Gutter News & Information

Copper gutters have a lot of appeal for homeowners: they never need painting, instead aging to a nice patina, and are very durable. They’re also expensive, as copper prices are rising due to heavy demand in industrial and electronic applications, with the costs projected to keep rising. Even scrap copper is now worth a fortune on the open market. And, unfortunately, that makes copper an attractive target for thieves…including your expensive gutters.

If you’ve ever lived in a snowy climate, it’s a familiar sight: some old pantyhose, filled with salt, tossed onto the roof across big chunks of ice.  It’s a time-honored technique for clearing up ice dams used anywhere they get more than a dusting of the white stuff…but does it work?

The basic theory seems sound: as snow falls on a roof, it melts and refreezes, especially if your attic space is improperly ventilated and heat builds up.  Water freezes into chunks near your gutters called “ice dams.”  Water collects behind these dams and finds its own level…generally by leaking through your roof, causing water damage, or breaking through your roof, and ruining your weekend.