Copper – A popular and traditional material for metal roofing
Below, we’ll set out some information about Copper, a material we work with and what situations it’s best used in.
If you’re looking for a new metal roof, or to replace your current roof with a new hard metal roof and you’d like a bit more guidance from us about it then feel free to get in touch for a chat.
Sustainability
Copper is becoming a popular choice because of its energy efficiency properties, as builders and architects are striving to reduce environmental footprints. Copper reflects heat from the sun rather than absorbing it, so a copper roof would make it easier to control the costs connected with heating and cooling your property. Copper is a natural material that is 100% recyclable. This beautiful, durable and timeless material will last a lifetime – and longer.
Maintenance
Under most circumstances a copper roof requires very little maintenance. Standing water accelerates various degradation effects, so blocked gutters can result in major stresses on the roofing material. When rainwater comes into contact with copper a residue is released; this creates an environment where moss, mildew and fungus cannot grow making copper a low maintenance material.
Durability
Copper can be curved into a small radius. The most malleable of the hard metals copper can be stretched and bossed into almost any complex shape with less difficulty than zinc and stainless steel. Copper comes in a wide variety of widths and thicknesses for standing seam roofing, 0.6 mm to 0.7 mm in thickness and 430 mm, 530 mm or 600 mm in standing seam centres. Copper displays a wide array of colours, from a bright metallic colour to nearly black, and its final oxidised colour of green patina which can take between 15 to 20 years to fully patina.
Primary benefits
The natural vibrancy and beauty of copper is unique, which cannot be duplicated by any other roofing product. The benefits of modern copper roofing are not only available for our prestigious buildings, but can be utilised for a wide variety of residential premises; and is equally in demand for both new and restoration projects.
Cost comparisons
There are not many roofing materials that can match the unmistakeable appeal and extraordinary beauty of copper roofing. The initial cost of a copper roof can be quite expensive but copper has been known to perform well on historic buildings for over 700 years making copper a cost effective material.
Compatibility
Copper is regarded as corrosion resistant but does have an oxidation process that gives copper its characteristic green patina which is a result of exposure to an acidic atmosphere. The process is, therefore, faster in some metropolitan or marine environments. Since copper has one of the highest galvanic numbers or nobility of the active metals, it will not be harmed by contact with any of them. It will, however, cause corrosion of the other metals if in direct contact.
Incompatible products and run off
- Zinc
- Aluminium
The solution is to prevent such direct contact with the use of separating materials, such as specific paints or gaskets.
Future
Copper has played a role in architecture for thousands of years. For centuries, craftsmen and designers have utilized these attributes to build aesthetically pleasing and long-lasting building systems. With its prestigious appearance copper is a material that is going to be used for many years to come.