Moreover, an amateur installer might use caulk or caulk hidden behind a copper cover to seal joints. Without the proper placement of expansion joints – seams in the metal that give room for the metal to move – the copper can apply considerable force as it swells, fracturing itself. Copper will swell and contract as it heats and cools, more so than aluminum or steel. They frame the edge of the roof, drawing the eye upward, bringing attention to the layers of slate, copper flashing, and other embellishments.Ĭommercial gutter installers frequently mistreat copper as though it were aluminum, ignoring its unique thermal properties. A beautiful stone roof is made more lovely with well-made copper gutters. Copper gutters are a natural and sensible complement to any natural roof, but especially slate. In short: Copper gutters that have been installed properly, with attention to infrequent, but regular maintenance, can last for 60-90 years. The Durable Slate Company suggests annual gutter and downspout cleanings to keep them clear and avoid any potential leak issues. In colder temperatures, a clogged downspout can fill with water which can then freeze and cause the downspout to burst. Moreover, clogged gutters and downspouts won’t drain properly and can cause interior leaks at walls and foundations as well as washing away landscaping. Without proper maintenance, leaf build-up and other debris can trap moisture against the metal, accelerating corrosion. But if attended to, copper gutters can last anywhere from sixty to ninety years (or longer). This is no throw-away afterthought and deserves skilled installation and routine maintenance in order to perform optimally. This is in part due to copper’s natural durability, but also the attention these gutters deserve as a premium building material. If maintained throughout their life-cycle, your copper gutters might last four times longer than an aluminum equivalent. As cities grow and climate change brings more rain, a robust copper gutter system can almost-effortlessly protect your home from future storms. Copper gutters are well suited against abusive marine environments or cities with acid rain and can outlive their metal siblings with ease. But copper is more resistant to corrosion than aluminum, and significantly more resilient than steel.
Patina copper gutters skin#
This protective skin accumulates year after year, and contributes to copper’s overall resistance to corrosion.īecause the chief job for any gutter is to channel water away from the home, rust is an automatic problem. It’s a carbonate layer that, unlike rust, actually protects the underlying copper from corrosion.
This coating forms when copper is exposed to oxygen and other pollutants. Over time all things copper acquire a patina – first turning a rich brown and then that classic green-brown-blue coating. Expansion joints allow for the segments of gutter to move freely during expansion and contraction without them, solder seams can break and the metal itself can tear thus causing leaks to occur. Expansion joints – a bridge between two gutter segments – are an essential component when a long run of gutter exists.
The Durable Slate Company installs a variety of historically correct gutter profiles in order to maintain the integrity of a property.Īll of our gutters are soldered by hand to ensure a waterproof, long lasting seal at the joints, end caps, and downspout outlets. Copper gutters are considered a lifetime product and do not require routine maintenance such as painting or sealing. Aluminum and steel gutters provide an effective solution but can be unsightly and require maintenance over the course of their service life – aluminum gutters may need to be resealed at the joints periodically and steel gutters require painting every 5-7 years with a rust prohibitive paint. Common gutter materials include aluminum, steel, and copper.