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Copper is one of the first metals used by humans. Back in an age that archaeologists call the “Copper Age”, talented craftsmen fashioned orange-brown, pliable metal into tools and weapons. Over the years, metallurgy advanced by leaps and bounds. It wasn’t long before copper became a popular construction element – especially on the roofs of high-end buildings like cathedrals and domes.
Types of Copper Roofing
Copper roofs can be used on almost all architectural styles and building types. It is simply up to the designer’s creativity and the expertise of the installation. Copper roofs are common on luxurious residential and business structures. Some structures have their whole roofs clad in copper, while others just include highlights such as turrets or awnings over bay windows.
While a copper roof can be added to any building design, only a few varieties of copper roofing materials exist; each has a distinct design purpose and installation application. Roofing experts with training and expertise in copper roofing systems are the best resources for determining which type of copper roof best fits a certain structure.
Copper roof features vary for the following roofing types:
- Continuous Copper Roofing: This is a custom-designed and prefabricated application for a specific task. It entails putting down copper sheets on a roofing substrate that assembles in a single piece without joints or seams. Continuous copper roofing can be the most costly choice.
- Copper Panels: Typically, panels are more affordable than continuous sheets. These are sectional copper sheets which come in conventional widths; they are placed by hand with visible seams. Some seams are crimped during the standing seam copper roofing procedure. Other joints are welded or brazed on-site.
- Copper Shingle Roofing: These are widely used due to their comparatively low price. Copper shingles are hand-applied (like any other shingle roofing material) but care must be used to avoid damaging the sensitive surface. This approach also needs copper fasteners to avoid metallurgical reactions when copper roofing comes in contact with other metals.
6 Key Benefits of Copper Roofing
There are several reasons why professional builders have used copper roofing for centuries. Professional architects and builders recognize copper’s advantages over inferior roofing materials (such as wood shakes and asphalt shingles). Copper is used for capping premium structures, since no other material for weather protection can match its performance.
Here are the 6 primary advantages of installing copper roofs and why property owners choose them:
- Architectural Elegance: Copper roofs are exquisite. There is no better way to match distinct architectural types than by incorporating copper roof shingles or seamless panels into a particular design. According to discerning homeowners and architects, copper roofs boost curb appeal like no other material. It’s difficult to quantify the pride and satisfaction this provides.
- Durability: The only roofing material that actually improves with age is copper. Copper is impervious to all-natural adversity including strong winds and severe rainfalls. Copper develops a protective layer which acts as a barrier or shield as it matures. Other products cannot attain this level of durability.
- Cost-Effectiveness: Copper roofs can initially be more costly than most other roofing materials, but their extraordinarily long service life makes them cost-effective in the long run. Copper lasts centuries, whereas wood and asphalt shingles have a service life of around 25 years.
- Low Maintenance: Under normal conditions, copper roofs do not need any upkeep. Some owners choose to clean and sometimes refresh their copper roofs. This is a question of personal preference, but it is seldom required.
- Lightweight: Copper roofs are much lighter than other roofing materials, notably concrete tiles and slate shingles. You can also construct roof components such as trusses and rafters out of thinner materials like copper. This reduces building expenses overall. These savings can balance the labour and material costs associated with constructing a copper roof. Reduced load stress allows the components of the structure to endure longer. Additionally, copper roofs reduce weight in regions with heavy snowfall.
- Fire-Resistant: Fireproofing is of utmost importance in areas where forest fires are a possibility. Copper roofs are also a great protector against a neighbouring building catching fire. Copper requires an enormous amount of heat to deform and destroy it.
Installing and maintaining high-quality copper roofs (and other metal roofing systems) is an area of expertise for Merlin’s Roofing. For experienced copper roof installation and expert workmanship on your copper (or other specialized metal) roofs, visit us online or contact us in Ottawa at (819) 969-0920 now for an estimate.