Reviewed November 3, 2026. Gutter Installation St. Louis is a referral service; independent contractors do the work.
Half-round gutters have a simple curved profile that often suits older brick houses better than K-style. They come in painted aluminum, galvanized steel, zinc and copper, usually with round downspouts and visible brackets. Copper costs more up front, needs skilled joints, and weathers to brown and eventually green. Ask to see local examples, and if you're in a historic district, call the Cultural Resources Office first.
- Profile
- Half circle, with round downspouts
- Metals
- Aluminum, galvanized steel, zinc, copper
- Fixing
- Often visible brackets, more of them than K-style
- Copper ages
- Bright, then brown, eventually green
When half-round makes sense
St. Louis has a lot of houses where a modern K-style gutter looks like what it is, a later addition. A half-round on brackets tends to sit more quietly on a Victorian or Tudor brick wall. It also has a smooth trough, which many people find easier to clean. But it holds less water than a K-style of the same width, so ask about size on a big roof.
Copper
Copper is chosen for looks and long life, but it has its demands.
- Joints are usually soldered, a skill not every installer has.
- Runoff can stain light stone and mortar green over time. Think about limestone sills and steps below.
- Don't mix it with steel or aluminum fasteners and hangers. Ask for compatible metals.
- It's a known target for theft. Think about reach at ground level.
Aluminum half-round
If you want the profile without the copper price, painted aluminum half-round gets close from the street. Check that it can be formed for your run lengths, since some half-round comes in sections and has more joints than seamless K-style.
Historic districts
A half-round may be just what a reviewer wants to see, or the rule may be more specific. Don't assume. Each City Historic District has its own standards, and the permit guide explains who to call.
Brackets on old brick
Half-round gutters are usually carried on brackets fixed to fascia or rafter tails, and round downspouts are fixed to the wall with straps. On old brick, ask where those fixings land. Our old-brick guide has the questions.
What to ask the contractor
- Have you done this profile before?Half-round and copper are less common. Ask for addresses you can drive by.
- Is it one piece or sections?Ask how many joints there will be, and how they're made.
- Is it big enough?Half-round holds less than K-style. Ask them to check it against your roof area.
- Are the metals compatible?With copper, ask for matching hangers, straps and fasteners.
Half-round & copper around St. Louis
See what's different about each place.
City of St. Louis
- Soulard
- Lafayette Square
- Benton Park
- Tower Grove South
- Shaw
- Central West End
- The Hill
- Dogtown
- St. Louis Hills
- Carondelet
St. Louis County
- Clayton
- University City
- Webster Groves
- Kirkwood
- Maplewood
- Ladue
- Creve Coeur
- Chesterfield
- Ballwin
- Affton
- Oakville
- Florissant
St. Charles County
Half-round & copper: questions
Do half-round gutters clog more?
Generally not. The smooth curve leaves fewer corners for debris to lodge in. But the outlet can still plug, and they hold less than K-style, so an overflow can come sooner in a heavy storm.
Will my copper gutters turn green?
Eventually, in most exposures. They go from bright to brown fairly quickly and may take years to show green. The look is uneven along the way. Some owners like that, others don't.
What does copper cost compared with aluminum?
Considerably more, in both metal and labor. We don't have a sourced St. Louis figure to give you, so ask for both prices on the same written quote.
Can half-round be used on a house with K-style trim?
Yes, though the fascia and any crown molding need checking, because the brackets fix differently. Ask the contractor how the back of the gutter will meet the trim.
Further reading
- Do you need a permit for gutters in St. Louis?
- Box gutters vs hanging gutters on old St. Louis houses
Related work
- Box Gutter Repair: Gutters built into the cornice of older houses. When they fail, water goes straight into the wall.
- Gutter Installation: New gutters and downspouts for brick city houses, postwar ranches and newer subdivisions, planned around freeze and thaw and heavy spring rain.
- Seamless Gutters: Continuous runs formed at your house from a coil of metal, with joints only at corners and outlets.