Why pay extra for aluminum gutters?
As we all know, aluminum does not rust. This is because when raw aluminum is exposed to the air, it will oxidize within minutes and creates a protective shield that stops this oxidization. That is why it does not decay or rust through like the cheaper steel does. It has been known to decay from exposure to some chemical reactions. We have heard that salt water air, right on the coast will cause aluminum to deteriorate, but we have not seen this first hand. We have made cat litter boxes with painted aluminum, and the urine seems to be acidic enough to break down the paint and even eat away at the aluminum within a year or two. We have even seen copper gutters deteriorate through the bottom in this area from some sort of chemical reaction. Perhaps it was the chemicals used to protect the wood shingle roof? But for rain gutters, we have yet to replace aluminum from such a deterioration. It seems that wild animal and birds do not deposit enough to affect these external gutters. A good 70%
