The Hidden Rules of Copper and Zinc: Why Professional Installation Matters

Why Is It Important To Work With Experienced Trained or Certified Installers When Using Primer Metals? 

The difference between a metal roof that lasts a decade and one that lasts centuries comes down to one crucial factor: proper installation. Jorge Fiscal draws from years of troubleshooting experience to reveal why working with certified professionals is non-negotiable when investing in premium metals like copper and zinc.

Jorge takes us behind the scenes of common installation failures he's witnessed, from contractors relying entirely on sealants to using incompatible fasteners that trigger rapid corrosion. He explains how these premier metals follow "a whole different set of rules" than standard materials—expanding three times more than steel in heat and requiring specialized techniques to accommodate this movement. While an exposed fastener system might be completed in a day, Jorge reveals why such shortcuts lead to endless maintenance and premature failure.

The most fascinating revelations come when Jorge shares lesser-known technical insights: zinc becoming brittle below 45°F (requiring preheating during winter installations), the importance of proper ventilation to prevent "white rust," and how only specific fastening systems can withstand Category 4 hurricane winds. He contrasts the quick, inexpensive 5V systems used on barns with the double-fold techniques that allow metals to expand and contract freely over a century or more. For homeowners and contractors navigating these premium materials, this episode offers critical guidance on avoiding costly mistakes and ensuring that these beautiful, durable materials perform as intended for generations to come.

Ready to learn more about proper copper and zinc installation for your project? Connect with Jorge directly at [e-mail] or call 919-538-9284 to ensure your investment stands the test of time.

To learn more about Custom Copper and Zinc visit:
https://www.CustomCopperRoof.com
Custom Copper and Zinc
919-538-9284

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome to the Custom Copper and Zinc Podcast, where
craftsmanship meets timelessdesign.
Hosted by Jorge Fiscal, ownerof Custom Copper and Zinc, we
dive into the art of custommetalwork and how it brings
lasting beauty and durability tohistoric homes, modern builds
and visionary designs.
Whether you're a homeowner,general contractor, architect or

(00:24):
interior designer, this is yourgo-to space for inspiration and
expert insights into copper andzinc craftsmanship.
Let's get started.

Speaker 2 (00:39):
When working with primer metals like copper and
zinc, the right installer canmake all the difference.
Jorge explains why it's crucialto hire professionals who are
properly trained and certifiedto handle these metals.
Welcome back everyone.
I'm Sofia Yvette Cojo, slashproducer, back in the studio
with Jorge Fiscal.
Jorge, how's it going?

Speaker 3 (01:01):
Hello Sofia, doing well, I hope you are.

Speaker 2 (01:05):
Thank you, Sofia, Doing well, I hope you are.
Thank you, Jorge.
So why is it important to workwith experienced, trained or
certified installers when usingprimer metals?

Speaker 3 (01:15):
When I started troubleshooting in this large
company for the first couple ofyears, I was traveling all over
to oversee and do the repairs.
A lot of expensive mistakes,primarily on zinc installations.
Basically, when we work withcopper and zinc, we have to go

(01:41):
with the basics of how thesemetals perform compared to
regular painted steel, forexample.
We have to abide by a new setof rules.
A lot of the times companieswant to be part of a certain
project because it's in theirterritory and the bid begins.

(02:02):
A lot of the times, not havingenough knowledge, they bid on a
zinc project.
I don't know historicrestoration with copper.
When we work with these metalsit's a whole different set of
rules.
Even the tools that we use,they are all imported.
Having the tools is one thing,knowing how to use them it's a

(02:25):
different thing.
So what I used to do istroubleshoot.
We will find a lot of theseinstallations relying entirely
on sealants.
Exposed fasteners is anothercommon mistake Not utilizing the
proper fasteners and also clips.
We have to understand thatcopper and zinc they behave

(02:51):
differently.
As far as linear expansion, oneof the basics is that we're not
supposed to fasten through themetal.
We have to allow for the metalfor linear expansion.
It will expand in the heat.
In the hot summers when it'sover 100 degrees on the roof it
will expand three times as muchcompared to regular steel.

(03:13):
In the winter that same year itwill contract.
So basically the installer hasto understand this and go by the
rules and regulations.
By the water or by the ocean,we have to go by a different

(03:34):
layout to withstand hurricanes,for example.
When we talk about a metal roof,there are several systems here
in this area.
We have something called 5V.
Basically what it is is theyput screws with neoprene washers

(03:54):
every foot or so and they useit on horse barns and carports.
That system myself I will notput in my house because
eventually, due to linearexpansion of the metal every
year, you know it will expand.
It will contract the holethrough the metal it will become

(04:16):
bigger In a couple of years.
We well that roof.
We will have to replace thathole every year.
The movement back and forth bymillimeters.
But we have to go with aheavier gauge screw.
There is but so much, perhapsthree or four thicker screws.

(04:37):
This is maintenance we want toavoid with the system that we
use, which is double fold.
These fasteners are concealed.
These fasteners are concealedsandwich.
They are not visible.
Therefore the metal can moveback and forth in over 100 years
.
These other systems usuallyfail.

(04:57):
There are some that just snapon.
There are some that justrequire a single lock.
Single lock, the double foldscan, as I understand, withstand
category four hurricanes, whichis over 156 miles an hour winds.
These double folds will notcome undone.
So it's like cars we have.

(05:20):
You know, if we go with theexposed fastener system, it's
going to be very inexpensive.
The exposed fastener system,it's going to be very
inexpensive Over time.
The question is how long wouldthat metal roof last?
How much maintenance isinvolved?
And it's fairly easy.
A house can be done in a daywith that system.

(05:41):
It requires no training, nospecial kills, just a drill and
some of the basic things that wedo in construction For a copper
.
If that same roof size wasbeing done with copper, we have
to do special fold bread pansand we have to have a

(06:02):
specialized team that knows whatthey are doing.
We also have to go with usuallyat least three or four
stainless steel screws andfasteners.
So basically, we got deep intoknowing all of the faults,
correcting other people's work,and these mistakes could be very

(06:23):
expensive.
A lot of times they do havesome repairs.
A lot of the times everythinghas to be turned off and these
materials are not cheap If theyhave a fault.
For instance, we found one timea zinc roof installed with
somebody decided to use regularsteel nails and we had some

(06:44):
copper nails and the galvaniccorrosion, or white rust as we
call it, over time started doingits effect.
We investigated, we pried outand that's what we found Poorly
ventilation creates condensationunder the zinc, creates
condensation under the zinc andthis causes for the roof, for a

(07:09):
metal roof, not to breathe andto rust from the inside out.
So all of these issues,technical issues we had found
and that gave us the experienceof learning more about it's not
only a metal roof.
We had come to help these bigcompanies who got a contract and
they are in the middle ofwinter.
For instance, they weren'taware that the zinc, it's called

(07:36):
brittle.
This metal, with just a simple90 degree fault, will break if
temperature is below under 45degrees.
And then they have thisstanding seam metal roof where,
oh, this metal is no good, theysay.
They call us look, it breaks.
It's called brittle.
So basically, what we have?
To go and hire another person,preheat that standing seam and

(08:00):
seam it by hand.
They were not aware of that.
They were not expecting thatextra expense.
It's very extensive butbasically when we are dealing
with these prime materials, awhole different set of rules we
have to go by and we recommendthe homeowner or the crew

(08:22):
involved to get a qualifiedmechanic involved to get a
qualified mechanic.
Usually we get certified bythese companies, such as BMZ,
prefa and others.

Speaker 2 (08:37):
Love it, Jorge.
We'll catch you in the nextepisode.

Speaker 1 (08:56):
Have a fantastic rest of your day.
Thank you, you as well.
Thank you, you as well.
F-i-s-c-a-l at ncrrcom, or callor text at 919-538-9284.
From historic renovations tocutting edge designs, custom

(09:19):
Copper and Zinc has you covered.
Until next time, keep creating,keep building and let's make
something timeless together.