Identifying aluminum and galvanized steel gutters

Exterior · Gutters and Downspouts · printed page 341 (PDF page 342)

Book index entries

Aluminum and Galvanized Steel Gutters – Identifying Galvanized Steel and Aluminum Gutter – Identifying Gutter – Identifying Aluminum and Galvanized Steel Downspout – and Gutter Gutter and Downspout

Text in the illustration

inside is silvery - no rust - can be scratched with screwdriver
ALUMINUM
baked enamel outer finish - doesn't peel
inside is dull grey - often rusty
GALVANIZED STEEL
more rounded shape
outside is painted - may be peeling
cross section

Generated explanation

The illustration compares cross sections of aluminum and galvanized steel gutters. The aluminum gutter has a more angular bottom-to-front transition and is identified by a silvery interior that does not rust and can be scratched with a screwdriver. Its exterior is labeled as a baked enamel finish that does not peel. The galvanized steel gutter has a more rounded lower front profile, a dull grey interior described as often rusty, and a painted exterior that may peel. These are material-identification comparisons rather than examples of proper and improper installation.