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The short answer
Copper joints are soldered, not sealed with compound. That’s a genuine trade skill and it’s why not every gutter company will quote copper — ask specifically whether they solder in-house or subcontract. The second consideration is that copper has real scrap value, so in some areas installed gutter gets stolen. Neither is a reason to avoid it; both are reasons to ask before signing.
Joints
Soldered, not sealed
Lifespan
Generations, not decades
Patina
Green over years, permanent
Consideration
Scrap theft in some areas
Is copper the right call?
Three situations where it makes sense, and one where it doesn’t.
Good fit
Period or high-value property
Where appearance is part of the property’s value and half-round copper suits the architecture. This is the main reason people choose it.
Good fit
You intend to stay
The cost only rationalises over a long horizon. It genuinely outlasts several aluminium installations, which is real value if you’re there for it.
Consider
Difficult access
If replacing gutters means scaffolding or a lift, the labour dominates the material cost, and copper’s longevity means doing that once rather than three times.
Poor fit
Areas with metal theft
Installed copper has been stolen off buildings. Worth asking a local installer directly rather than assuming it’s not an issue.
The patina question
New copper is bright. Over the first year or two it darkens to brown, and over considerably longer it develops the green patina people associate with it. That progression is not reversible without stripping, and lacquers that try to hold the bright finish fail unevenly and look worse than either end state.
Choose copper because you want where it ends up, not because you like how it looks on installation day.
Why the joints matter more here
Soldered joints are stronger and longer-lived than sealed ones — they’re effectively a continuous piece of metal. But soldering copper properly at height is a skill, and a poorly soldered joint on an expensive system is a genuinely annoying failure.
Ask who does the soldering, whether it’s in-house, and what the warranty covers. A company that subcontracts the metalwork should say so.
Specifying it
Five questions, and the first two are the ones that separate quotes.
Ask who solders
In-house or subcontracted. It’s the skill the whole installation depends on.
Confirm all fixings are copper or compatible
Copper in contact with dissimilar metals corrodes galvanically. Hangers, screws and downspout brackets all need to be compatible.
Ask about theft locally
Directly, of a local installer. In some areas it’s a real consideration and they’ll know.
Agree the patina expectation
It will go brown then green. Nobody should be surprised by that in year three.
Check the warranty covers joints
Material lifespan is not the question. Workmanship on the soldering is.
Copper against aluminium
Where this stops being a DIY job
The installation, entirely. Soldering at height is a trade skill and copper is unforgiving of a poor job on an expensive system.
Mixing metals. Copper in contact with aluminium or galvanised steel corrodes galvanically. Every fixing has to be compatible, which is easy to get wrong.
Any fascia repair. Carpentry first, as always — and particularly worth doing properly under a system meant to last generations.
Advertising disclosure: calls are routed to an independent local provider. We’re paid a referral fee for the call. You pay the provider, never us.
What a copper installer should confirm
Skill
Solders in-house
Or says clearly that they subcontract it.
Metals
Uses compatible fixings
Galvanic corrosion is a slow, expensive mistake.
Honest
Explains the patina
Brown, then green. Permanent, and it should be expected.
Common questions
How long do copper gutters last?
Generations rather than decades — they routinely outlast several aluminium installations. That’s the entire cost argument.
Do copper gutters turn green?
Yes. Bright at installation, brown within a year or two, then gradually the green patina. It isn’t reversible without stripping, so choose it for where it ends up.
Why are copper gutters so expensive?
Material cost, and joints that have to be soldered rather than sealed — which is a trade skill and not every gutter company has it in-house.
Do copper gutters get stolen?
In some areas, yes. Installed copper has real scrap value. Ask a local installer directly rather than assuming it isn’t an issue where you are.
Specifying copper, or comparing quotes?
Deciding whether copper suits the property, and knowing to ask about soldering and compatible fixings, is something you can settle before any quote arrives. The soldering itself is a trade, and it’s the part you’re actually paying for.
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