Weathervanes were initially devised to aid people to better detect the weather by gauging the direction of the wind. People planned their whole lives around the information given them by their decorative and functional metal rooftop companions.

About a thousand years ago, papal pronouncement mandated all weathervanes depict a rooster to remind followers of when Peter thrice denied Christ and was told the cock would not crow until this prophecy had manifested itself. It wasn’t until much later that farmers on the far outskirts of town with no access to city center weathervanes began to commission blacksmiths to craft their very own vanes. Weathervanes soon became more personalized and developed into the varied choices we have today.

Interested in an historically designed weathervane for your building?  Contact the board certified restoration fine metal artists at Copper Exclusive today!

Galvanic Action on Metal Roofs

Remember that old standby science fair project where you used to place a penny on top of a piece of aluminum foil, covered everything with water, waited a week, and when you came back, a hole had appeared in the aluminum? That’s galvanic action.

Copper is a VERY aggressive metal that doesn’t interact well with most other building metals as the following picture suggests:

Here’s a bit of history behind this photo.

A construction company called us on behalf of their customer for advice on how to remove the stains you see on the copper portion of this cupola. This had been built years ago but had proved problematic for some time. The owner was seeking a permanent solution.

There are a number of incorrect design issues with this cupola. If you click to enlarge, you can see there is significant mold build up due to the lack of eave overhang. But the unsightly crooked seams and lack of water-tightness aside, galvanic action was a primary concern. We were told the soffit and fascia had recently been replaced. We couldn’t tell from the picture the composition of the base, but if it were aluminum or steel, we told our client to change it immediately. If it happened to be wood, we told them they would be ok for 2-3 years.

The contracting company was interested to know how to remove the stains on the copper that had resulted from the iron finial. We told them that if they were truly serious about keeping this from happening again, they would need to remove the finial and replace it with one made of copper. There is not a permanent sealant in existence that would prevent this from recurring again in a brief time. That aside, copper and iron do not work well together and the owner could eventually run into dangerous structural problems.

We told them that we could sell them a formula that would recreate the green patina and instruct them on the best method of removing the stains, but at this point, if their client was serious about correcting these problems once and for all, we recommend starting over from scratch. There was so much that needed to be fixed to keep things from worsening.

We also suspected other structural problems, though couldn’t be certain of them without examining them “in person”.

We told the contracting company we could recreate the iron finial in copper, and reconstruct the cupola as well. Since the cleaning method would be labor intensive, and since there were so many problems with the way the cupola as it stands was made, we suggested replacing the cupola entirely. It would likely be more cost effective in the long run, and for sure would be a permanent solution.

Though the client was interested in permanently resolving the staining problem, we couldn’t in good conscience recommend a quick fix solution as we suspected they had hoped we would. If you have a broken femur, a small Band-Aid isn’t going to do much good.

This is a lesson for all to double check which metals can safely be combined BEFORE you buy or start construction.

Want to learn more about Copper Exclusive’s cupolas and historic restoration skills? Visit:  http://www.copperexclusive.com/shopping/ornaments/cupolas/

Have a question on copper patinas, how to clean/restore copper or need help with questions you have on your sheet metal roof project? Contact us, and we’ll be more than happy to help!

With the Oscars recently behind us, the question on everyone’s mind now is, “is a copper roof only for the very wealthy?”

Ok, ok…give me a second to explain.  At Copper Exclusive, it is true that most of our clients own luxury homes or are builders of fine buildings and high-end restoration projects.  We do have some clients with lovely but more modest homes and incomes who still want to partake in the beauty and quality of our products.  There are ways of accomplishing that and I’d like to suggest some options.

Before doing so, let’s make an analogy.  Every tabloid and fashion magazine assaulting your senses at the grocery store boats “get this star’s look”, “how to make this haute couture designer’s mode d’aujourd’hui yours”, “Have (insert glamorous pop culture icon’s name here) red carpet outfit at a price you can afford”… and so on.

A friend of mine in the fashion business says he’s “all about brand juxtaposition”.  By that he means taking a few fabulous, well-made, quality pieces of creative and tasteful design and mixing them with more budget-conscious, ordinary items.  While this might seem supremely obvious, when push comes to shove, many people do not capitalize on this simple concept and extrapolate it to other avenues of life.

Sometimes people get to thinking that they are stuck in a caste for the rest of their lives and will never deserve or be able to pull off anything special, especially when it comes to their homes.  They live their lives in a monotonous sea of beige suburbia but secretly dream of the magazine covers they saw at the supermarket as they unload their groceries.

What they fail to realize is, they are very able to achieve the look they are after.  Now, before I go on I need to mention that we at Copper Exclusive believe firmly that well-made fine metal roofs are the one and only way to go.  (See other copious entries as to why).  But we also understand that it’s not feasible for EVERY homeowner to go for the whole enchilada.  In cases like these we recommend the following:

COPPER DRIP EDGE

This is a copper awning rather than a drip edge, but you get the idea.

This is an ideal solution for many homeowners especially in colder regions where heavy snow plays havoc with the roof edge and gutter.  A standing seam copper roof is the best choice for the toughest snow abatement products.  This aside, from a fashion perspective, it gives the home the appearance of a full copper roof.

This is a better example a fine metal drip edge fitted for a heavy-duty snow guard system. The drip edge and snow guards are in stainless steel.

COPPER GUTTER AND DOWNSPOUT

Copper European half-round gutters, with ornate, custom leaderboxes

We only use and recommend European half round gutters and corresponding downspouts.   We’ve written a lot about the benefits of this system so I’ll leave it out the lecture for this entry.  This is the system we put on our parents’ homes.  If you can spring for a little more and it works with the style of your home, consider a decorative leaderbox or water spout or maybe even a stunning Swiss Elbow!

A FEW TASTEFUL ORNAMENTS

Precious few homes wouldn’t look better with few bits of house jewelry.  We’ve got copper or zinc finials, weathervanes and all manner of adornments from which to choose.

SNOW GUARDS

Snow guards?  Yes.  That glint of stainless steel, or the aura of a weathered copper snow guard show that not only are you educated about what really works, it exclaims you are all about quality.  Heat tape?  Come on.  That’s like wearing plastic shoes; they won’t last, won’t work well, are bad for the environment and are ugly!

CHIMNEY CAPS

There are so many beautiful chimney cap styles, and who can miss seeing that detail?  That’s likely one of the highest points on your home and an easy place to make a statement.

DORMERS

Options and more options!  Check out our page on dormers.

Beautiful Aluminum Interlocking Shingles

But the ultimate roof dress up for those on a budget is our aluminum interlocking shingles.  All of the glamour of our award winning fine metal roofs for the price of a high end asphalt shingle.  Now THAT’S worth talking about!

Find out more about our shingle system by clicking here, and our aluminum shingles by clicking here.

Hope this gives some ideas on how to effectively dress up and add value to your home.   No matter what your income or style, you can have a piece of the glamorous life by implementing a few of these tips.

I recently watched an investigative report on the news showcasing victims of careless, ill-trained, and dishonest contractors. Though potential for shoddy workmanship is inescapable anywhere you go in the world, European countries like Germany and Switzerland have a less likely chance of this happening.

How can that be?

The answer to this question could fill a book, but as a German trained contractor working in the United States, I can offer my observances in abridged form. My intent is neither to degrade Americans (I absolutely love America) nor to imply that Europeans are infallible and perfect (that is certainly not true either).

There is, however, a disparity as far as workmanship on the whole is concerned. The reasons for this vary and need to be discussed.

Culture and lifestyle head the top of the list. My country is the size of just one of the states in the United States. My father lives in the same city I was born in and in the same home since my earliest recollection. My last name comes from a neighboring city my family settled hundreds of years ago.

My American wife, on the other hand, has lived in more than 20 locations. Not one member of her family was born in the same state.

Since America is so large and many families are so transient, why should Americans bother demanding enduring quality and workmanship when they’re off to the next place in such a short period of time?

I have friends in Europe who live in homes that have been in their family for generations. Since they plan to stay there and pass down their homes to their own progeny, they have 1) a reason to demand work meant to last, and 2) a deep feeling of stewardship and pride of their dwelling places.

Many of their homes enjoy a wealth of history, and are much older than the United States itself.

The American culture of convenience and quick fixes is certainly justifiable to a certain extent. Someone who lives in a circa 1970s track home where they plan to stay for less than 5 years isn’t going to want to dump a lot of money in it to make it last for centuries.

Trouble is, this paradigm has translated over to almost everything, from important historical buildings to many of America’s multi-million dollar dream homes.

Now I realize I’m speaking in gross generalizations and there are many exceptions, but you can see how this lifestyle has developed a widespread culture more interested in accomplishing the task at hand in the cheapest, fastest way rather than the right way.

As with this philosophy in general, one can only hang on in this manner for a time until the consequences catch up. Words like “sustainability” are gradually becoming a part of everyday lingo.

I will not delve into the impact of building with “disposable” materials that end in a landfill, or substandard construction resulting in the escape of copious amounts of heat from the home, or negative economic ramifications of consistent replacement and waste, let alone what poor workmanship does to the psyche of our culture.  That’s a book in itself.

Of course we don’t have the volume of architecturally difficult buildings in the U.S. as in Europe for obvious reasons. Since we don’t need the skills required to restore these buildings or match architectural styles, why would we be known for workers who have these abilities?

Again, this is understandable to a point. However, as an example, I am impressed by acquaintances who’ve had really hard childhoods, but have chosen to properly handle their challenges and not to pass that negativity on to others.  They have taken on the responsibility to make their adult lives better.  At some point, change has to happen in order to progress.  And yes, that means regardless of the difficulty of the task at hand, basic skills are still required.

Since I work in fine metal roofing, I’ll pick on that for another example. I see fine metal roofing companies claiming to provide the best possible quality, yet they use and sell caulk and sealants as if they were an acceptable solution.

Those are cheap crutches used by people who don’t know better because they haven’t had the proper educational opportunities, and they are passing this on as standard.

Education plays an enormous role. I remember a game I played as a child where we would all line up in a row. The first in line would whisper a simple phrase into the ear of the one lined up next to him and so on.

Invariably, the last in the line whose job was to repeat what was whispered to him blurted out a completely different phrase from the one that was initiated. Since we don’t have proper educational facilities in the U.S., trade techniques are getting passed along incorrectly and these methods are perpetuating themselves.

Well-meaning workers very interested in providing quality service and thinking they are doing so, just aren’t. Since they are the “professionals” and “authorities” and pass along the standard their clients have come to expect, the clients think they are getting good work. And that’s tragic on so many levels.

A friend of mine got her roofing license in America by studying a book for a couple of weeks, taking a test and finding a qualifying contractor to watch over her work. Though very intelligent and capable, she had no experience in the field of roofing at all and was still able to get a license.

In Germany, even trades like window washers require years of training and passing the requisite tests before they can start work.

These credentials are more than just business licenses. They are proof that the contractor has passed some of the toughest competency requirements in the world.

As an example, the “Meisterbrief”, the highest contractor certification in Europe requires four years of post graduate education at an accredited university and has a 50% fail rate. Many trades have traditional clothing that only a master of the trade may wear so that the public can easily identify them.

These certifications mean something. These are educated, professional craftspeople, not the stereotypical “blue collar” worker. Clients can look up diplomas and certificates and feel confident hiring one of these professionals.

As a result, Europeans in general do not tolerate substandard work. A town just outside mine in Germany hired a company to pave a road. It came out uneven and bumpy (but better than many around my home here in the U.S.).

The citizens were so upset, they demanded the city make the paving company replace it. The paving company pleaded with the city and said they would go out of business if they had to endure that extra cost. The city made them do it anyway.

A few public examples like this, and no one makes things improperly. The majority of construction work I have seen here would never pass muster with a European inspector.

These American traits have not escaped the notice of the world market.  Products that can’t sell in Europe because they are not precision, (or even defective to an extent) get sold to the United States.  I’ve worked with many building products companies overseas and see this flagrant nose thumbing at an American clientele all too eager to glean from the bottom.  It’s embarrassing to me.

I want better for all of us here in America.

We are somehow afraid to expect, no, demand the best for us in building and architecture.

It’s a safety issue. It’s an economic and environmental issue. It’s a matter of pride and respect.

We have decided that crossing our fingers and hoping for the best is just the way life is.  Deal with it.  That’s the standard.

We need to reevaluate our educational system and update licensing requirements, but mostly, we just need to demand better from and for ourselves. When that happens, the rest will fall into place.

Looking for something?  Here’s a list of links to our products: 

Interlocking Metal Shingles
Snow Guard Products
Ornaments
Seminars and Education
Tools

Questions about our roofing services, how to order products or anything else?  Call us!  801-400-2515  or send us an email.

The awards are for the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Charleston, SC, and the Mark Olsen Project in Holladay, UT.

This picture was taken by Zsolt Óvári, the brother of Erno Óvári, Copper Exclusive’s master roofer. It’s of the fortress that used to guard their centuries old home town of Gyula, Hungary. Hungarian native, Master Kun, Erno’s initial fine metal roof master instructor, is one of Europe’s most highly skilled and sought after copper roofing artisans to this day. Amazing talent!

Though we are all predominantly German trained, some of our favorite projects we have EVER done have been in Hungary. Recognize Schloss Wenckheim? We use pictures from this castle a lot because it is so beautiful. We made every last piece of zinc roofing, shingle, and ornament on this castle.

Fine metal roofing master, Erno Ovari

Lately we’ve had many clients who just found out we do both training and consulting on all aspects of copper and fine metal roofing and are upset they didn’t know about this service before they struggled through their last project. Ok, ok, calm down. We’re getting the word out. Find out more information on our consulting page. Fine metal roofing is such a demanding trade requiring as much knowledge and expertise as a specialized surgeon. We realize that, and we’re here to help.

“Where” is just as important as “what”. As a matter of fact, we have done consulting all over the world and helped out all kinds of companies for all kinds of situations. A building in Louisiana won’t have the same needs and challenges as one in Alberta–obviously. We have helped clients struggling with the toughest ice and snow issues in the high Alps to hurricane proofing hundred million dollar homes in the Caribbean. There is nothing we haven’t seen or don’t have a correct solution for. Don’t be afraid to ask.

We love working with the newcomers to our trade. Don’t worry if you don’t have much experience. We are patient and will help you build a solid foundation of superlative technique.

One of the most popular requests we get is for advanced soldering techniques. Second to soldering, we are asked to demonstrate our round valley system. Our students find that skill so useful and afterwards have an ability that sets them apart from pretty much everyone. Round anything is exponentially more difficult to make, but we can help. Our students learn things the right way. We never let anyone cheat and use sealants.

Speaking of sealants, we get called in all the time to fix sky lights. No, they are not supposed to leak. That is not a rule written in the universe somewhere. The opposite is true, and we’ve spent plenty of class time going over the proper way to handle roof penetrations and tricky roof details.

We have some clients in Chicago who recently purchased our batten seam snow guards; a more obscure system, and needed special instruction given to the general contractor, architects, and roofing contractor working on this important building. When you have a special situation like this and are unfamiliar with a certain product or technique, make sure to use our knowledge to help you achieve a perfect outcome.

We carry many such products and tools not well known in the U.S. in our online shop. Most of our products are intuitive, but some items are so novel a class or two might prove beneficial. Without exception, every client who has gone through a seminar specializing in our tool applications has wondered how they ever even survived without their tools and their new knowledge before.

We are always asked if we do remote training or if we encourage students to learn at our facility. We don’t mind either way, but find it is easier to go to our students’ shop or job site as we can get a better feel of everything from what tools they are using to the idiosynchracies of the building itself. We also can better accommodate large groups in a facility build to handle a small crowd.

Those of you new to our blog or website need to know that our knowledge in the field of fine metal roofing, snow abatement solutions, and related topics is unparalled in the U.S. We are board certified to teach. You can trust that we will have a solution for all of your concerns and that you will leave confident in your abilities and eager to learn more. Read up on our qualifications, and let us help you have the competitive edge you need and give you pride in knowing you’re the most skilled in your area and have the confidence to take on any project and do it right.

Make sure to call us and let us know how we can help!