copper roof - opinions?

[knighty]

bay window on the front room, it has a lead roof fits with the rest of the house ok

but... at some point we'd like to change it, inside the room it's not full high, there's a decent step down in ceiling height going into it.


I remember watching a tv program about copper sheet roofs years ago, a sheet of copper with a profile bent into the edge so it fits in with the next sheet, slide a tool along and it crimps them together

I remember really liking how it looked, once it got old and green I think it would fit in with our older house quite well


anyone have any experience with them? do they last well? iirc the green corrosion stuff on them (forgot the name of it) forms a protective layer?

 

[MattF]

Verdi gris.

 

[More Amps]

A tempting target for the light-fingered fraternity perhaps...

 

[Jack Pattenden]

A tempting target for the light-fingered fraternity perhaps...

Well, it's also highly conductive, isn't it?

 

[awemawson]

Seek out ‘Escape to rural France’ on YouTube where Dan is fitting a copper roof on his chateaux using the interlinking method that you describe

 

[DanZac]

Wasn't someone here doing a pergola (or whatever those things you have in your garden are called) with a copper roof a while back?

 

[GRW]

A tempting target for the light-fingered fraternity perhaps...

So is lead

 

[finyuk2005]

standing seam its sometimes called i think,
it wouldnt be cheap, but it would look incredible! and last 100's of years!

 

[GRW]

Don't they do the same sort of fold/crimp system on galv sheet as well? I thought I'd seen it on telly at some point.

Personally I think "wriggly tin" corrugated sheet roofs have a lot going for them - but the "farmers shed" vibe puts people off. Lightweight, easy & fast to fit, long lasting & inexpensive - I'd have thought that sheet profile roofing ought to be a lot more popular than it is (I'd certainly not be put off by one).

I dare say the Planning Wombles put the kibosh on it and dictate the roofing option in most places.

 

[finyuk2005]

Don't they do the same sort of fold/crimp system on galv sheet as well? I thought I'd seen it on telly at some point.

Personally I think "wriggly tin" corrugated sheet roofs have a lot going for them - but the "farmers shed" vibe puts people off. Lightweight, easy & fast to fit, long lasting & inexpensive - I'd have thought that sheet profile roofing ought to be a lot more popular than it is (I'd certainly not be put off by one).

I dare say the Planning Wombles put the kibosh on it and dictate the roofing option in most places.

i think its used with a lot of different materials yeah, the proper tools can be expensive though, but i think folk often hire them.

wiggly tin does seem to be becoming popular for houses actually, I kinda see the shed look myself!

did a garage for my folks with insulated roof sheets, sinusoidal profile, more like big six, less busy looking than normal wiggly tin, it looks quite ok especially for a garage roof

 

[George A2Y]

bay window on the front room, it has a lead roof fits with the rest of the house ok

but... at some point we'd like to change it, inside the room it's not full high, there's a decent step down in ceiling height going into it.


I remember watching a tv program about copper sheet roofs years ago, a sheet of copper with a profile bent into the edge so it fits in with the next sheet, slide a tool along and it crimps them together

I remember really liking how it looked, once it got old and green I think it would fit in with our older house quite well


anyone have any experience with them? do they last well? iirc the green corrosion stuff on them (forgot the name of it) forms a protective layer?

We had a copper valley between cedar shingle roofs, it lasted about 35 years before starting to go porous. The worst areas were where run off was concentrated, below roof skylights etc. Best guess was acid rain, the copper became paper thin before developing a hole. Corrosion was always where the copper was dripped on, never in the middle of the sheet. I'm sure there are roofers on here with much better information.

 

[OJCar]

Seek out ‘Escape to rural France’ on YouTube where Dan is fitting a copper roof on his chateaux using the interlinking method that you describe

 

[gaz1]

i wouldnt advise the change for the cost as you wouldnt gain much in doing so

if you do want it then keep your lead and reuse it higher up

 

[CompoSimmonite]

I remember a few years ago buildings having the copper roofing replaced with a similar looking green fibreglass version after the original copper had been stolen !

 

[finyuk2005]

We had a copper valley between cedar shingle roofs, it lasted about 35 years before starting to go porous. The worst areas were where run off was concentrated, below roof skylights etc. Best guess was acid rain, the copper became paper thin before developing a hole. Corrosion was always where the copper was dripped on, never in the middle of the sheet. I'm sure there are roofers on here with much better information.

interesting, I kinda just assumed it would last nearly forever!
what did you replace it with?
I wonder how much better lead would have been than copper? likely thicker for a start

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

I'd replace with fiberglass for watertightness...then add whatever aesthetic over the top of it to make it fit with the property.

Fiberglass painted to look like lead might be good enough?

 

[finyuk2005]

I did an epdm rubber porch roof recently, was very impressed with easy it was, I would fear, being in the rainy north of scotland that fibreglass can easily go wrong!, rubber is so fast you can beat the rain

 

[gaz1]

We had a copper valley between cedar shingle roofs, it lasted about 35 years before starting to go porous. The worst areas were where run off was concentrated, below roof skylights etc. Best guess was acid rain, the copper became paper thin before developing a hole. Corrosion was always where the copper was dripped on, never in the middle of the sheet. I'm sure there are roofers on here with much better information.

in knightlys case it dosnt matter to him it will last long enough and not with too much wear

which roof will last the longest its actually lead roof

but as in george a2y case yours was worn away with the rain and grit held within the rain worst areas are outlets and dripping areas for wear any type of roof was grit upon it

 

[George A2Y]

interesting, I kinda just assumed it would last nearly forever!
what did you replace it with?
I wonder how much better lead would have been than copper? likely thicker for a start

I can't remember what went in the valley, the cedar roof was replaced with profile sheeting possibly something similar was used to replace the copper.

 

[premmington]

When I been in the Alps - Switzerland and other places.

The Copper roofed - with Copper gutters and drain pipes - I thought were very smart.

Nice tasteful shade of green when they oxidise.

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My bay windows are done in Lead - nice scalloped edge - dearest bit was a good bit of marine ply and hardword under in at the time (years ago cira 1999 ish). Bet now the Lead would be the dearest bit.