The Truth About Keeping Copper Shiny: Environmental Factors & Maintenance Challenges

Will Copper Stay Shiny For A Long Time?

Curious about that gorgeous, shiny copper roof or accent you're considering for your home? Many people fall in love with copper's brilliant luster, only to be surprised when that shine begins to fade. Master craftsman Jorge Fiscal demystifies copper's natural aging process in this enlightening episode, explaining why that gleaming finish transforms and whether anything can be done to maintain it.

Jorge reveals how environmental factors dramatically impact copper's patination timeline. A coastal installation might begin turning brown over a single weekend, while projects in less aggressive environments might maintain their shine for weeks or months. Surprisingly, even neighborhood factors like having oak trees nearby can accelerate the aging process due to the natural acidity in the leaves. This explains why some homeowners call with concerns about "defective" installations when they're simply witnessing copper's natural chemistry at work.

While some products promise to maintain copper's original shine, Jorge shares valuable insights from his years of experience regarding clear coat applications and their limitations in outdoor settings. Most architects and designers actually celebrate copper's evolving appearance, particularly prizing the distinctive green verdigris that develops after decades of environmental exposure. 

This episode offers essential knowledge for anyone considering copper for their home or project, helping set realistic expectations about how this living material ages gracefully through the years. Ready to embrace copper's natural beauty in your next project? Connect with Custom Copper and Zinc to create something truly timeless.

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):
Copper's stunning, shiny appearance is one of the
most alluring features, but willthat shine last?
Jorge breaks down copper'saging process and how to
maintain its shine over time.
Welcome back everyone.
I'm Sofia Yvette, co-host,slash producer.
Back in the studio with JorgeFiscal.
Jorge, how's it going?

Speaker 3 (01:01):
Hello Sofia, Doing well.
Thanks for asking.
I hope you are.

Speaker 2 (01:06):
Thank you, jorge.
So will copper stay shiny for along time.

Speaker 3 (01:12):
Good question.
It all depends on the zone.
When this metal is by the saltwater usually we finish working
on a Friday, we come back onMonday it will already.
The patina happens so fast.

(01:35):
So the answer relies around theenvironment.
It will happen so fast that itwill already start turning brown
, light brown, and eventuallythe salt will do its job a whole
lot quicker compared to, forinstance, a house in the
mountains Projects in a highlypolluted area the effects of
patina will develop a whole lotquicker.

(01:58):
There was this case where ahomeowner once called me and
it's been just like a month,usually about a month here in
the Raleigh area.
The copper will start turninglight brown.
And she called me and she toldme that there's something wrong
with my copper roof because it'snot shiny anymore, and she

(02:19):
mentioned something about.
Well, is there something wrongwith my copper?
You see, it's dull, it'sturning ugly.
And it happens that she hadsome oak trees actually.
So there's another point Oak,the acidity of oak will
contribute for this chemicalreaction with copper and will

(02:42):
tarnish a hollow quaker withjust the rainwater over the
trees leaves.
So I explained to her that thisis expected to happen Patina
will develop and it will not beshiny for a long time, perhaps a
couple of weeks, depending onthe area.
This is a natural process, justby copper being exposed to the

(03:05):
air, to the elements.
They want to look at somethingshiny all the time.
There are some products thatsome people apply, such as clear
coats.
In my experience I try todeviate from that because doing
something outside there areseveral factors, mainly humidity

(03:29):
we cannot acquire the sameprocess that these specialized
companies do indoors.
As far as I know, there areonly three companies in the
whole country that specialize inthis type of work, cheap by any
means.
They do develop these beautifulpatinas, such as berdigris,

(03:51):
which is copper turning greenishafter 20, 25 years.
Architects love that look,especially on educational
buildings or government projects.
We do not recommend to applychemicals outdoors.

Speaker 2 (04:13):
Do not recommend to apply chemicals outdoors and we
just let the copper do its thingage naturally.
That's awesome, and so, jorge,is there any way to reverse or
slow down copper's naturaloxidization process?

Speaker 3 (04:25):
There are ways.
Yes, I have done it.
I cannot regret it and I havelearned from that mistake
because it's very labor intense.
Basically, somebody asked me toput a clear coat on a brand new
copper roof.
It stayed shiny for two orthree years, I think, and after
that I explained it.

(04:46):
Just like when you have a goodquality paint and then you apply
this paint, the car startsdeveloping this clear coat and
is flaking off within a coupleof years.
That has been my experience.
That's why I do not recommendclear coats over copper Doing it
outside.
There are a lot of variants andit's hard to control.

(05:10):
Especially in this area wherewe are high humidity, it's a
factor that does not help.
I recommend copper to developnaturally.
The results can vary a lot ifthe weather and the humidity is
okay, for even from one day tothe other, the looks of the

(05:32):
patina will not be even.
The results will vary a lot.

Speaker 2 (05:38):
Well, thank you so much for sharing those important
insights with us today.
Jorge, have a fantastic rest ofyour day and we'll catch you on
the next episode.

Speaker 1 (05:48):
Thank you, you as well day and we'll catch you on
the next episode.
Thank you, you as well.
Thanks for tuning into theCustom Copper and Zinc podcast.
If you're ready to transformyour project with custom copper

(06:09):
or zincA-L at ncrrcom, or callor text at 919-538-9284.
From historic renovations tocutting-edge designs, custom
Copper and Zinc has you covered.
Until next time, keep creating,keep building and let's make
something timeless together.