Will Aluminum Last?

In the last 20 or so years, aluminum gutters have become all the rage. But they are so light-weight and thin, how long can they really last? Everyone knows that steel and copper gutters last for decades! There are many homes built in the 20s that still have their original, functioning steel and/or copper gutters. So why should I consider aluminum over the tried & true steel or copper gutters I’m accustomed to?

There are many advantages of using aluminum rain gutters. First and foremost – lack of seams! Aluminum gutters can be made seamlessly. A coil of material is placed into a special machine which extrudes the rain gutter to the exact length you need! Other types of material typically come in 10 foot sections which then need to be connected to eachother. A 40 foot section of roof line might have 3 seams in it, which need to be sealed or soldered. These joins are usually the first places which begin to leak over time. But using aluminum, the entire 40 foot length would be one continuous piece, eliminating such concerns.
Another advantage – color! Steel gutters look like… steel. If you want them to match your house or your trim, you will need to paint them. However, aluminum gutters come in a wide variety of colors! The gutters we use at Prestigious Raingutters have a lifetime warranty from the manufacturer against chipping or flaking. Steel gutters will most likely need to be repainted at some point in their life span, whereas aluminum gutters will hold their color.
And with the economy the way it is, the biggest advantage aluminum can offer to some people – PRICE! The cost of aluminum is significantly less than other types of materials.
But are they able to stand up to the test of time? Yes! Aluminum doesn’t rust the way steel does, and with proper maintenance, aluminum gutters can last just as long as steel or copper.

What’s proper maintenance, you ask? Well… Aluminum is a light-weight material, therefore it is slightly easier to ding and dent than a heavy steel gutter, so be careful when leaning ladders against them or doing anything else than might put pressure on them. Keep other metals from coming into contact with your aluminum gutters. Especially if you are very close to the salty ocean air, because this speeds up electrolysis. Most importantly, keep your gutters clean! Debris clogging your gutters not only decreases their functionality, but it also can damage the gutters themselves, so be sure to clean them out at least once a year – the optimum time for this is right at the end of summer before the first fall rains begin. Adding screens to your gutters can help keep debris out, but it is not an excuse to stop cleaning them entirely. If you do these things, there’s no reason your gutters won’t be able to last you decades.

At Prestigious Raingutters, we have over 25 years of experience installing and maintaining seamless aluminum gutters in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Give us a call for a free estimate! 800-993-1193

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