What is a rainwater gutter made form?
A rain gutter, sometimes called an eave trough, these days is
made of soft steel plated with zinc so it will not rust; or it can
be made of formed plastic. In the past, they were made from lead or
copper. Although galvanized steel (zinc plated) can be joined with
solder to make a strong waterproof joint, galvanized steel gutters
do not last long in situations were there is either standing water
or leaves inside the gutter for more than a few weeks per year. If
galvanized steel gutters are installed carefully so they drain
completely (which is rarely the case), and they are cleaned at
least once a year, they can last over 20 years. Aluminum gutters do
not rust (but joints must be made with adhesives), copper gutters
are joined with solder and do not rust, but copper is extremely
expensive.