Gutters · Atlantis
Gutters in Atlantis, FL
In a 10-year storm, Atlantis can see rain fall at 11.1 inches an hour for five minutes. That burst, not the yearly total, is what gutters must handle. A gutter sized for light rain can overflow in one short downpour, and water then runs down the fascia and into the wall or the soil at the foundation.
Updated October 2026
Sizing for the storm
Sizing gutters for Atlantis downpours
Gutter size depends on how fast the roof sheds water, not on the yearly total. The 1-hour 10-year rain here is 3.44 inches an hour, and the 24-hour 10-year depth is 8.59 inches. A short, intense burst drives the sizing, so the 5-minute figure matters most.
IllustrationIllustration: downpour no gutter
The plumbing code sizes horizontal gutters from the roof flow rate, using capacity tables. A 6-inch half-round gutter at 1/8 inch per foot slope is rated at 110 gallons per minute, about 49 percent more than a 5-inch at the same slope. That extra size is worth it on a large roof that faces a burst like this one.
Downspouts need matching capacity. A 2 by 3 inch leader carries 30 gallons per minute, while a 3 by 4 1/4 inch or 4-inch round leader carries 192. Walls that shed rain onto the roof add to the area, so count them too.
Where the water goes
Downspout discharge rules in Atlantis homes
Under Florida's residential code, buildings with eaves extending less than 6 inches need gutters and downspouts. Route each downspout at least a foot from the sidewall using an underground pipe, a tail extension, or a splash block.
Many homes here were built around 1978, so original gutters may lack that discharge distance. Water that dumps against the foundation can cause problems, and the code rule is the standard to check against.
Keeping gutters clear
Leaves, trees and cleaning schedule for Atlantis
Live oaks drop leaves and fruit that become a litter problem, and oaks and pines are major pollen sources. Expect pollen from January through June, with the heaviest counts arriving in March and April. Cleaning after the spring pollen and before the June to September storm season is a sensible rhythm.
Pine needles fall heavily in September through November, so a late-fall cleaning helps. An insurer advises cleaning gutters at least twice a year, and more often under overhanging trees.
Rain on your roof
Preset: 8.59 inches, the 10-year 24-hour rain (NOAA Atlas 14 at Atlantis).
10,703 gallons run off that roof, all of it toward the gutters and downspouts.
Math: square feet × inches × 0.623 gallons.
Questions
Gutters in Atlantis: questions
How hard does it rain in Atlantis?
In a 10-year storm, rain in Atlantis can fall at 11.1 inches an hour for five minutes, and 16.1 inches an hour in a 100-year storm. A 1-hour, 10-year storm produces rainfall of 3.44 inches per hour. The 24-hour 10-year depth is 8.59 inches. Gutters should be sized for these short bursts, not for the average daily rain. Check your gutter size against the roof area it drains.
Source: NOAA Atlas 14 Volume 9 version 2, partial-duration intensity estimates at the Atlantis 2020 Census internal point (26.5969, -80.1037), read Oct 5, 2026
How far from the house must downspouts discharge in Florida?
In Florida, the residential code calls for each downspout to empty at least 1 foot (305 mm) away from the building's sidewall. Water can be carried by underground pipe, a tail extension or a splash block. If your downspouts dump against the foundation, the rule shows they should be extended. Check the latest rules with the City of Atlantis Building Department before you begin.
Source: 2023 Florida Building Code, Residential, 8th ed., Chapter 8 (UpCodes viewer, unofficial transcription), read Oct 5, 2026
What gutter size do I need for a large Atlantis roof?
Gutter capacity depends on roof area, slope and the storm rate. Under the plumbing code, a 6-inch half-round gutter at 1/8 inch per foot slope carries 110 gallons per minute, about 49 percent more than a 5-inch. For Atlantis, the 5-minute 10-year rate is 11.1 inches an hour, so a large roof needs the bigger size. Downspouts must match that flow, and walls that shed rain onto the roof add to the area. A tradesperson can measure your roof to choose the size.
Source: 2023 Florida Building Code, Plumbing, 8th ed., Chapter 11 (UpCodes viewer, unofficial transcription), read Oct 5, 2026
How often should gutters be cleaned near oak and pine trees?
Clean gutters at least twice a year, in spring and fall, and more often when oak or pine trees hang over the roof. In Atlantis, pollen season runs January to June and pine needles peak from September through November, so the schedule should follow those months. A practical plan is to clean after the spring oak drop and pollen, before the June to September storm season, and again after the pine-needle peak in late November and December. Many homes here were built around 1978, so older gutters may already be sagging or pulling away from the fascia and are worth checking at each cleaning. Clogged gutters that overflow can soak fascia boards and the roof edge during heavy summer rains.
Source: thig.com, read Oct 5, 2026
Sources for this page(28)
- 1.Median year homes were built: 1978. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates (2020-2024), table B25035, via Census Reporter API. Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 2.U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates (2020-2024), table B25035, via Census Reporter API. Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 3.NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (access data service). Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 4.Permit office: City of Atlantis - Building Department. City of Atlantis - Building Department. Read Oct 10, 2026.
- 5.NOAA Atlas 14 (HDSC Precipitation Frequency Data Server). Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 6.2023 Florida Building Code, Plumbing, 8th ed., Chapter 11 (UpCodes viewer, unofficial transcription). Read Oct 5, 2026. FBC text read from UpCodes (unofficial transcription): check floridabuilding.org or the ICC viewer before quoting (spec 8.7). Source URL inherited from COM-20 (the research cites it "as COM-20").
- 7.2023 Florida Building Code, Residential, 8th ed., R318.5 (UpCodes viewer, unofficial transcription); FBC-Building 1503.7. Read Oct 5, 2026. FBC text read from UpCodes (unofficial transcription): check floridabuilding.org or the ICC viewer before quoting (spec 8.7).
- 8.2023 Florida Building Code, Residential, 8th ed., Chapter 3 (UpCodes viewer, unofficial transcription). Read Oct 5, 2026. FBC text read from UpCodes (unofficial transcription): check floridabuilding.org or the ICC viewer before quoting (spec 8.7).
- 9.2023 Florida Building Code, Residential, 8th ed., Chapter 8 (UpCodes viewer, unofficial transcription). Read Oct 5, 2026. FBC text read from UpCodes (unofficial transcription): check floridabuilding.org or the ICC viewer before quoting (spec 8.7). Source URL inherited from NC-2 (the research cites it "as NC-2").
- 10.ask.ifas.ufl.edu. Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 11.blogs.ifas.ufl.edu. Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 12.ufdcimages.uflib.ufl.edu. Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 13.thig.com. Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 14.NOAA Atlas 14 Volume 9 version 2, partial-duration intensity estimates at the Atlantis 2020 Census internal point (26.5969, -80.1037), NOAA Hydrometeorological Design Studies Center. Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 15.NOAA Atlas 14 Volume 9 version 2, partial-duration 24-hour depth estimates at the Atlantis 2020 Census internal point (26.5969, -80.1037), NOAA Hydrometeorological Design Studies Center. Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 16.City of Atlantis - Building Department, City of Atlantis. Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 17.U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates (2020-2024), table B25004, via Census Reporter API, U.S. Census Bureau (via Census Reporter). Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 18.U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates (2020-2024), table B25035, B25034, B25024, via Census Reporter API, U.S. Census Bureau (via Census Reporter). Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 19.Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, inspections FAQ (updated 2026-03-17), Citizens Property Insurance. Read Oct 4, 2026.
- 20.2023 Florida Building Code, Building, 8th ed., Chapter 15 (UpCodes viewer, unofficial transcription), UpCodes (Florida Building Code transcription). Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 21.Miami-Dade County RER notice, Miami. Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 22.Florida Building Commission, 'Setting New Standards for Safety: The Florida Building Code' (2004 publication; wind-speed figures in it are outdated and not used), Florida Building Commission. Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 23.NOAA National Hurricane Center, Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Irma (AL112017), NOAA National Hurricane Center. Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 24.NOAA National Hurricane Center, Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Matthew (AL142016), NOAA National Hurricane Center. Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 25.NOAA National Hurricane Center, Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Dorian (AL052019), NOAA National Hurricane Center. Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 26.NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (access data service), NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 27.Wikipedia, 'Atlantis, Florida' (revision 1374466491), Wikipedia. Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 28.NOAA Atlas 14 at Atlantis: 11.1 in/hr (5-minute, 10-year). NOAA Atlas 14 Precipitation Frequency Data Server. Read Oct 5, 2026.
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Gutters in Atlantis
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