Galvanic Corrosion at Gutter Hangers Prompts Hardware Review for Older Forsyth County Aluminum Systems
Cumming, United States - November 15, 2026 / Master Craft Gutters and Construction LLC /
CUMMING, Ga. – Corrosion at the hangers of older aluminum gutters in Forsyth County is often traced to steel fasteners, according to field guidance from Master Craft Gutters and Construction LLC. The Cumming contractor, which handles gutter installation in Cumming and across North Georgia, weighs that damage when deciding whether an existing system should be repaired or replaced.
The cause is galvanic corrosion. When rainwater bridges two different metals, the aluminum corrodes first, leaving pitting and holes around fastener points even when the rest of the run looks clean. The orange staining that often marks those spots comes from the steel hardware, since aluminum itself does not rust. The process is outlined in a technical breakdown of gutter rust and structural corrosion published by the contractor.
"Most people see an orange streak and figure it's cosmetic," said Jesse Vlaun, founder of Master Craft Gutters and Construction LLC. "A lot of the time it's coming off a steel screw at a hanger, and that's where the metal is breaking down. I'd rather show a homeowner that up close and let them decide what to do about it."
On new work, crews form standard K-style troughs on-site from 0.032-inch aluminum and hang them on internal hidden hangers secured with stainless steel lag screws, which resist the rust seen on carbon steel fasteners. The hangers are set every 24 inches into solid rafter tails.
Fastener condition matters because of the load a gutter carries. A 40-foot run with poor pitch, holding 2 inches of trapped water and wet debris, adds more than 250 pounds of weight against the fascia, according to the company's published drainage guidance. Under that strain, weakened spikes and bracket screws can pull free from the wood.
Inspection practice separates surface oxidation from structural failure. A single leaking seam or a loose downspout bracket is generally handled as a repair. Replacement becomes the stronger option when pitting is widespread, several sections sag or the fascia behind the trough has rotted, and the contractor's inspection guidance treats damage across more than 50% of a system as the point where replacement is more cost-effective than repair.
"Aluminum gutters average about 20 years, but in this humidity they rarely dry out completely, and that shortens the clock without regular upkeep," Vlaun said. "Hanger spots are the first place I check."
About Master Craft Gutters and Construction LLC
Founded in 2022 by Jesse Vlaun, Master Craft Gutters and Construction LLC is a veteran-owned gutter contractor based in Cumming, Georgia, serving homeowners and home builders across Forsyth County and North Georgia. The company forms seamless 6-inch K-style aluminum gutters on-site and installs gutter guards, downspouts, fascia repairs and custom half-round, box and copper systems. It is accredited by the Better Business Bureau.
Contact Information:
Master Craft Gutters and Construction LLC
4500 Shiloh Rd
Cumming, Georgia 30040
United States
Jesse Vlaun
+1-470-458-7718
https://www.mastercraftgutters.com
