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Patina on copper roof

Patina on copper roof

Patina on copper roof

(OP)
Is it possible to analyze a patina (patine) on a copper roof and create a chemical so that a new copper addition will match perfectly?

Thanks,
Tom

Thomas J. Walz
Carbide Processors, Inc.
www.carbideprocessors.com

Good engineering starts with a Grainger Catalog.    

RE: Patina on copper roof

No need to analyze as it's been done for you. There are many conversion coatings that will generate patina on copper. Look for those that are used in restoration in lieu of art materials. It has been my experienced that you can't get instant results as any finish takes a little aging to get a closer match. If this is a natural finish it give you a little leeway due to the variegated appearance.

Here is a short article on copper finishes. Go to the chemical coloring section.

http://www.copper.org/applications/architecture/finishes.html

RE: Patina on copper roof

(OP)
Sorry, should have made it clearer.

Can you get an exact match with the existing roof within a day?

Happy Holidays to you and yours.

tom  

Thomas J. Walz
Carbide Processors, Inc.
www.carbideprocessors.com

Good engineering starts with a Grainger Catalog.    

RE: Patina on copper roof

Not being an expert by any stretch of the imagination I've never seen it happen. The few instances that I've seen this approach tried there has always been a discernible difference though not always evident to an unknowing eye.
A lot depends on what you have now, which in turns depends on how it was formed over time.
The only problem being is that these solutions have been around for ages and I don't think anyone has improved on them. some of them are like the eye of the gnat and the hair of the frog type mixtures.
I would contact a few of the people who make the conversion coatings and see what they say. From when I worked with it I don't think there has been any change in chemistry.  

Here are just two of many supplier out there.

http://www.ssschemical.com/color.html

http://www.jaxchemicals.com/jaxshop/shopexd.asp?id=41


Forgot to ask what color are you looking at?

Happy holidays to you and yours!

RE: Patina on copper roof

What other color but green ? Unless it's indoors it will be green, copper carbonate etc. But roofs are never uniform color .Close match yes, exact match no.

RE: Patina on copper roof

Thomas,
I have had some experience matching patina colors on copper roofs, walls and gutters. The answer that you probably do not want to know, is that you can get close but not exact.
 
The next question is what is the color? is it green, brown, black,  blue or variegated. Chemicals or mixtures of chemicals are available to do this. from several different manufacturers, they will have color chips of what they can do.
 The most difficult  color to match is the rich mahogany brown of a naturally aged copper roof in a dry inland location.
 The easiest is the green patina of a roof near the sea.
B.E.

RE: Patina on copper roof

You will find variations in colour on the existing roof.  It is possible to come to a 'close' colour using chemicals, but you will likely have to wait for 10 years to have a closer match.

Dik

RE: Patina on copper roof

Plan to pre-age your material before putting on the roof.  That way, when you install it, the match will be close.

RE: Patina on copper roof

Possible Suggestion:  Once you chemically treat the new piece to match the existing as close as feasibly possible, install it, and lightly treat the entire section (both old and new) to help them blend.  Should get you close enough that the casual observer will not notice.  This of course is dependent on whatever chemical use, as well as your application technique.

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