are copper gutters worth it?

[queenB]

We recently bought a stone home built in 1920 and need to replace the roof and gutters. The home originally had a red terra cotta tile roof and copper gutters. We're planning to be in the house for ~30 years. We're planning on going with high-end shingles that have a 50 year warranty and are contemplating whether or not to invest in copper gutters again. Given that copper gutters are twice the cost of aluminum, is the return on investment worth it? Would the copper gutters still provide any added value to the home at the time we decide to sell?

 

[Mountain Man]

Unless it's prevalent in the market, and is an expected feature, I'd use color coated aluminum. They have so many different colors now, and even have a patina colored copper.

 

[Calvin the Airedale]

We recently bought a stone home built in 1920 and need to replace the roof and gutters. The home originally had a red terra cotta tile roof and copper gutters. We're planning to be in the house for ~30 years. We're planning on going with high-end shingles that have a 50 year warranty and are contemplating whether or not to invest in copper gutters again. Given that copper gutters are twice the cost of aluminum, is the return on investment worth it? Would the copper gutters still provide any added value to the home at the time we decide to sell?

Terra cotta roofing is a high end material that should last a really long time. Why are you replacing it? If it's because the roof is leaking, it likely isn't the shingles but the flashings, and valleys that need replacement.

When having such roofs repaired it's important to have the work done by those who have done tile roof work repairs and installations before. Otherwise, you could end up replacing a roof that may only need to be repaired.

Copper gutters are another high end material. These too should last a long, long time. They are generally a mark of quality on a home of your vintage.

No one here can tell you what they will add to value in resale. Generally they increase architectural appeal. Ask yourself what effect their appearance had on your purchase decision.

If you want to know where to find a good tile roof company, drive around and look for similar roofs, stop, knock on the door, and ask the owners where they hire their tile roof repairs.

I'd think twice about swapping out your roof until you get some more opinions from companies that actually know how to repair such roofs.

 

[Meandering]

Copper gutters are a quality up grade that may or may not translate into additional market value depending where the house is, and the market conditions at the time of valuation. Copper gutters don't seem to last as long here as aluminum, partly due to acid rain and other factors of the enviorment here. There were some on my house that were almost completely degraded in 30 years, we replaced them with aluminum and they have been holding up just fine for the past 20 years.

 

[Scott Kibler]

With a 30 year time horizon, the question becomes; Are they worth it for the aesthetic appeal they provide to you? There is no way to know what additional appeal they would have to a potential buyer in the future.

Bottom line, if you can afford them, and you like them enough to pay the additional cost over materials with the same functional utility, and are reasonably confident they won't be quickly stolen, then go for it.

 

[Mike Kennedy]

With a plethora of Vintage Properties similar to yours in this neck o' the woods, and considering the investment$$......suggest a Feasibility Consulting assignment with a Knowledgeable LOCAL Cert. Appraiser with expertise in your market segment. Couple Hundred bucks well spent to identify similar vintage closed sales IN YOUR LOCAL MARKET which sold within the prior 5 years - and determine which quality direction local Buyers have demonstrated prior to sale and after sale re both roofing materials and gutters. Note: there is, of course, no guarantee that future buyers will place the same emphasis (and pay for) similar high end quality upgrades. Your stated long term planned occupancy may or may not be abbreviated. "Measure twice, cut once".

 

[queenB]

Terra cotta roofing is a high end material that should last a really long time. Why are you replacing it? If it's because the roof is leaking, it likely isn't the shingles but the flashings, and valleys that need replacement.

When having such roofs repaired it's important to have the work done by those who have done tile roof work repairs and installations before. Otherwise, you could end up replacing a roof that may only need to be repaired.

Copper gutters are another high end material. These too should last a long, long time. They are generally a mark of quality on a home of your vintage.

No one here can tell you what they will add to value in resale. Generally they increase architectural appeal. Ask yourself what effect their appearance had on your purchase decision.

If you want to know where to find a good tile roof company, drive around and look for similar roofs, stop, knock on the door, and ask the owners where they hire their tile roof repairs.

I'd think twice about swapping out your roof until you get some more opinions from companies that actually know how to repair such roofs.

Sorry Calvin but I guess I wasn't really clear about the roofing material--we think tiles were original to the house when it was built since tiles are still present on the garage roof--but a previous owner put a new cheap, poorly installed, shingle roof on the house (estimated to be ~7 years old but the inspector) which now needs to be replaced.

We want to go with a high end shingle (50 yr warranty with great aesthetics as well!) that will carry us through our intended stay at the house and not leave us needing to put a new roof on the house again during our lifetime there and wondered if it then made sense to get high end gutters as well. If we get aluminum gutters and they have to be replaced in 20 years, the installation could compromise the warranty on the roof if shingles need to be taken off to put up new aluminum gutters. Does any of this make sense? or are we making a bad investment and digging ourselves into a deep costly hole??

 

[Lee Lansford]

...We're planning to be in the house for ~30 years.
... Would the copper gutters still provide any added value to the home at the time we decide to sell?

30 years from now, will it matter?

If you like the appearance of copper gutters (and the cost is not a major deterent to the purchase), buy the copper gutters and enjoy the superior (to aluminum) appearance.

 

[Webbed Feet]

Sorry Calvin but I guess I wasn't really clear about the roofing material--we think tiles were original to the house when it was built since tiles are still present on the garage roof--but a previous owner put a new cheap, poorly installed, shingle roof on the house (estimated to be ~7 years old but the inspector) which now needs to be replaced.

We want to go with a high end shingle (50 yr warranty with great aesthetics as well!) that will carry us through our intended stay at the house and not leave us needing to put a new roof on the house again during our lifetime there and wondered if it then made sense to get high end gutters as well. If we get aluminum gutters and they have to be replaced in 20 years, the installation could compromise the warranty on the roof if shingles need to be taken off to put up new aluminum gutters. Does any of this make sense? or are we making a bad investment and digging ourselves into a deep costly hole??

I'm confused. If the house originally had what had to be a heavy tile roof, then the roof joisting system should be designed to take that kind of weight. If the "shingles" you keep referring to are composition roofing, why would you do that? Why not put on any of the new designs in many different materials there are.

Composition scars easily when hot, is subject to mildew and moss, and is enviromentally unfriendly as are not usually recyclable, so have about the worst enviromental track record. Also, asphalt shingles have a low insulative value and a shorter lifespan than many other roofing materials available today.

Metal roofs can look like darn near anything from cedar shingles, to slate. Is durable to a long life span of at least 50 years. Low maintenance. Has excellent performance in high wind, hail, and rain. Is enviromentally friendly, and strongly resists fire with a class A fire rating.

There are now pressure treated wood shakes that can resist fire and can last 30 to 50 years if maintained.

Reinforced concrete fiber that meets many of the more restrictive fire codes, because most are fireproof. Low maintenance. Extremely durable. Resource efficient. Many colors and styles including shakes, tile, and stone. 50 years and beyond. Possibly avoid in areas of many freeze-thaw cycles each year.

Engineered rubber / plastic that is very long lasting 30 to 50 years. Cost effective, attractive, large range of styles and colors. All made of reclaimed materials.

Composite Slate looks promising as well.

 

[CANative]

I've only seen copper gutters in areas with corrosive climatic conditions such as near the ocean. Seems like a waste of money.

A new fad out here is instead of regular downspouts people are using heavy chains hung from the gutters.