Exceptionally strong and durable 1/2 round copper gutters installed on a Lakewood home near Cleveland, Ohio.

Installing new copper, heavy duty half round rain gutters on a house with a clay tile roof near Cleveland, Ohio. Installation was begun with the removal and replacement of the old galvanized gutter hangers. It was easier to leave the existing gutter in place and then, one by one, replace each hanger.
First, four clay roof tiles and two birdstop pieces had to be removed. Then a pile of bird feathers, nesting materials and ninety year old tar paper dust, was swept up and bagged.
The old galvanized gutter hangers, which were quite rusted and ready to fall off, were originally fastened with twelve penny galvanized nails that were still in good shape. These were removed and the new hangers were installed with number fourteen, washer hex head, stainless steel screws. Rotted roof decking near the roof eaves, damaged from water leaks in the clay tile, was replaced before installing the gutter brackets.

After all the hangers were installed, the original gutters were cut apart and removed. The new gutters were installed in ten and twenty foot sections and all the joints were riveted and soldered.
Downspout drain holes were cut to align with footer drains and downspout leader funnels and spouting were installed. The original galvanized ornamental leader heads were re installed where the gutter downspout met the brick wall.
Broken, cracked, or missing clay tiles were replaced as work progressed around the house.

The original gutters were half round galvanized steel gutters and had held up very well over the years. But the weather, tree branches and time took their toll. The old gutters were likely leaking for the last twenty five years. Many of the seams were broken and there were large holes where the metal had rusted through. They had been patched with tar and fabric in many places and most of those patches had come loose.

Rear Overhang Gutter Installed

Gutter and outlet funnel installed on rear tile roof overhang. A roof leak originating about ten feet above this gutter caused much of the roof decking to rot. Much of the old existing gutter was easily pulled from the roof by hand after the tiles had been removed. The decking was replaced with tongue and groove sheathing and new underlayment installed. The new copper gutter brackets were installed using stainless steel screws and then the tile roofing re laid. At the left you can see where a few more tiles need to be installed and also the new gutter hangers that have been installed under the garage roof tile. Copper gutter was cut to length and spherical end caps were soldered in place.

Side view of finished lower copper gutters.

A side view of the rear entry and sunroom gutters installed. Three by four inch square corrugated downspouts are installed. Downspouts are fastened to the outlet funnels with stainless steel screws, and secured to the wall using the original brick hooks and twisted copper wire. Because the horizontal run under the roof eave is fairly long,( and therefore easy to clog with leaves and debris ) each downspout joint is fastened with stainless steel screws, making it easy to disassemble and clean the downspout.

Outside corner copper gutter miter.

Copper gutter corner miter installed below a bullnose clay tile roof end piece. I'm not sure of the exact manufacturing technique used to make these corners, they may be stamped or drawn, but the end result is a seamless rain gutter corner accessory that looks great and works very well. The miter is actually stretched out and has a larger width at the corner than a cut and mitered corner. there is less of a chance of debris getting stuck at the corner now and backing up the rain water flow. The front gutter bead fits snugly into the main gutter length and the lap is tight. These gutter and miter seams are cleaned, riveted, and soldered tight. The solder should flow through the lap and be visible, but not dripping, around the outside of the gutter. On the right is one of the heavy duty copper strap hangers. It is fastened under the clay roof tiles with stainless steel screws fastened to the roof rafters.

Outside copper gutter miter

The outside gutter corner. This is a corner accessory made from one piece of copper. There is no center joint that needs to be riveted or soldered together. The mitre fits snug on the end of the straight length of gutter and is riveted and soldered. This piece will now be attached to the main length of gutter already installed on the front of the house.