Duragutter is made from extruded aluminum. We will explore why we chose to create a
new type of gutter to compete with copper
Copper has been used for centuries as a durable and attractive gutter material. It is highly resistant to corrosion, is easily formed, and when properly soldered is quite durable. It weathers to an attractive green/bronze patina which can be a nice complement to other building materials like wood and stone.
While it looks great on this French farmhouse, it's suitability for many American house styles is questionable.
Copper has a number of disadvantages. First, is the cost. While the price of copper fluctuates, it is generally quite expensive. Thus, thin sheets of copper are used to form gutters, which results in a relatively flimsy section, compared to the alternatives. Like roll-formed gutters, copper gutters require internal supports at regular intervals to keep them straight and protect them from collapsing under the weight of water, snow, or ice. From an installation standpoint, working with copper requires specialized skills, and the longevity of the joints is a function of the skill of the installer. With fewer people going into the skilled trades, finding a skilled worker to install and solder copper joints(or repair joints in the future) is an increasingly difficult and expensive proposition.
External support brackets create a decorative element that may be at odds with the other design elements of the house. Internal support brackets make cleaning difficult.
Another issue with copper is the integration of the gutters as a trim element. While traditional wood gutters were used in conjunction with moldings to form an overall trim schema, copper gutters are generally only available in a “K” profile and a half-round.
"K" style gutter Half-round gutter
Both of these shapes stand apart from the trim, and cannot form continuous, uninterrupted lines. For example, it is impossible to miter a copper gutter into a rake molding, a common detail on older homes. It’s also difficult to achieve perfectly mitered corners. When going around a curve, copper gutters are usually composed of multiple short pieces soldered together, creating a faceted look that is subject to leaking.
Advantages of Duragutter extruded aluminum: Extrusions are formed by pressing a molten blob of aluminum through a die under high pressure.
Extruding gutters is a complex process- a hydraulic ram exerts over 100 tons of pressure. This process allows for intricate shapes that cannot be achieved through the simple bending process used to form copper, or roll-formed aluminum gutters.
Duragutter extruded shapes have far more features than other gutters. The profiles above illustrate the system of internal keyways that all Duragutter profiles share. These allow for a variety of functions, including hidden internal connectors, built-in flashing, and snap-in leaf guards. The strength of the thick aluminum walls allows the gutter to be simply screwed in through the back wall, with no internal or external hangers or brackets.
Duragutter blends seamlessly with other trim elements, rather than standing apart like copper.
While we don't think copper is a great choice for gutters, it does make an attractive downspout :-)
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