The Natural Evolution of Copper Roofing

^{Copper Roofing: The Beauty of Copper Patina}

^{While copper gutters ,downspout and roof, start their service with beautiful golden-bronze color, as time goes by, eventually they will become patina that changes over time.The color of frame and shades for each building goes through vary, but eventually the copper will end up a brilliant green. It is not a defect, however should appreciate this as part of the natural maturing process of copper.}

^{As we all know,the famous of Statue of Liberty is the symbol of America.The exterior of the Statue of Liberty is made of copper,the thickness is around two pennies. Its beautiful, mature green patina gives the statue a graceful glow that seems to bring her to life as she stands over Liberty Island and the New York Harbor. This is a mature copper patina at its finest.}

^{While a patina is inevitable, the length of time it takes to form is dependent on several factors:}

^{1)The initial cleanliness of the copper can slow oxidation. For example, if the manufacturer uses lubricants in the manufacturing process, then a thin film may remain on the roofing material, slowing down oxidation.}

^{2)Local environmental conditions can speed or slow the rate in which the patina forms. A patina requires moisture and air contaminants to form.Copper that is in a perfectly clean and dry environment will not oxidize and form a patina.  Patinas will form more quickly in an environment that is rich in moisture and contaminants such as sulfur, chloride, etc., such as from pollution, volcanoes, and other sources. A patina can take significantly longer to form in a very dry climate like Las Vegas, but will form faster in a coastal environment like Southern California.}

^{3) A patina commonly has an uneven appearance. A patina is a natural process, and therefore, will not happen at a uniform rate. Copper roofing, even if it is installed at the same time as gutters and downspouts, will not age at the same rate. Sun exposure, the angle of installation, and the amount of moisture from the morning dew can all cause differences in patina on a single roof.}

4) ^{Achieving a quality patina in our desert climate. Copper roofing and gutters are slow to patina here in the desert with our dry, hot climate. It may take many years for the green patina to occur. Washing the copper with different solutions can accelerate the natural patina process. For instance, a simple salt water bath will start the natural tarnishing to start. Acid washing the copper will make the green patina happen. Other factors like temperature or humidity will affect the process so care should be taken to control when and where the wash is applied.}

^{5)Allow the natural process to happen. Cleaning the copper to restore its original appearance is possible, although the tarnish or patina will come back. Attempting to halt the natural patina process and keeping the shiny appearance of new copper by sealing the materials is never recommended because any sealer used will have to be reapplied and maintained. You could unintentionally end up with an uneven patina that diminishes the beauty of the roof.}