Roofs, domes, spires and canopies
Copper roofs
Copper is the oldest roofing metal still in everyday use and the one that ages most beautifully. It arrives bright, darkens through bronze and chestnut over the first year or two, and eventually turns the green you see on churches and civic buildings. Nothing else does that.
- Systems
- Standing seam, long strip, flat lock
- Finishes
- Mill bright, pre oxidised, pre patinated
- Specialities
- Domes, spires, ogees, bay canopies
- Run off
- No harmful run off, unlike lead
How copper weathers
A new copper roof is salmon bright and it will not stay that way. Within weeks it dulls, over the first year it moves through bronze to a deep chocolate brown, and over decades it develops the green patina. That patina is not corrosion. It is a stable layer that protects the metal underneath, which is why copper roofs last as long as they do.
If you want the green sooner, pre patinated copper is available. If you want it to stay dark, a pre oxidised finish holds the brown much longer.
Curved and complex work
Copper is the softest of the metals we work in, which makes it the right choice for anything that curves. Domes, ogees, spires, bell roofs, bay window canopies and porch roofs all suit copper because the metal can be worked into a double curve without fighting back.
We form these by hand in our own workshop. Tapered bays for a dome are set out, cut and dressed individually so the seams converge properly at the top rather than being fudged at the last course.
Heritage and conservation
Much of our copper work is on listed and conservation buildings where the detailing has to match what was there before. We are used to working to a conservation officer's requirements and to matching existing seam spacings, welt details and drip profiles.
What you get
- Traditional and modern copper roofing
- Domes, spires, ogees and curved forms
- Bay window and porch canopies
- Heritage and conservation work
- Hand formed in our own workshop
- No coatings needed and no harmful run off
Copper Roofs we have fitted
Click any photo to see it full size.
Frequently asked questions
Longer than most people expect. In this country you are looking at decades rather than years for a full green patina, and coastal air speeds it up. It goes brown within the first year or two, which is the stage most people actually like.
Copper run off can mark light stonework and render below it. Where that is a risk we detail the rainwater goods to carry water away rather than letting it wash down a face.
Usually yes, copper carries a higher material price. On a small canopy or bay roof the difference is modest. On a large area it is worth pricing both, and we will quote them side by side so you can see it.
Often, yes. Old copper is frequently sound with failures at the seams, upstands or flashings rather than across the sheet. We will tell you honestly whether a repair will do or whether the roof has had its day.
Ask about copper roofs
We reply within one working day.
Thinking about a metal roof?
Send over a few details and we will come out, get on the roof and tell you honestly what it needs.
Our work is on
The British Museum
Great Ormond Street Hospital
The British Library