7.7 inches an hour, so a gutter sized from an old chart may fall short of today's figures. Confirm the design basis with the Town of Medley Building and Zoning Department before you choose a size.

Code and drainage

Where Medley downspouts must discharge

A downspout must discharge at least 1 foot from the sidewall of the building. The distance can be met with underground piping, a tail extension or a splash block. This keeps the rain that the gutter collects from soaking the footing that holds up your home.

Medley's median home was built in 1979, so many of the gutters and fasteners on these homes are likely original. That suggests checking old hangers and joints before the next wet season. Mobile homes make up 79.1% of Medley housing units, and many of them have shallow eaves that decide whether gutters are required at all.

Gutters are required where eaves project less than 6 inches, except at gable rakes or where one roof sits above another.
Gutter and downspout joints must be lapped, soldered or caulked, and fastened with corrosion-resistant devices.
Hidden hangers spaced 16 inches apart add uplift resistance in storm-prone areas.

Debris and upkeep

Leaves, pollen and cleaning gutters near oaks

Southern live oaks shed leaves and fruit that become litter in gutters, and their canopy can spread 60 to 120 feet. Florida pollen season runs from January to June, with the peak in March and April. Plan a cleaning after the spring oak drop and pollen, before the June to September storm season, and again after the autumn pine-needle peak.

Industry guidance is to clean gutters at least twice a year, and more often under overhanging trees. Blocked gutters in a Medley rain can push water back under the roof edge, leading to water damage and mold. Working on a ladder after a storm is risky, and the National Weather Service advises against working on roofs when thunder can be heard.

Rain on your roof

Roof area (square feet)Rain (inches)

Preset: 8.32 inches, the 10-year 24-hour rain (NOAA Atlas 14 at Medley).

10,367 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 Medley: questions

How big should gutters be for rain in Medley?

Size them for the 5-minute, 10-year rate of 10.8 inches an hour that NOAA Atlas 14 gives for Medley. A 6-inch half-round gutter at 1/8 inch per foot slope carries about 110 gallons per minute, against about 74 for a 5-inch. That margin matters in a Medley downpour. Ask the Town of Medley Building and Zoning Department which design basis applies to your permit.

Source: NOAA Atlas 14 Volume 9 version 2, partial-duration intensity estimates at the Medley 2020 Census internal point (25.8572, -80.3470), read Oct 5, 2026

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Where should downspouts drain on a Medley lot?

Each downspout must discharge at least 1 foot from the building sidewall, using underground piping, a tail extension or a splash block. Medley's 10-year, one-hour rain falls at 3.35 inches an hour, so a downspout that dumps at the foundation can saturate the soil beside the footing within one storm. Use one of the three methods on every downspout.

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

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Do I need gutters on my Medley mobile home?

It depends on your eaves. Code requires gutters with downspouts where eaves project less than 6 inches, with exceptions at gable end rakes and roofs above other roofs. With 79.1% of Medley housing units being mobile homes, shallow eaves are common here. Measure your eave projection, then confirm with the Town of Medley Building and Zoning Department. Medley's 24-hour rain reaches 8.32 inches in a 10-year storm.

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 trees in Medley?

Clean them at least twice a year, and more often under heavy oak or pine canopy. Southern live oaks can produce a litter problem in Medley yards, and pollen peaks in March and April. A cleaning before the June to September storm season is a sensible step. Miami International Airport averages 67.41 inches of rain a year, so the storm-season cleaning is worth scheduling. Confirm your own schedule with your insurer or agent if you have questions about your policy.

Source: thig.com, read Oct 5, 2026

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