How To Seam Copper Gutters

While older gutter systems can be made of sheet metal or copper with soldered seams and end caps most newer gutters are seamless aluminum which reduces breakages.

How to seam copper gutters.

Lengths but the last piece in the run will need to be cut with a hacksaw or tinsnips. See below for a shopping list and tools subscribe to this old house. Copper gutters are a unique beautiful way to finish a home. Unfortunately the repairs that come with copper gutters are a little more complicated than traditional gutters.

Here s how to fix gutter end caps. Here you ll learn how to make basic repairs to the gutter seams on your copper gutters. Depending on the material rain gutters generally last anywhere from a decade to 100 years with vinyl and steel the most popular and affordable gutter materials least durable and copper the. Contractor or homeowner hires a sub with soldering experience to peel out the failing caulk grind the patina from the joints we will go over this process later flux and finally solder.

Seamless gutter subcontractor installs new copper gutters and they look great. Copper s long life comes from its resistance to corrosion which deteriorates other metals. Copper gutters typically last 60 to 100 years with proper maintenance this means that they might cost more initially but have the lowest lifespan cost of any gutter system. Any copper gutter repair done with caulk is basically ruined from the start since caulk doesn t expand and contract with the metal.

Everybody is happy until a year later when all of the joint start to leak. To this total length add 4 more inches to the length this is for an overlap at the interior joined seam it will make the gutter stronger in that area. This old house general contractor tom silva has a fast fix for a dripping rain gutter. By contrast the soldered joint will create a watertight seam that makes the entire section of gutter react to weather and temperature as a single piece of metal rather than separate pieces.

Step 2 the first gutter piece and maybe the second and even a third piece will likely be full 10 ft. However these systems can still feature end caps that deteriorate over time.