May 10, 2009 | Filed under: Roofing Issues
Sometimes people ask me about copper roofing and I always tell them that “copper is like lobster: it’s ‘marlet price’.” For many residential roofing budgets that means that copper roofing is relegated to small accent areas like bay windows or awnings, but some people do use copper for their entire roof. It has a beauty like no other. I’ve seen several copper roofs in my travels across Kentucky and a few right here in Louisville.
Copper cannot rust: instead it slowly forms the familiar (and often desired) green patina that acts as a skin and protects the base metal from further corrosion. Most people don’t realize that it takes many years (7-12) for that green patina to form. There are chemicals that can cause the patina to appear overnight but they must be applied with care to avoid streaks.
Last summer copper was at a very high price but it has since eased, and folks who are considering a copper roof should take advantage of this relative lull in copper prices to get one now.
At Classic Metal Roofing we offer our Oxford Shingle in solid copper. Because it comes in pre-made individual shingles, it goes on more quickly and with fewer surprises than hand-seamed or field-formed copper panels. Of course the major cost in copper roofing is in the materials, but by offering some labor savings over old-world methods, Oxford Shingle in solid copper is a more affordable avenue into permanent, beautiful copper roofing.