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Copper Gutters: Cost and How to Choose

half round copper gutterCopper Gutter — it’s the most elegant and prestigious choice for a rain gutter system available. Hands down.

You’re likely here because you’re considering copper gutter for your own home. You may have heard it’s the most expensive option on the market (you’re right). You may also sense that copper gutter would add a truly dramatic look to your home — and possibly even be a good long-term investment.

Copper may be for you, or it may not. I want to help you find out.

Customers walk into our building supply warehouse often and ask themselves this same question. Let’s imagine you walked into our warehouse too. It’s time to talk pros and cons. Here’s the exact checklist we’d walk through together:

dream home with copper gutter

Would copper gutter suit your dream home?

Your home is one of your most valuable assets. It’s your masterpiece, a reflection of your personal taste, it’s your own piece of heaven.

Cost simply has to be one of the last considerations in the equation (ahem.. see the next question below). The conversation has to begin with the sincere, deep-rooted feelings you have for your home. Do you truly want the very best for your home?

To you and your family, your home may be your own, personal Fallingwater. In such cases I almost always recommend using the best materials you can that suit your theme. Your gutter selection is an important material among these, as it’s highly visible from all sides of the house.  So, if copper truly enhances the natural, distinct, thoughtful details of your dream home, then copper might be a winner.

Are you willing to pay for copper vs aluminum?

Okay, let’s get into the meat and potatoes. What does copper gutter cost relative to aluminum?

Let’s use 2 different homes to use as examples. First, we have House A — a popular 2-story, 2,000 sq ft home.  A home this size will require about 200 linear feet of rain gutter — that’s about the national average. Second, we have House B — a 3-story, 6,000 sq ft estate. For kicks, let’s pretend it’s an Italian-style villa overlooking the Pacific Ocean. House B will require about 400 linear feet of gutter.

Quick disclaimer here — keep in mind that a majority of gutter installation cost depends on your general contractor’s rate, ability and zip code. You’re always wise to check with several different contractors for quotes on gutter to find the best value possible.

A standard, aluminum gutter system will run a homeowner approximately $3.50 to $7.00 per linear foot (again, range dependent on contractor rate). For House A, the total cost after material and labor would range between $700 and $1,400 in total. For House B, the total cost would fall between $1,400 and $2,275.

Now, let’s switch to a custom, copper system and run the same numbers. Copper will run $18.50 and $26.00 per linear foot. Installation for House A will cost about $3,700 – $5,200. For House B, about $7,400 – $10,400.

There you have it: the cost to fully install the most desirable gutter system the world can offer. Here’s how it compares visually; this chart is the average of the costs outlined above.  Yes, copper will cost 3x, 4x, and in some cases even 5x more than aluminum gutter. That’s why I defer to that first question — are you able and willing to make your dream home the best it can be?

Average cost comparison for a 200 linear ft system

aluminum gutter to copper gutter comparison

Do you understand why copper is more expensive?

Important to know all the facts. Let’s deconstruct what you’re paying for here:

  • Copper is a much more expensive alloy than aluminum — you probably knew that.
  • You also need copper everything, including accessories and fasteners. Aluminum hangers will react adversely and actually break down the copper. A definite no-no. Always hang copper with either copper itself, brass or stainless steel.
  • Copper requires extra time and care for your contractor to install and prevent pre-mature tarnishing. Copper even requires special gloves for installation.
  • Copper often requires additional soldering around the joints. Extra work = more labor = higher cost.

Are copper gutters a good long-term investment for you?

Like other investments in life, your decision to purchase a copper gutter system will depend on a variety of factors, your end goal, and ultimately, what makes you happy. Some more questions to consider:

  • Is the home or building in an exclusive, high-end neighborhood? Will copper help your home stay consistent with your neighbors’ homes?
  • Do you want your home to truly pop out among other homes in your neighborhood? How will the extra curb appeal help increase the value of your home?
  • What is your time horizon? If you plan to live in your home for 30+ years, your copper gutter should hold strong and hopefully satisfy your aesthetic tastes for decades. Likewise, if you plan to sell in the short-term, a copper gutter system could be one of the extra fine details that has your prospects swooning.
  • Are you replacing pre-existing copper spouting? If it was good enough to impress you to purchase, it will likely achieve the same effect when you go to sell. Is it worth the risk to “cut corners”? That’s for you to decide.
  • How important a factor is durability to you? If you want the most durable and lost-lasting material for gutters, copper is it. It’s a more solid alloy than aluminum, it never rusts and it never needs painting.

copper gutter on wood home

Do you love the look of copper?

Ultimately, this perhaps the most important question. We’re passionate about gutters here, but it’s not too often we hear customers say that gutter warms their soul like, say, the look of a terra-cotta roof.

Not to be dramatic, but seeing copper gutter should warm your soul. That’s the clincher. You need to love it.

Brick, stone, stucco, wood, slate — all these materials tend to look GREAT with copper gutter. Also, do you truly like the look of tarnished copper? If you live in the Pacific Northwest USA, you will likely see your copper gutter turn green within a year or two. If you live in sunny San Diego, then your copper gutter will likely keep its original color for years.

It depends on the climate where you live. It’s important to know if you would truly love your home with copper-colored OR time-weathered green gutter. Both looks can work, but again, it’s your personal preference.

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How do Rain Chains work?

rain chainRain chains are a unique addition to a home’s rain gutter system. They function well and also add a pleasant waterfall sound as the rainwater travels downward from cup to cup or link to link. A pleasant ‘white noise’ sound is heard when just a chain is used without the cups. Most homeowners will place them near a window or landscaped area for a visual experience when it rains.

Normally a downspout will drain rainwater from the roofs gutters onto the concrete or lawn and the same can be done with a rain chain. The difference is the rain chain doesn’t have a tube and corners to flow through. It will not clog the gutters or drain system with leaves and debris.

Over many years I have received calls from customers that have asked how they can stop that nagging dripping and echo sound from a downspout near their bedroom. I have heard more than one person say, “Hearing that drip all night is driving me crazy.”Replacing the downspout with a rain chain is a custom way to fix this problem with the benefit of a peaceful relaxing sound.

Some of the first records of a rain chains being used are from Japan. They were used to collect and save fresh rainwater. This captured water was stored in barrels for future use and some people today find this conservation of rainwater to be useful. We have a full line of rain chains available and have been in business since 1983. We offer a variety of different cups and chains that will surprise you.

Rain Chains are made with primarily copper or brass. I have used raw steel chains many times that turns a rusty brown color with age. When using copper chains, after a few years they turn a beautiful color or what is called patina. Brass turns a dark golden brown.

It is my advice when installing a rain chain that they should be connected directly to a hole in the gutter. When replacing a downspout you normally will have a drop outlet connecting the gutter to the downspout. This drop outlet if used will clog up having the chain inside of it. Removing it will make the rain chain work better or just cutting a new hole where the location of the rain chain is wanted works the best.

I know you will find these little waterfalls attached to your rain gutters a pleasant addition to your home. For more information or to purchase a rain chain contact us. Want to learn about what seamless gutters are just go here What are seamless Gutters. Thanks for visiting to see more articles just click on our blog above.

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Types of Residential Rain Gutters

The protection of your home from water damage is crucial in the maintenance and care of your property. Rain gutters are aid in this process by fitting just under the eves of the roof and direct the water through troughs and downspouts that conform to the walls to places far enough away from the house to reduce water damage. Rain gutters keeping the rain away from the areas around the house itself and keep the water from seeping into the foundation. Flooding into the foundations, basement or crawl spaces can cause erosion around the house and permanent damage to the structure. And since many insurance policies do not cover damage from flooding, in is vital to have a method to keep the water away. Installing rain gutters is a fairly inexpensive way to protect the structure of your house and ensure a sound foundation.

Rains gutters are made out of several types of materials; the three most common of which are aluminum, PVC and copper. Some are constructed out of wood, but this is rare. PVC gutters are the least expensive of the three and are the easiest to work with; they can fit any house and come in various color choices to match your home (this type is not recommended overall this type does not last the test of time). Aluminum gutters cost more but are far superior they are the toughest of the three , they also last the longest and come in various color choices to match your home they also can be painted to mach the trim of your house. Copper gutters are the most expensive but they look great and conduct heat well, so if you live in a very cold climate, they can help with ice buildup.

There are two types of rain gutters. First is a seamless gutter system. Each edge of your roof is fitted with a single strip of painted aluminum. These rain gutters are constructed right at your home by Everything Gutter and can span up to 500 ft of roof length. The second type is the older system, where sections or pieces of gutter are fitted together into a custom arrangement and configuration witch leaves you with seams all over, this is the older type system witch we currently do not use and do not recommend.

Rain gutters are relatively easy to maintain and should be cleaned and inspected at least twice a year. If you have a lot of trees around your property, you might need to clean them more often. Cleaning involves removing leaves and debris and washing them with a high pressure hose. If you live in areas that require more cleaning, or have a lot of trees, you may want to look into gutter protection devices that cover the opening of the gutter. This allows water to go into the gutter, but the debris fall over the edge of the roof.

If rain gutters are installed properly, they will look great, prolong the life of your foundation and reduce future cost of repairs down the road. So if you decide to install rain gutters, Contact us to get your free evaluation on cost, materials and layout.

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How About Those Downspouts?


Picture if you will, brand new shiny seamless gutters on your house. Picture them clean and free of any leaves, pine cones, pine needles, those annoying little helicopter things, and just general debris. Nice huh? Well, not so fast there. All that runoff from the roof will flow very nicely into the gutter and toward the downspout. But what if the downspout itself is clogged up with debris? Where will all that water go? Nowhere, it will just fill up the gutter and overflow both the front and back, which will cause extensive and expensive problems. Erosion of the soil underneath the gutters, and possible damage to the fascia board behind the gutters is sure to happen. Not to mention foundation, interior walls, window, and basement problems. So let’s not forget to keep an eye on the downspout and make sure that water is flowing freely out of them and away from the foundation. It is not well known but true that leaves will turn into dirt like compost, and if they get stuck in the downspout it is obvious that water will not flow freely and eventually back up into and over those nice shiny, clean gutters. So the message here is to be aware of the downspouts. If you are having a gutter guard installed, make sure that the downspouts are cleaned along with the gutters before installing the guards. Once those things are completed you should have a lifetime of worry-free performance with your gutters and downspouts. A trained gutter professional can easily assess the condition of all gutter components, and often times a simple gutter tune up will leave your gutters functionally like new.
Everything Gutter can provide the experienced professional and certified installers to evaluate your gutter system. There are many homeowner issues with which to contend, but your gutters need not be one of them. “Everything Gutter” guarantees all its work for life, so you’ll never have to worry about gutters again. See us on line at http://everythinggutter.com.