Start with conditions, not a product
Condition-first factors -- roof area, valleys, tree debris, fascia, downspout placement, final discharge -- outweigh color, especially with a low-lying Tampa Bay peninsula setting exposed to tropical storm downpours.
Build a complete scope
- Roof area and overhang condition, especially on older exposed rafter tails
- Downspout count and placement sized for short, intense rainfall
- Where the water actually goes once it reaches ground this flat
- Material and fastener choice appropriate to salt air
- Debris handling, access for maintenance, and what the warranty covers
St. Petersburg context
Two St. Petersburg conditions pull against each other here. The rain is intense and arrives in short heavy bursts, so capacity and downspout count decide whether a system works during the storms that actually matter -- an installation sized by appearance will overflow. But low elevation and flat terrain mean there is very little fall to carry that water away once it lands, so the discharge point is the harder half of the design, and simply moving water off the roof efficiently can leave it standing against the foundation. Salt air then shortens the life of the system itself, which is why material and fastener choice matter more here than a few miles inland. The historic bungalow districts add a practical constraint, since deep overhangs and original rafter tails and fascia shape what can be attached and often need attention first.