Gutters can be costly to replace so you want to choose the right material for you.

Use a material that is the most durable for your climate; ultimately the longer your gutters last, the less environmental cost there will be in the product life cycle, from manufacturing to recycling.

Copper and aluminium are preferred gutter materials, although copper is a more expensive, high-end gutter material. Aluminium gutters will not rust, which experts say is an advantage. Copper gutters are more expensive than their aluminium counter-parts but they are very sturdy and long lasting.

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is also used for gutters, but it can become brittle through age and cold weather, and cannot carry as much snow as metal gutters. PVC guttering is definitely not green. The US government called PVC one of the most hazardous materials ever created as it poses a threat to human and environmental health throughout its life cycle. Cancer causing chemicals are released in the production and burning of PVC as well as by-products that can damage the immune and reproductive systems.

Replacing your gutters gives you the chance to treat your roof’s water differently. Consider linking your gutters to a rooftop catchment system that captures rainwater in a cistern or rain barrels and can then be used to water non-edible plantings.

Cleaning your gutters now and then is probably the best environmental option in that it may head off any need for replacement or modification.

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