Over time all things copper acquire a patina –first turning a rich brown and then that classic green-brown-blue coating. This coating forms when copper is exposed to oxygen and other pollutants. It’s a carbonate layer that, unlike rust, actually protects the underlying copper from corrosion. This protective skin accumulates year after year, and contributes to copper’s overall resistance to corrosion.

Because the chief job for any gutter is to channel water away from the home, rust is an automatic problem. But copper is more resistant to corrosion than aluminum, and significantly more resilient than steel. Copper gutters are well suited against abusive marine environments or cities with acid rain and can outlive their metal siblings with ease. As cities grow and climate change brings more rain, a robust copper gutter system can almost-effortlessly protect your home from future storms.

If maintained throughout their life-cycle, your copper gutters might last four times longer than an aluminum equivalent. This is in part due to copper’s natural durability, but also the attention these gutters deserve as a premium building material. This is no throw-away afterthought and deserves skilled installation and routine maintenance in order to perform optimally. But if attended to, copper gutters can last anywhere from sixty to ninety years (or longer).

In short: Copper gutters that have been installed properly, with attention to infrequent, but regular maintenance, can last for 60-90 years. Possibly as long as a century. Copper gutters are a natural and sensible complement to any natural roof, but especially slate. A beautiful stone roof is made more lovely with well-made copper gutters. They frame the edge of the roof, drawing the eye upward, bringing attention to the layers of slate, copper flashing, and other embellishments.

Commercial gutter installers frequently mistreat copper as though it were aluminum, ignoring its unique thermal properties. Copper will swell and contract as it heats and cools, more so than aluminum or steel. 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. Moreover, an amateur installer might use caulk or caulk hidden behind a copper cover to seal joints. Caulk obviously won’t last as long as the copper, requiring frequent touch ups and related repairs. For these and countless other reasons, an experienced hand is key when working with copper.

Moreover, The Durable Slate Company only uses an innovative lead-free solder to seal joints for maximum durability and long-term aesthetic appeal. Most gutter installers use a lead based solder, which produces harmful fumes during installation and can eventually leech into nearby water systems, gardens, and farms. In contrast, we take our environmental responsibilities seriously and have worked hard to develop and extensively test lead-free solders that provide equal or better durability for lasting beauty. The exclusive use of lead-free solder puts The Durable Slate Company on the leading edge of environmentally friendly copper installers.

We also offer comprehensive quality control to ensure each project has been completed per the contract specifications and that all aspects of the repair meet our quality standards. Our quality control inspectors check solder seams for a complete seal; proper placement and number of expansion joints; correct pitch of gutter to ensure adequate drainage; and scrutinize the outward aesthetics of your copper gutters for maximum beauty. Homeowners are also provided with a certificate of completeness for every project to keep for their records.

As a naturally sourced, durable material, copper has a high re-use potential and rarely finds itself abandoned to a landfill. There’s simply too much value in recovering and recycling copper for it to go to waste. As such, its life-long environmental impact is minimal, making copper a very green choice for the environmentally minded homeowner.