Outside of historic homes, copper gutters are typically a rare sight—this is unfortunate because copper gutters offer a number of benefits to homeowners. Copper is a strong material that never rusts or corrodes, which gives copper gutters amazing longevity compared to other gutter materials such as vinyl, aluminum, and steel. Additionally, their rarity means that copper gutters will add a unique, historic charm to your home. To find out more about copper gutters, read on for four major benefits of selecting this durable material for your home's gutters.
1. Copper Gutters Are a Green Option
Because copper gutters last for decades before they need replacement and the copper used to construct them can be recycled endlessly while retaining its usefulness, they're one of the greenest materials used in gutter construction. Other types of gutters, such as vinyl, will head towards the landfill once they begin to crack and require replacement. This makes copper gutters the best choice for homeowners looking to practice a zero-waste lifestyle.
2. Copper Gutters Turn Green Over Time, Too
If you look at pictures of older buildings in Europe, you'll often notice that the gutters on them have a blue-green hue. That's because copper gutters commonly used in older European buildings will develop a patina over time as the metal begins to oxidize. This is a unique feature of copper that makes copper gutters an excellent choice for owners of historic buildings.
However, you can also retain their shining copper appearance by applying a protective coating to your gutters once a year. This blocks moisture from causing the copper to oxidize, preventing the patina from forming.
3. Copper Gutters Give You the Same Benefits as Seamless Gutters
Gutters with seams and joints often begin to leak at the seams or split apart as they age. It's a weak point where gutters typically fail first. Many homeowners opt for seamless gutters in order to prevent leaks from developing at the seams of the gutters.
While copper gutters come in separate parts like seamed gutters, the pieces are soldered together rather than joined at the seams with a fastener. The durable weld gives you the same benefits of seamless gutters—copper gutters will stay joined together and won't begin to develop leaks at the seams.
4. Copper Gutters Can Be Easily Secured Against Theft Using Pin Bolts
Since copper is such a desirable metal for recycling, it fetches high prices at scrapyards. Unfortunately, this makes copper gutters a promising target for thieves. You can protect your copper gutters by opting to have them installed using pin bolts as fasteners. Pin bolts secure gutters directly to the fascia board, preventing burglars from easily removing them from your roof. Thieves would need to meticulously saw through every fastener in order to remove them.
While copper gutters are easily the most expensive material to use for your home's gutters, many homeowners find them worth the cost—they're long-lasting, they're durable, and they don't corrode like steel gutters. Copper gutters are also quite eye-catching, which boosts your home's appeal. If you're interested in the benefits of copper gutters, find professional gutter services who are experienced in installing them—they'll need to know how to solder the joints of the gutters and how to secure them with pin bolts.
For more information, reach out to a company such as Drey Roofing.
After struggling with the appearance and structural integrity of my home, I realized that I had to do something to make a difference. I realized that part of the issue had to be the roof, since the home had been in my family for years and nobody had ever addressed the roof before. I met with a roofing team to talk about the problem, and they were instrumental in helping me to get things sorted out. After a few renovations, things had really improved, and I felt like things were on the up and up. I wanted to start a blog that focused on finding roofing for your home, so check out this blog.