Gutter Materials Comparison: Aluminum, Copper, Steel, Zinc, and Vinyl Real-World Performance

By The Roofing Brief Team. Last reviewed: October 2026.

A gutter materials comparison comes down to five materials (aluminum, copper, galvanized or Galvalume steel, zinc and vinyl), and the published numbers separate them clearly: the NAHB life-expectancy study rates copper gutters at 50+ years against 20 for aluminum and galvanized steel, and HomeGuide’s October 2025 cost guide prices them from $8 to $12 per linear foot installed (vinyl) to $35 to $45 (zinc). Related: 2026 gutter pricing. The two expensive mistakes run in opposite directions: paying $25 to $40 per foot for copper on a house you will sell in 5 years, or putting vinyl rated 10 to 20 years on a house you plan to keep for 30.

Aluminum: the residential default

Aluminum gutters are the default because the coil is light and a portable gutter machine can roll-form it on site at roughly 45 to 50 feet per minute, the speeds Englert and New Tech Machinery list for their 5 inch machines. HomeGuide’s aluminum gutter cost guide puts sectional aluminum at $4 to $8 per linear foot installed and seamless aluminum at $6 to $12, and HomeWyse puts installed aluminum at $6.29 to $10.45 per linear foot (May 2026). Prices for each material are in our rain gutter cost and options guide.

Standard aluminum gutter coil comes in two gauges. 0.027 inch is the residential default. 0.032 inch is the heavy-gauge upgrade, common in snow-load regions and on commercial work, and it is 18.5 percent thicker (0.005 inch more metal, Roofing Brief arithmetic), which is the main reason it resists denting from ladders, ice fall and branches. Both machines named below list 0.032 inch as their aluminum maximum, so 0.032 is the heaviest aluminum you can get as a seamless 5 inch K-style gutter. In snow country, ask the installer to quote 0.032; on a one-story Florida ranch, 0.027 meets the same machine spec.

Painted aluminum gutter coil is sold under several names, including Englert (owned by Great Day Improvements since June 2024), Spectra Metal Sales, Lynch Aluminum, Gentek and Kaycan, each with its own range of standard gutter colors and its own finish warranty terms. Most of it is formed at the house on portable roll formers such as New Tech Machinery’s MACH II and Englert’s MetalMan machines, both of which list .032 inch as their aluminum maximum for 5 inch K-style gutter. Englert’s seamless aluminum gutter warranty covers the finish against blistering, flaking, peeling and red rust for 20 years from installation. Our gutter coil guide compares widths, gauges and published finish warranties.

The National Association of Home Builders 2007 Study of Life Expectancy of Home Components puts the average life of aluminum gutters at 20 years. InterNACHI’s Standard Estimated Life Expectancy Chart rates aluminum gutters and downspouts at 20 to 40+ years, assuming regular maintenance, and HomeGuide’s cost guide lists 20 to 30 years. The failure modes at end of life are not corrosion (the metal is fine) but mechanical: hangers loosen, joints at corners crack from expansion-contraction cycles, paint chalks on the south face, and the front lip of the K-style profile gets bent from repeated ladder contact. As a system passes NAHB’s 20 year average, watch for those mechanical failures, especially drips at the corners. The parts of a full system are covered in our roof rain gutter system guide. For the figures from each named chart, see our guide to how long gutters last by material.

For the cost breakdown on aluminum, see our gutter cost per linear foot guide.

Copper: the long-haul play

Copper is the only common residential gutter material with a service life that exceeds the typical homeowner’s tenure in the house. NAHB’s 2007 study and InterNACHI’s chart both rate copper gutters at 50+ years and copper downspouts at 100 years, and HomeGuide lists 50 to 100 years. The patina that forms is protective: the Copper Development Association’s design handbook says it eventually covers the surface and adheres tightly, providing a protective layer against further weathering.

The supply chain is small. Berger Building Products sells half-round gutter in 16 ounce and 20 ounce copper as well as aluminum and steel, and Senox, a seamless gutter supplier with 24 branches across the Central and Southeastern US per senox.com, distributes coil, hangers and accessories. Many copper jobs, especially half-round, are built from sectional pieces soldered at the seams; the CDA’s hung-gutter detail uses 8 to 10 foot sheets of 20 ounce copper joined with 1 inch lapped, riveted and soldered seams. Copper K-style can also be roll-formed on site: New Tech Machinery rates its MACH II 5 inch machine for 16 to 20 ounce 3/4 hard copper, and Englert lists 20 ounce 3/4 hard copper for its MetalMan 555.

The two thicknesses are 16 ounce (the residential default, 0.0216 inch) and 20 ounce (commercial and high-end residential, 0.0270 inch), per the CDA handbook’s sheet table. 20 ounce copper is more rigid, more expensive, and is the right call on long runs or in regions with heavy snow and ice loading. Our guide to copper gutters: 16 oz vs 20 oz, cost, and install goes deeper on the weight choice.

Patina timeline: the CDA’s natural weathering chart for moist industrial climates steps from unexposed copper through frames at 4 and 8 months and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10 and 15 years to 25 to 30 years, and the handbook says the process runs faster in metropolitan, marine and industrial areas. Natural patinas are mostly basic copper carbonate and basic copper sulfate, per the same handbook. If you want copper kept bright, the CDA specification language calls for a clear acrylic lacquer or paraffin oil coat to retard weathering, which is a maintenance item, not a permanent finish.

The choice between copper half-round and copper K-style is largely architectural. See k-style vs half-round gutters for the capacity and style comparison.

Galvalume and galvanized steel: the inland workhorse

Steel gutters have a corrosion-protection coating because bare steel rusts within months of exposure. The two common coatings are galvanized (zinc only, the older standard) and Galvalume (aluminum-zinc-silicon alloy, the modern standard developed by Bethlehem Steel in the 1970s). The GalvInfo Center (GalvInfo Note 1.4) says 55% aluminum-zinc coatings have outlasted galvanized steel by two to four times, depending on the environment.

Both coatings rely on the principle of sacrificial protection: in the CDA’s nobility ranking zinc (2) sits below steel (3), so the coating corrodes preferentially to the steel underneath, even at scratch points and cut edges. As long as the coating layer remains, the steel is protected. Galvanized coating weights are designated under ASTM A653 (G60, G90) and Galvalume under ASTM A792 (AZ50, AZ55), and a heavier designation buys more years before the coating wears through. When it does, usually at cut edges, fastener penetrations, and corners where the coating breaks during forming, the bare steel below starts to rust.

The National Association of Home Builders 2007 Study of Life Expectancy of Home Components puts the average life of galvanized steel gutters at 20 years, the same figure it gives aluminum. A given system can land above or below that average depending on exposure. InterNACHI rates galvanized steel gutters and downspouts at 20 years on its standard chart and 15 years on its Florida chart, which is written for salt, sun and wind exposure. Neither NAHB nor InterNACHI rates Galvalume gutters separately, and HomeGuide gives steel 20 to 50 years.

The advantages of steel over aluminum are rigidity and dimensional stability: Metal Sales gives steel a thermal expansion coefficient of 0.0000065 per degree Fahrenheit against 0.0000128 for aluminum, so steel moves about half as much. The disadvantages are weight (steel is about 2.9 times denser than aluminum, 7.85 vs 2.70 g/cm3) and eventual corrosion at cut edges and joints. Steel can be formed seamless on site: New Tech Machinery’s MACH II specification lists painted, Galvalume and coated galvanized steel from 30 gauge to 24 gauge.

Steel makes the most sense matched to a standing-seam metal roof of the same coating system, so the ASTM A792 Galvalume or ASTM A653 galvanized chemistry and the color match at the eave. For coating grades, sheet thickness and when rust tends to show up, see our guide to galvanized gutter coating, gauge and rust timeline.

Zinc: the European import

Zinc gutters are common in central Europe, where they have been the dominant residential material for over 100 years. They are a niche product in the US, available through Drexel Metals, importers of VMZINC (made by VM Building Solutions, part of Belgium’s Fedrus International since Umicore sold it in 2017) and Rheinzink (a German manufacturer), and a small number of specialty distributors.

Zinc has two real performance advantages over aluminum and copper. First, it self-heals: small scratches, dents and cut edges oxidize over and form a protective zinc carbonate layer, and VMZINC puts typical zinc sheet corrosion at about 2 microns (0.00008 in) per year. Second, the patina is gray to dark gray, not green, which suits modern and contemporary residential work where the green verdigris of copper would clash.

Neither NAHB nor InterNACHI rates zinc gutters. VMZINC states that a correctly designed and installed zinc roof can last more than 100 years, falling to as little as 60 years in a few very severe industrial and marine environments, and HomeGuide’s cost guide lists zinc gutters at 30 to 80+ years. VMZINC’s published thermal expansion coefficient is 0.022 mm per meter per degree Celsius parallel to the rolling direction, close to aluminum’s.

The challenges with zinc in the US market are price ($35 to $45 per linear foot installed per HomeGuide) and installer scarcity. Aluminum gutter crews rarely know zinc. The forming, soldering and detailing technique is closer to copper than aluminum. Ask the installer for addresses of zinc gutter jobs they have completed and how they solder the joints before signing.

Vinyl: the price-led option

Vinyl gutters are PVC extrusion sold in 10-foot sections at home centers. HomeGuide’s gutter installation cost guide (October 28, 2025) puts installed vinyl at $8 to $12 per linear foot, the lowest of the five materials. The use case is rental property where the owner expects to replace the system on a short cycle and wants the lowest upfront cost. Published lifespans differ: HomeGuide lists vinyl at 10 to 20 years, while InterNACHI’s chart lists vinyl gutters and downspouts at 25+ years.

The three failure modes, with the maker rules that address them:

• Cold-weather installs. Kaycan’s K-Snap installation guide sets 32 degrees Fahrenheit as the minimum temperature for cementing fittings, and rigid PVC is easier to crack from a ladder bump or branch in hard cold.
• UV chalking. Exposed PVC can lose surface gloss and chalk over time, most visibly on the south face, and HomeGuide’s 10 to 20 year range reflects that.
• Joint failure. Vinyl uses snap-together joints with gaskets or cemented fittings. As the gaskets dry out and harden, leaks can emerge at the joints; Kaycan requires cemented fittings to sit at least 2 inches from hangers.

Vinyl moves more with temperature than metal, so Kaycan’s guide calls for an expansion connector where more than 25 feet of gutter runs between two corners with no drop outlet, with hangers every 24 inches and none closer than 12 inches to a corner. Those three numbers are the install checks to verify on a vinyl quote.

Material comparison at a glance

Material	Service life	Cost ($/lf installed, HomeGuide)	Sheet spec	Movement per 10 ft per 100F	Best use case
Aluminum 0.027	About 20 yr (NAHB avg.); 20 to 40+ yr (InterNACHI)	$10 to $20 (installation guide); seamless $6 to $12 (aluminum guide)	0.027 in coil	0.154 in	Default residential
Aluminum 0.032	No chart rates life by gauge; same 20 yr (NAHB) and 20 to 40+ yr (InterNACHI) ratings	Not priced separately	0.032 in coil, the MACH II and MetalMan maximum	0.154 in	Snow-load regions
Copper 16 oz	50+ yr (NAHB, InterNACHI); 50 to 100 yr (HomeGuide)	$25 to $40	0.0216 in (20 oz: 0.0270 in)	0.118 in	Traditional, historic homes
Galvalume or galvanized steel	Galvanized: 20 yr (NAHB, InterNACHI); 20 to 50 yr (HomeGuide, steel)	$10 to $35	30 to 24 gauge on a MACH II	0.078 in	Matches metal roof
Zinc	Not rated by NAHB or InterNACHI; 30 to 80+ yr (HomeGuide)	$35 to $45	Rolled titanium zinc	0.147 in	Modern, contemporary, self-healing
Vinyl	10 to 20 yr (HomeGuide); 25+ yr (InterNACHI)	$8 to $12	PVC sections	Not published by Kaycan; use its 25 ft expansion connector rule	Rental, short-term ownership

Service life sources: NAHB Study of Life Expectancy of Home Components (2007); InterNACHI Standard Estimated Life Expectancy Chart; HomeGuide gutter installation cost guide (October 28, 2025), whose per-foot prices include gutter lengths, hardware, corners, fittings and professional installation. Movement is coefficient x 120 in x 100 F, Roofing Brief arithmetic, using 0.0000128 per F for aluminum and 0.0000065 for steel (Metal Sales), 0.0000098 for copper (CDA handbook) and 0.022 mm/m/C, or 0.0000122 per F, for zinc (VMZINC).

Gutter materials comparison: which material for which house

If your house or plan is	Choose	Threshold and source
Selling within 10 years, inland	Seamless aluminum, 0.027 in	$6 to $12 per foot (HomeGuide) against NAHB’s 20 year average life
Keeping 20+ years in snow country	Seamless aluminum, 0.032 in, or 24 gauge steel	0.032 in is the MACH II and MetalMan aluminum maximum; MACH II forms steel to 24 gauge
Keeping 30+ years, traditional or historic	Copper, 16 oz (20 oz on long or icy runs)	50+ years per NAHB and InterNACHI; $25 to $40 per foot (HomeGuide)
Copper flashing, valleys or roof draining to the eave	Copper gutters	CDA: copper wash should not drain onto exposed aluminum
Standing-seam steel roof	Galvalume or galvanized steel gutter in the roof’s coating system	Same zinc or aluminum-zinc chemistry at the eave
Salt-spray exposure	Copper; if aluminum, budget for shorter life and rinse the gutters	InterNACHI Florida chart: aluminum 15 to 35+, galvanized 15, copper 40+; Englert’s 20 year finish warranty excludes salt-spray atmospheres
Modern design, gray finish wanted	Zinc	30 to 80+ years and $35 to $45 per foot (HomeGuide)
Rental or a 5-year horizon	Vinyl, or sectional aluminum at $4 to $8 per foot	Vinyl $8 to $12 per foot, 10 to 20 years (HomeGuide)

Galvanic corrosion: the dissimilar metal trap

When two dissimilar metals contact each other in the presence of moisture, the less noble metal corrodes faster than it would in isolation. The CDA handbook ranks common building metals in increasing nobility as 1 aluminum, 2 zinc, 3 steel, 4 iron, 5 stainless steel (active), 6 tin, 7 lead, 8 copper and 9 stainless steel (passive), so aluminum loses to every metal on the list (CDA handbook, Table 1.3A). The classic case: a copper chimney flashing or a copper roof valley draining into an aluminum gutter. The CDA says copper salts in that runoff may accelerate corrosion of aluminum, and that copper should be prevented from draining onto exposed aluminum.

The rule: do not run a more noble metal upstream of a less noble one. If you have copper flashings or copper roof penetrations, the gutter that catches their drainage should be copper. If you have aluminum gutter, the flashings draining into it should be aluminum or painted aluminum. Where copper must touch another metal, the Copper Development Association recommends separating them with bituminous or zinc chromate primers (copper to aluminum) or with tape, gaskets or nonabsorptive sealants.

This also applies to fasteners. On the CDA ranking aluminum (1) sits below steel (3), so the aluminum around a bare steel screw is what corrodes; use aluminum or coated fasteners and the hangers the gutter maker supplies. Copper systems use copper or brass: the CDA handbook specifies brass screws, such as No. 12 x 3/4 inch round head, for copper work.

Freeze tolerance and ice loading

In the snow belt, gutters carry static loads of ice and dynamic loads of snow sliding off the roof. Amerimax’s metal gutter installation guide calls for one hanger every 24 inches, the CDA calls for copper gutter straps no more than 30 inches on center in most climates plus added support in severe ice and snow areas, and installers in heavy snow country commonly tighten aluminum spacing below 24 inches.

• Vinyl: Kaycan’s minimum cementing temperature is 32 degrees Fahrenheit, and cold PVC cracks under impact more easily. The weakest choice in regions with sustained winter ice.
• Aluminum 0.027: Will deform under heavy ice load. Tighten hanger spacing below Amerimax’s 24 inch standard in snow regions.
• Aluminum 0.032: 18.5 percent thicker than 0.027 and the heaviest aluminum the portable machines form. The usual aluminum spec for snow regions.
• Steel (Galvalume): Formed to 24 gauge on a MACH II, stiffer than aluminum at the same profile. A good snow-region choice.
• Copper: 20 ounce (0.0270 inch) with straps at 30 inches or less per the CDA. Common in Northeast historic homes that see real winter.
• Zinc: Formed and soldered like copper; follow VMZINC’s details for bracket spacing and expansion.

Heated cable can keep gutters clear when gauge and hanger spacing are not enough. See heated gutter cable for install detail and cost.

Coastal corrosion

Salt air shortens gutter life for every material the charts rate, and the published numbers show by how much. InterNACHI’s Florida chart, written for salt, sun and wind exposure, cuts aluminum gutters from 20 to 40+ years to 15 to 35+ years and galvanized steel from 20 to 15 years, while copper stays at 40+. The CDA says copper patina forms faster in marine areas, and VMZINC says zinc life can fall from more than 100 years to as little as 60 in a few very severe industrial and marine environments.

Warranties are the second check. Englert’s 20 year aluminum gutter finish warranty excludes damage from atmospheres contaminated with salt or salt spray, so on a beachfront house the finish warranty may not apply at all. Ask the installer for the coil maker’s warranty and read the corrosive-atmosphere exclusion before choosing painted aluminum near the water.

• Aluminum gutters drop from 20 to 40+ years on InterNACHI’s standard chart to 15 to 35+ years on its Florida chart.
• Galvanized steel drops from 20 years on the standard chart to 15 on the Florida chart.
• Copper gutters are rated 50+ years on the standard chart and still 40+ on the Florida chart.
• Vinyl does not corrode, but HomeGuide’s 10 to 20 year range already reflects UV aging, which is stronger in sunny coastal climates.

On salt-air components: aluminum gutters with stainless steel fasteners put the least noble metal on the Copper Development Association ranking against a more noble one, so ask for the gutter maker’s own coated or aluminum fasteners and hidden hangers. If you are within sight of saltwater and want a 30-plus year system, copper is the only material the Florida chart still rates at 40+ years; aluminum 0.032 with fresh-water rinses is the lower-cost alternative with a shorter expected life.

The expansion-contraction problem on long runs

Materials expand and contract with temperature, and gutter sections that are too long for their material crack at corners or pull fasteners. Linear thermal expansion coefficients, and the movement they produce over 10 feet of gutter and a 100 degree Fahrenheit swing:

• Aluminum: 0.0000128 per F (Metal Sales), 0.154 inch
• Steel: 0.0000065 per F (Metal Sales), 0.078 inch
• Copper: 0.0000098 per F (CDA), 0.118 inch
• Zinc: 0.022 mm/m/C, or 0.0000122 per F (VMZINC), 0.147 inch
• Vinyl: no coefficient published in Kaycan’s guide; it requires an expansion connector on runs of more than 25 feet between two corners with no drop outlet

The implication on a 40-foot seamless aluminum gutter run that sees an 80-degree summer-to-winter temperature swing: 40 ft x 12 in x 80 F x 0.0000128 = about 0.49 inch of movement (Roofing Brief arithmetic). Hidden hangers with sliding clips, rather than rigid fasteners, accommodate this movement. For copper, the CDA handbook sets expansion joints no more than 48 feet apart on straight runs and no more than 24 feet from any corner; its worked example for a 36 foot section between 0 and 150 degrees Fahrenheit (with superheat) installed at 65 degrees gives about 1/4 inch of contraction and 3/8 inch of expansion.

Vinyl’s expansion connector rule from Kaycan (more than 25 feet between two corners with no drop outlet) and its 10-foot section length mean a vinyl system has a joint about every 10 feet. Each joint is a gasket or cemented fitting that can leak as it ages.

Matching the material to the architecture

Material choice is partly performance, partly architectural fit. These pairings are editorial guidance, not code:

• 1900 to 1940 traditional, Tudor, colonial revival, craftsman: Copper half-round is the period-correct choice. Aluminum K-style looks anachronistic.
• 1950 to 1980 ranch, split-level, contemporary tract: Aluminum K-style at $6 to $12 per foot seamless (HomeGuide) fits the style and the budget.
• 1980 to 2010 vinyl-sided builder colonial: Aluminum K-style in a color matched to the trim. Copper reads as out of place on this style.
• 2010 to 2026 modern, contemporary, mid-century revival: Aluminum K-style or zinc half-round. Sometimes copper half-round on high-end modern work.
• Metal-roofed (standing seam) home: Galvalume steel gutter to match, or aluminum painted to match the roof color.
• Coastal contemporary: Copper if budget allows (40+ years on InterNACHI’s Florida chart). Aluminum 0.032 if not.

The install and service interaction

Material choice interacts with install detail. Copper and zinc need soldered seams and expansion joints at the CDA’s 48 foot and 24 foot limits, aluminum needs hangers at Amerimax’s 24 inch spacing or closer, and vinyl needs Kaycan’s 24 inch hangers, 2 inch fitting clearance and 32 degree cementing minimum. A quote that does not state hanger spacing and expansion joint locations is missing the details that decide how long the system lasts.

For the full install detail, see rain gutter install guide and gutter installation.

For ongoing maintenance scheduling and cost, see gutter cleaning cost and schedule. For the system that connects gutters to roof edge, see drip edge and fascia board.

For full-roof pricing context, see roofing cost per square. For the broader library, browse learn.

The right material for your house

The short answer by ownership horizon and house type:

• Own the house for 10-plus years, standard 1960s through 2010s residential architecture, inland climate: Aluminum 0.027 or 0.032 seamless K-style. Done.
• Own a pre-1940 traditional, historic, or craftsman, plan to stay 15-plus years: Copper 16 ounce half-round, rated 50+ years by NAHB.
• Modern or contemporary, want a gray patina and willing to spend $35 to $45 per foot: Zinc.
• Rental property or 5-year ownership horizon: Vinyl at $8 to $12 per foot, or sectional aluminum at $4 to $8 per foot (HomeGuide).
• Standing seam metal roof: Galvalume steel gutter to match.

The material decision sets the trajectory for the next 20 to 50 years of the house. On a 200 foot system at HomeGuide’s prices, copper costs $5,000 to $8,000 against $2,000 to $4,000 for aluminum, and NAHB’s ratings (50+ years vs 20) mean aluminum may be replaced at least once within copper’s life.

Frequently asked questions

Which gutter material lasts the longest?

Copper, among the materials the main life-expectancy charts rate: NAHB and InterNACHI both list copper gutters at 50+ years. Zinc is not rated in either chart, but VMZINC says a correctly designed zinc roof can last more than 100 years. Aluminum averages about 20 years per NAHB and 20 to 40+ years on InterNACHI’s chart, and galvanized steel about 20. Copper suits traditional and historic homes, while zinc suits modern designs.

Can I run copper flashing into an aluminum gutter?

No. The Copper Development Association says copper salts in runoff may accelerate corrosion of aluminum and that copper should be prevented from draining onto exposed aluminum. Match the gutter to the flashing metal. If you have copper flashings, use copper gutters; with aluminum gutters, use aluminum or painted aluminum flashings and aluminum or coated fasteners.

What gauge of aluminum gutter should I choose?

The 0.027 inch coil is the residential default and fine on single-story homes in mild climates. The 0.032 inch gauge is 18.5 percent thicker, resists dents and ice loading better, and is the heaviest aluminum that New Tech Machinery’s MACH II and Englert’s MetalMan list for 5 inch seamless K-style. In snow-belt regions, 0.032 with hangers at Amerimax’s 24 inch spacing or closer is the usual spec.

Is vinyl gutter ever a good choice?

Vinyl costs the least, about $8 to $12 per foot installed per HomeGuide. Its published lifespan ranges from 10 to 20 years in HomeGuide’s cost guide to 25+ years on InterNACHI’s chart, and Kaycan sets 32 degrees Fahrenheit as its minimum cementing temperature. It fits rental properties or short ownership horizons where a short replacement cycle is acceptable. For a home you plan to keep long term, aluminum usually costs less over the full period.

What gutter material holds up best near the coast?

Copper. InterNACHI’s Florida chart, written for salt, sun and wind exposure, still rates copper gutters at 40+ years, against 15 to 35+ for aluminum and 15 for galvanized steel. Englert’s 20 year aluminum gutter finish warranty excludes salt-spray atmospheres, so check the coil maker’s exclusion before choosing painted aluminum near the water.

Which gutter material matches a standing-seam metal roof?

Galvalume steel gutter is the usual match because its aluminum-zinc coating chemistry stays consistent with the roof and the look is unified, and New Tech Machinery’s MACH II forms Galvalume from 30 to 24 gauge on site. Painted aluminum matched to the roof color is an acceptable alternative. Keeping the metals consistent also avoids the dissimilar-metal contact that drives galvanic corrosion at the roof edge.

Galvanized steel vs aluminum gutters: which is better?

NAHB rates both at a 20 year average life, so the difference is stiffness, movement and corrosion. Steel moves about half as much with temperature (0.0000065 per F vs 0.0000128, per Metal Sales) and resists ice load better, while aluminum does not rust at cut edges. HomeGuide prices steel at $10 to $35 per foot and seamless aluminum at $6 to $12.