Building a New Home… Time for Copper Gutters

After years of hard work, sacrifice and determination you have finally decided that building a new home is what your heart desires. You dream of a home that you and your family can live in for years to come.  Homes that are built new have a higher likelihood of staying in the family or at least being passed on with care, to the next generation. Because the roof is one of the most important protectors of your new home, a more than adequate gutter system is also very important.

While searching for the perfect gutter system it is important to keep in mind that some builders may suggest installing a cheaper gutter in order to keep the material costs low. A sub-par gutter system is often a place used to “cut corners”. This is not necessarily a “bad thing”, contractors are just trying to keep costs low. It is something; however, to be aware of.

If the budget for your new home is higher than $100,000, a standard k-style aluminum gutter may look out of place. Larger, more robust homes must have a guttering system to match. Insist that higher end materials are used and installed on your home.  Here are a few pointers:

Choose Copper or Zinc. Of all materials, these are versatile yet strong when compared to the cheaper, flimsier metals. They also last up to 10 times longer. Need proof… Look around your neighborhood at the all of churches, universities and government buildings that were built in the 1800s, they still have their original copper installations!

Choose Seamless Weld. Many gutter systems use accordion bends and crimping to sew the gutter sections together. Unfortunately, these will never remain watertight, especially in colder weather climates. A “seamless weld” means to fuse two sides of a copper sheet together creating a one-piece downspout. No seam means no leaks; plus, they’re a lot more aesthetically pleasing.

Make the Investment. If you decide to sell your home down the road, high-end guttering systems always retain if not increase in value. Worried about the protection of your rainwater goods? Don’t fret, an adequate security system and a professional installer is more than enough to prevent someone from getting excessively envious of the metals you used.