Visible welds and streaks on ...: "I replaced the original 1925 circa tin roof with this ..." - Scott Mitchell (3/31/2016) | I Have An Existing Metal Roof and Have A Question

I replaced the original 1925 circa tin roof with this copper. The welds are visible and running and the copper looks streaked and stained. What did they do wrong?	Scott Mitchell 3/31/2016	Share Or copy this URL: https://www.metalroofing.com/spirit/comment/21103/find/
Probably nothing. It is a flat lock roof that is "tinned" (i.e. soldered) together. It is not a perfect or neat process. You can clean the copper roof if you like for a more uniform look so that it will patina at the same rate. At the end of the day, its all going to be "bronz'ish" looking once it oxidizes up.	Eric Novotny An informed customer is the Best Customer! 3/31/2016	Share Or copy this URL: https://www.metalroofing.com/spirit/comment/21104/find/
Hi Scott, Thanks for using metal roofing. I don't have a lot of experience with copper. But my perception is that it takes a bit of time for the roof to develop a uniform-ish patina. Natural metals will never be as uniform as a painted panel, that is part of their beauty. I am not sure that they did anything wrong. The Copper Development Association - www.copper.org has suggestions for developing a patina. Including a good washing to expose the copper so the oxide layer can form - as well as treatments that can speed the process. Regards, David	David Stermer 3/31/2016	Share Or copy this URL: https://www.metalroofing.com/spirit/comment/21105/find/
Thanks Eric. I posted a photo on the original. I know these roofs oxidize, I was just surprised by how the welds were appearing to leach, and it looked like someone wiped it down and there are streaks. But, maybe that is just how it is. I have another photo on this post, attached.	Scott Mitchell 3/31/2016	Share Or copy this URL: https://www.metalroofing.com/spirit/comment/21106/find/
The differential marks are likely a result of the flux. Flux is acidic in order to prep the surface. In a perfect world, a tinsmith (there aren't any around anymore) would have pre-tinned the panel edges where they were to be soldered and the joints would have been more uniform. Nobody does this anymore and it is a dying art as far as I can tell. Its not the prettiest look, but if you cleaned it would likely look more uniform as it aged and oxidized up.	Eric Novotny An informed customer is the Best Customer! 3/31/2016	Share Or copy this URL: https://www.metalroofing.com/spirit/comment/21107/find/
Thanks!	Scott Mitchell 3/31/2016	Share Or copy this URL: https://www.metalroofing.com/spirit/comment/21108/find/

If you would like to reply to this thread, please log in. If you do not have an Ask the Experts forum user account, create one here.

Visible welds and streaks on copper