Materials
Copper rainwater systems
Copper is specified where the rainwater goods are meant to be seen: a principal elevation, a porch, an orangery, a garden building or a contemporary house detailed to weather gracefully.
We supply and install copper half-round and box gutters, round and rectangular downpipes and bespoke soldered hoppers, and coordinate fabrication for one-off details.
Patina, and what to expect
New copper is bright, dulls to a warm brown within months and moves toward green patina over years, at a rate that depends on exposure and orientation. Elevations weather at different speeds, so a building will not patinate uniformly — worth agreeing with a client at design stage, because it is the most common source of surprise.
Pre-patinated and pre-weathered copper is available where an even, immediate appearance is required.
Detailing and compatibility
Copper is soldered rather than jointed with seals, which is what allows bespoke hoppers, tapered outlets and non-standard junctions to be made properly. It sits naturally alongside lead and copper roofing.
Material compatibility governs the detailing: copper run-off will corrode aluminium, zinc and galvanised steel downstream, so the whole rainwater path — including anything it discharges onto — has to be considered together.
- Half-round, box and bespoke gutter sections
- Round and rectangular downpipes
- Hand-soldered joints and hoppers
- Pre-patinated options
- Coordination with lead and copper roofing
- Bespoke fabrication to architect's detail
Where it belongs
Copper suits high-value, low-quantity applications: a single elevation, an entrance canopy, a glazed extension or a heritage building where copper was the original material. On a whole large house it is a significant cost, and we will say plainly when zinc or a dark powder-coated aluminium will read almost as well for a fraction of the budget.
In summary
- Best suited to
- Principal elevations, orangeries and garden buildings, architect-led contemporary houses, and heritage buildings where copper was the original material.
- Key consideration
- Copper patinates over time and its run-off is incompatible with aluminium, zinc and galvanised steel further down the rainwater path.
- For architects and contractors
- Send details and elevations and we will price supply and installation, including bespoke soldered hoppers and outlets.
Related pages
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Share a little about your property and requirements. We'll be in touch personally within one working day to arrange a site visit.
- 7a High Street, Highworth, SN6 7AG
- 01367 248417
- guttering@austendawson.co.uk