5-Inch or 6-Inch? Matching Sasquatch Gutter Protection to Texas Commercial Gutters and Rainfall

Sasquatch is E-Z Gutter Guard's hangerless gutter protection system. It is a cover that sits on the gutter, not a gutter itself. It comes in 5-inch and 6-inch widths. That sounds like a simple ordering choice, but on commercial jobs in Texas the width question connects to how the gutters were sized, how hard it rains where the building is, and whether the gutters are being replaced as part of the work.

This post walks through how to get the size right the first time.

The cover follows the gutter

Sasquatch locks into the gutter's front hem and fastens through a patent-pending rear screw ledge directly to the fascia (E-Z Gutter Guard). Because it attaches to the gutter's front edge, the cover width has to match the gutter width that is already there or that the roofer is putting in.

• 5-inch Sasquatch for 5-inch gutters.
• 6-inch Sasquatch for 6-inch gutters.
• Both come in 7.5-foot lengths with a black finish.

A cover does not add drainage capacity. The gutter and downspouts do that work. The cover's job is to keep debris out so the gutter can carry the water it was designed for.

Why Texas gutter sizing deserves a second look

Many commercial and multifamily buildings in Texas were built with gutters sized from older rainfall tables. In 2018, NOAA published Atlas 14 Volume 11 for Texas, which replaced rainfall-frequency values dating to the 1960s and 1970s. NOAA reported significantly higher values in parts of the state. In Austin, for example, the 100-year, 24-hour rainfall amount rose by as much as 3 inches, to as high as 13 inches (NOAA).

That does not mean every existing gutter is undersized. It does mean a re-roof or retrofit is a good time to check.

How the gutter size gets checked

The common commercial reference is the SMACNA Architectural Sheet Metal Manual. SMACNA's free downspout and gutter sizing calculator uses roof design area, rainfall intensity, gutter section lengths, number of downspouts, and the gutter's width-to-height ratio to size the system. It also lets the designer enter current NOAA rainfall intensity or the value required by the local authority having jurisdiction (SMACNA).

For the property team, the practical order is:

1. Confirm the existing gutter width and profile at each elevation.
2. Have the roofer or designer confirm that size still works for the roof area and local rainfall.
3. If the gutters are being upsized, order Sasquatch to the new width.
4. If the gutters stay, order Sasquatch to match what is installed.

Timing the order on a re-roof

When gutters are being replaced as part of a re-roof, wait to order gutter protection until the new gutter width is set in the submittal. If the roofer upsizes from 5-inch to 6-inch late in the project, a cover order placed early will not fit. Tying the Sasquatch line item to the approved gutter submittal avoids a return and a second delivery.

Mixed widths on one property

Larger properties often have more than one gutter size. The main roof may run 6-inch gutters while canopies, entries, and outbuildings run 5-inch. Treat each elevation as its own line item on the takeoff. A clear measurement sheet by building and elevation prevents the most common ordering mistake: one width ordered for the whole site.

Choosing material thickness

Width and thickness are separate decisions. Sasquatch is offered in a standard .019-inch high-strength aluminum and a heavy-duty .022-inch Arctic Extreme version. The width follows the gutter. The thickness follows exposure: heavier falling debris, harsher weather, or an owner who wants the heavier-gauge option. Both carry E-Z Gutter Guard's lifetime limited transferable warranty.

Fire-exposure properties

For buildings near brush, grassland, or the wildland-urban interface, Sasquatch meets ASTM E2768 for flame spread and ASTM E2886 for ember intrusion. That applies to both widths, so fire exposure does not change the sizing decision. It is simply one more reason to keep dry debris out of the gutter.

A quick pre-order checklist

• Gutter width measured at every elevation, not assumed.
• Gutter sizing confirmed if the roof is being replaced.
• Linear footage by width, rounded to 7.5-foot lengths.
• Thickness chosen: .019-inch standard or .022-inch Arctic Extreme.
• Fascia condition checked, since the rear ledge fastens to it.

Where CCSI fits

Construction Component Sales Inc. represents Sasquatch to commercial property managers, roofing contractors, GCs, and HOAs across Texas. We help sort out widths, thickness, and quantities by elevation so the order matches the building. See the full CCSI E-Z Gutter Guard product line.