Comparing the metals
Copper vs Aluminum Gutters
Copper and aluminum are the two gutter metals most Los Angeles homeowners weigh against each other. Aluminum is light, widely available and less expensive. Copper costs more and is chosen for how long it lasts and how it looks as it ages. Here is a plain comparison, so you can decide what makes sense for your house.
At a glance
The short version
| Copper | Aluminum | |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | Higher. Copper is a costly metal and the work is more specialized. | Lower. The most common and budget-friendly gutter metal. |
| Lifespan | Very long when installed well. Copper gutters commonly last for decades. | Shorter on average. Seams, paint and dents wear over time. |
| Finish | Solid metal, no paint. Darkens to brown, can turn green over many years. | Painted. Many colors, but paint can fade, chalk or chip. |
| Strength | Heavier and more resistant to dents. | Light and easy to dent with a ladder or a falling branch. |
| Joints | Traditionally soldered. | Usually sealed with sealant and fasteners. |
| Maintenance | Cleaning, like any gutter. No repainting. | Cleaning, plus touch-up or repainting as the finish ages. |
| Good fit | Homes where the gutters are part of the look, and owners planning to stay. | Homes where function and budget come first. |
Cost: what drives the difference
Copper gutters cost more than aluminum, and that is the first thing most people ask about. The difference comes from two places. The metal itself is more expensive, and installing it takes more specialized work, especially at joints and corners.
On any particular house, the price also depends on the length of the gutter runs, the number of corners and downspouts, the height of the house and the condition of the fascia. That is why we give a written price after seeing the house rather than a per-foot number over the phone. If budget is the deciding factor, aluminum is a reasonable choice, and we will say so.
Lifespan: why copper lasts
Copper does not rust. As it weathers, it forms a thin surface layer, first brown and later sometimes green, that protects the metal underneath. There is no paint to fail, so the gutter's appearance does not depend on a coating holding up.
Aluminum also resists rust, but aluminum gutters depend on a painted finish for their color, and that paint fades and chips with sun exposure over the years. Aluminum is also softer, so dents from ladders, branches and errant balls are common, and a dented gutter can hold water where it should not.
In Los Angeles, strong sun is the main stress on a gutter finish most of the year. Copper has nothing to fade. That is one of the practical reasons people choose it, beyond its looks.
Thinking about copper gutters? Talk it through with the crew that installs them.
Call (424) 328-6560Looks: patina vs paint
This is often the real deciding factor. Aluminum gutters are usually chosen to blend in, painted to match the trim or the fascia. Copper gutters are chosen to be seen. They start bright and glowing, darken to a warm brown and bronze within months, and over many years can develop a green patina.
In the dry Los Angeles climate, copper tends to stay in its brown and bronze stage for a long time. Sheltered stretches under deep eaves may stay brown for many years, while exposed runs weather faster. If you want copper to stay bright, it can be cleaned and treated, though most owners let it age naturally.
Copper looks especially good against brick, stucco, natural wood and dark roofs, and on traditional, Spanish, Tudor and craftsman homes. On a modern house, it can add warmth to clean lines.
Weight and installation
Aluminum is light and quick to install, which keeps labor costs down. Copper is heavier, so the hangers, their spacing and the fascia they attach to matter more. A copper system is also joined differently: corners, end caps and outlets are traditionally soldered, which takes skill but makes a durable joint that weathers along with the rest of the gutter.
You can read how we handle each step on our copper gutter installation page.
Don't mix the two metals
One important point if you are thinking of combining materials: copper and aluminum should not be in contact where water connects them. Water that runs off copper can corrode aluminum and galvanized steel. That means copper gutters should have copper or compatible hangers and copper downspouts, and an existing aluminum system should not simply be patched with copper sections, or the other way around.
The same caution applies to the roof edge. If there is aluminum or galvanized flashing or drip edge where the copper gutter will sit, it is worth a conversation before installation.
Profiles are available in both metals
Both copper and aluminum gutters are made in K-style and half-round profiles. The profile is a separate decision from the metal. Our half-round copper gutters page compares the two shapes in detail.
The verdict
Which is right for your house?
Copper
Choose copper if the gutters are part of the architecture, you want a material without paint to maintain, and you plan to keep the house for years.
Aluminum
Choose aluminum if function and budget come first and the gutters should disappear into the trim.
If you are leaning toward copper and want to talk it through, call (424) 328-6560. Copper Gutters Los Angeles is operated by Eclipse Remodeling & Roofing Inc, CSLB #888710, and our own crew does the work.
FAQ
Questions Los Angeles homeowners ask
How much longer do copper gutters last than aluminum?
Copper gutters commonly last for decades and generally outlast aluminum, which depends on a painted finish and dents more easily. Actual life depends on installation quality, exposure and maintenance for either metal.
Do copper gutters need maintenance?
Like any gutter, they need cleaning so leaves and debris do not block the flow. They never need repainting, because there is no paint.
Can copper gutters be painted to match the house?
They can be, but it is rarely done, since the reason to choose copper is the metal itself. If you want gutters that match the trim color, painted aluminum or steel is usually the better choice.
Can I replace only part of my aluminum gutters with copper?
It is not a good idea. Copper and aluminum should not be joined where water connects them, because runoff from copper can corrode aluminum. It is better to plan the copper as a complete system with its own hangers and downspouts. See our copper gutter installation page for how that works.
Are copper gutters a good choice in a dry climate like Los Angeles?
Yes. Copper does not have paint to fade in strong sun, and in dry air it tends to stay in its brown and bronze stage for a long time before any green patina appears.
Keep reading
More on copper gutters in Los Angeles
Estimates
Talk to the crew that builds it
Tell us about the house, the eaves and what is draining there now. We will come out, look at the fascia, the roofline and where the water needs to go, and give you a written scope for copper gutters and downspouts.
(424) 328-6560- CSLB #888710
- Residential only
- Our own crew, no subcontractors.
