You don’t see them on too many homes, but when you find a home with spanking new copper rain gutters present, you quickly notice the difference. Elegant and stylish, copper gutters add class to a home and, if done right, can add value to your home’s worth.

Copper Turns Green, Right?

Of course, the one problem with copper gutters is that they eventually turn green due to moisture. If you live in the desert where it seldom rains, copper gutters make perfect sense, but not so in the rainy Northwest. Yet, even if you desire to install copper gutters in the wettest areas of the country, there are ways to limit tarnishing.

Copper Gutter Essentials

Before choosing coppper gutters you need to know the following essentials:

• Copper is expensive, therefore your gutters will be expensive. However, copper is durable and your gutters can last as long as your house. Even when turned green, copper gutters age gracefully and look wonderful on many estate homes.

• When sloped properly, copper gutters will not retain water which is the chief reason why they turn green. Pooled water also has a way of attracting debris and insects, therefore your copper gutters need to be installed by a professional who understands how to keep water from pooling.

• Your contractor should buy gutters with a sealant applied that will slow down the oxidation process. This will allow you to enjoy the copper look much longer before the gutters eventually turn green.

Of course, copper gutters are quite expensive, therefore what some homeowners are doing is having them placed on the front of the home while choosing plastic or metal gutters for the rest of the house.

Consider copper gutters if you want your home to have an elegant look while remembering that this will likely be the last time gutters must be installed on your home.

Further Reading

Copper Gutters — Bob Vila

Resources

Home Remodeling Center

Loan Calculators For Your Remodeling Project

Tags: copper gutters, downspouts, Home Construction, Home Improvement, rain gutters