Last year, during our exterior makeover (new windows! new trim paint!), we replaced our gutters as well. I was so excited to see our new copper gutters go up—they’re the eyeliner on our moody, modern, traditional home!
There’s so much I love about real copper gutters. They can last up to 100 years. They are resistant to corrosion, rust, and rot. And they take on a natural patina that can add so much old-world charm and character to your house. Only…I didn’t want TOO much character.
Here’s the basic lifecycle of copper gutters, that is if you don’t intervene:
Initial Stage
Exterior Trim Color | Boxwood Topiaries | Urn Planters | Doormat
When we had the gutters installed, they were a bright, shiny, reddish-brown. That beautiful new penny look. Some people love this color, but be warned it’s hard to maintain. Which is fine for me, because I want there to be some natural fluctuations in the color.
Oxidation Process
Then, the magic happens. The air, the moisture—they all interact with the copper metal to start the oxidation phase. The copper takes on a more matte brownish or darker reddish-brown hue. This can happen within months of installation, depending on your climate and relative humidity.
Final Patina
Eventually, the interaction with the elements causes the copper to develop a greenish-blue patina also known as verdigris. This weathering usually takes years, but here in North Carolina where our average humidity is like 70%, it happens faster.
One thing to note is that your gutters won’t all wear the same at the same time. There will be natural fluctuations due to interactions with tree cover and rain.
I really wanted our gutters to be somewhere in the middle of the oxidation process with little touches of patina that give the gutters that aged look.
How to Stop the Oxidation Process on Copper Gutters
Our contractors are here at the house working on some interior demolition, so I asked if they would add on sealing the copper gutters to preserve the current look.
They applied two clear coats of Everbrite that will keep copper and brass frozen in their current state, stopping the tarnish. One 5-gallon bucket covers around 5,000 sq. feet, so we needed just under two. (If you need smaller quantities, it’s here on Amazon.)
Depending on your local environment, Everbrite should be reapplied to copper gutters every 3 to 7 years to ensure continued long-term protection. It has UV blockers and antioxidants (which makes a lot of sense since they’re oxidizing) to help protect your copper.
Backyard Sources
I love how our copper gutters look now! I was starting to worry that we’d let them go too long without sealing them. But looking at them in the light, it’s just magic.