Installing half-round copper gutters on your home is an excellent choice for any homeowner if your particular budget allows it. These gutter systems can last more than 50 years when kept in working order. With durable gutter guards, they‘ll last even longer. Copper gutters will add to the curb appeal and overall value of your home and, as one of the sturdiest materials available, will prevent water damage to your roof, foundation, and surrounding landscaping.
Half-Round Gutters vs. K-Style Gutters
Generally speaking, half-round gutters are a high-quality option for most homes. Though they’re a more common sight on historic or older construction, going with this gutter shape can lead to a longer life for your entire system.
Aside from the rounded bottom providing a different gutter profile, it also helps to prevent standing rainwater from sitting in your gutters for too long, which helps to slow the corrosion of all gutter components.
K-style gutters have been a much more recent development in the gutter industry. Their profile fits with more modern construction, and their ready availability in almost any material makes them a common choice. That said, the k-style design allows more water to collect without being drained away, which can lead to corrosion.
Half-Round Copper Gutter Styles
Half-round copper gutters come in a few distinct styles. From more traditional double bead gutters, a couple of offshoots have become popular with homeowners. All of the options below feature slightly different profiles, which will be differently suited for certain homes. This is yet another reason why we recommend professional installation for your copper half-round gutter system. Even if you choose DIY gutter installation, getting a second opinion from a licensed pro is always a good idea.
- Single bead: Single bead gutters feature an outside edge (away from the fascia) curled outward to meet the outside wall. When viewed from the side, the curled-over edges form a circle when they meet with the gutter wall.
- Double bead: Double bead gutters – as the name suggests – feature beading on both sides. This makes them a bit more challenging to hang, but most gutter supply stores should have specialized hangers for just this purpose.
- Reverse bead: Reverse bead gutters feature a leading edge curled inward towards the trough of your gutters. Reverse beads are typically not closed loops and will extend the leading wall of your gutter upwards. It may be a bit more challenging to install gutter guards for such gutters. On the flip side, these gutters commonly use hidden hangers, which is why many homeowners choose this style for visual appeal.
Copper Gutters vs. Other Options
In most cases, copper gutters will be the most expensive, highest-quality option for channeling rainwater away from your home. Copper has a slow corrosion rate compared to other metals, is more durable than vinyl, and has excellent temperature tolerances in extreme heat and cold.
Here, we’ve broken down the different gutter types to show you how they measure up regarding durability and price. Although they’ve been listed in descending order, according to durability, each option here can be a great option for the right home.
Vinyl Gutters
Vinyl gutters are far and away the cheapest option for any gutter system. Due to the low cost and ease of working with PVC, this is the most popular choice for homeowners looking to do a DIY gutter installation.
When properly installed, with enough rivets and sealant around all joints, these can last 15 or more years. They can last even longer if you live in a milder climate with minimal tree overhang. The versatility and availability of this material make it an excellent budget-conscious fit for most.
Material Cost
Here, you’ll find the basic costs of all vinyl gutter components, including downspouts, hangers, downspout brackets, and more:
| Gutters | Hangers | End Caps | Downspouts | Elbows | Splash blocks | Flashing | Total System Cost |
| $3 – $6/ foot | $1.50 – $3 | $5.5 – $12 | $4 – $8/ foot | $3 – $5 | $8 – $12 | $4 – $25 / 10 feet | $900 – $2,000 |
*Pricing figures listed for end caps, hangers, elbows, and splash blocks reflect average per-unit costs, rather than total costs for all needed component pieces.
Aluminum Gutters
Aluminum gutters are a decent step up for most homeowners. They’re more durable than vinyl and come in almost every available shape and style. Aside from that, they are only marginally more expensive than PVC, whether you’re planning on hiring a professional or staging a DIY install.
This gutter type can last up to 20 years if you keep up with regular cleaning and maintenance. One advantage they have over steel gutters is that they will not rust, regardless of weather conditions.
Material Cost
| Gutters | Hangers | End Caps | Downspouts | Elbows | Splash blocks | Flashing | Total System Cost |
| $5 – $12/ foot | $2 – $4 | $8 – $14 | $5 – $9/ foot | $4 – $13 | $8 – $12 | $4 – $25 / 10 feet | $1,400 – $7,000 |
*Pricing figures listed for end caps, hangers, elbows, and splash blocks reflect average per-unit costs, rather than total costs for all needed component pieces.
Regular Steel Gutters
Galvanized steel gutters are among the more popular options. With the comparable cost to their aluminum counterparts and the same expected lifespan of 20 years, these gutters are preferred if you live in an area with more extreme weather. Similarly, this may be your best bet for quality and price if your property has plenty of trees or potential debris hazards like falling branches or lots of leaves.
Material Cost
| Gutters | Hangers | End Caps | Downspouts | Elbows | Splash blocks | Flashing | Total System Cost |
| $8 – $15/ foot | $3 – $5 | $9 – $14 | $8 – $12/ foot | $12 – $15 | $8 – $12 | $4 – $25 / 10 feet | $3,000 – $7,500 |
*Pricing figures listed for end caps, hangers, elbows, and splash blocks reflect average per-unit costs, rather than total costs for all needed component pieces.
Galvalume Gutters
Galvalume gutters are one of the most high-quality options for any home. These gutters come in k-style and half-round forms and have a neutral color that suits most homes. These are the longest-lasting gutters available. A steel base layer with an aluminum/ zinc alloy shield gives them the potential to last 70 years or more once installed.
Material Cost
Galvalume costs less than copper but is definitely on the higher end for the average price:
| Gutters | Hangers | End Caps | Downspouts | Elbows | Splash blocks | Flashing | Total System Cost |
| $10 – $20/ foot | $8 – $10 | $8 – $10 | $8 – $10/ foot | $8 – $10 | $8 – $12 | $4 – $25 / 10 feet | $3,000 – $6,500 |
*Pricing figures listed for end caps, hangers, elbows, and splash blocks reflect average per-unit costs, rather than total costs for all needed component pieces.
Copper Gutters
Half-round copper gutter systems and their components are among the most expensive gutter products on the market. Such gutters are usually installed to suit the dual purpose of greater functionality combined with aesthetic appeal. For that reason, these gutters are among the most customizable on the market.
Many gutter suppliers offer specially crafted gutter hangers or leader heads to match the existing architecture of a given home. Similarly, many homeowners more concerned with curb appeal may opt for rain chains rather than traditional copper downspouts. You may even want to add copper gutter guards. The choice is yours.
Material Cost
Copper gutters will range between $25 and $40 per linear foot, with half-round gutters sometimes coming in at the higher end of this. Here are some average costs of other copper gutter components.
| Gutters | Hangers | End Caps | Downspouts | Elbows | Splashblocks | Flashing | Total System Cost |
| $25 – $40/ foot | $18 – $22 | $8 – $20 | $15 – $25/ foot | $15 – $20 | $8 – $12 | $4 – $25 / 10 feet | $8,000 – $11,500 |
*Pricing figures listed for end caps, hangers, elbows, and splash blocks reflect average per-unit costs, rather than total costs for all needed component pieces.
Final Thoughts
Installing a quality system, keeping your gutters clean during each season, and performing gutter leak checks are excellent ways to ensure the long-term health of your home. Depending on the material you ultimately choose, you may be able to get a system that looks great and serves its intended function for decades to come.
We think copper half-round gutters are the best intersection between aesthetic appeal and quality. Going with a reputable gutter installation company is the best way to ensure that your copper gutters and downspouts are installed correctly and that you get the most out of your new system.
How we Ranked, Reviewed, and Tested the Best Gutter Guards
Here, we’ve broken down our rating methodology for gutter guards. You should know that we’ve taken the utmost care to provide the most up-to-date information and to ensure that you make the best choice for your budgetary and home maintenance needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do copper gutters hold up to extreme weather well?
Copper gutters can handle more extreme weather conditions. Very hot and frigid temperatures do not cause nearly as much expansion or contraction in copper gutters as in gutters made from lower-quality metal. That aside, the patina you see on copper rain gutters is simply a natural product of exposure to the elements.
Can I prevent my copper rain gutters from oxidizing?
You can apply an anti-oxidant coating to your gutters before installing them. This should work to prevent them from turning green over time. This is definitely a more superficial than functional touch, but many people with such gutters get them for their appearance. Don’t use a lacquer coating for this, as it could discolor with time in the sun.
Do I have to use copper end caps, hangers, and other components?
If you’re trying to cut costs by using other materials for your smaller parts, it will likely hurt the curb appeal your new gutters could create. Most professional installers prefer to use matching parts for the entire copper gutter system, which may necessitate a DIY installation if you go this route.
Can I stage a DIY copper gutter installation?
You can do this on your own if you have the right tools, such as a miter saw and a long extension ladder. That said, gutter cleaning and gutter maintenance are some of the more risky home repairs any homeowner could attempt. It may be worth your time to at least get a quote from a professional before making a decision. If you ultimately decide on DIY installation, then our step-by-step guide should be helpful.
Can I purchase a seamless gutter system in copper?
Seamless copper gutters are typically among the most expensive options for any gutter system. Even if you don’t opt for a totally seamless system, your gutter installer will have special tools on-hand to solder gutter sections and downspouts in place, making them leak-proof.
Why Trust Today's Homeowner? Our Gutter Ranking Methodology
At Today's Homeowner, transparency and trust are our most important values for the reader. We’ve done the homework for you and have researched over 50 gutter guards so you can have the information you need to make the best choice for your home. That’s why we took the time to create an objective rating system and score each gutter guard and gutter guard provider company according to our gutter ranking methodology.
We also dug into the details of each gutter guard to ensure that you could make the best decisions for your home and keep your gutters debris-free for years to come.
To make the most of our research, we developed a formula to objectively determine the best gutter guards based on the following criteria:
- Material: Material durability was the single most important factor that went into our rating methodology for gutter guards. Whether they were stainless steel micro-mesh or plastic screening, we gave an in-depth rating for this criteria.
- Debris Resistance: Our testing served as the primary evaluator for this factor. We curated a rating based on customer testimonials and our own in-house testing here.
- Ease of Installation: Most of the gutter guard options listed have some DIY component involved. For this reason, guards that required the fewest specialty tools got the highest rating here.
- Cost: How reasonable are prices in comparison to the industry average? We compared the costs of each company to competitors.
- Warranty terms: We looked into the warranty of lifetime warranty terms if it is offered by the provider.
- Trust: What do customers rate the company? We looked into what customers are saying about their experience with the company.
- Buying process: if the gutter guard is a DIY installation, how easy is the buying process? We looked for shipping costs and shipping time, as well as where the product can be bought from.
