Replies

1. 
   draket | Jun 18, 2004 12:26am | #1

   TN

   I have seen a few products, one that changes color depending on from which angle you are looking at it. I'll see if I can't dig up that sample and give you a name. The problem I ran into was these imitations are almost if not as expensive as the real thing (material wise). If you are going to install it yourself I would go with copper. If someone else will install it you might run into the same problem as I have. I think the metal contractors who I had bid the job saw big $$$  when the word copper was used. I know the material is significantly more, and I know one must take much more care in handling the soft material of copper, but the labor cost difference between a galvalume type and copper was ridiculous. I think they know it's a specialty thing, and assume if you want a copper roof, you have money to burn. I'm still searching for a copper guy who will change my theory.

    

   Fighter

    

   Northern CA
2. 
   seeyou | Jun 18, 2004 01:26am | #2

   The last three steel roof jobs I've been asked to bid, I've also turned in a copper bid. All three were within 10%. I'll be doing two of them in copper. Don't know what's up with the 3rd. Steel and copper have both gone up. Steel's gone up more.

   .: If this post is not up to your standards, please lower your standards :.

3. 
   TN | Jun 18, 2004 10:06pm | #3

   Thanks for the input guys.

   I've been running into similar scenarios here.  Cost between the two are very close, so we'll probably go with the real thing. 

   Maybe I should have gone into the copper sheet metal business.

1. 
   JohnSprung | Jun 18, 2004 11:59pm | #4

   Instead of 16 oz. copper, there's a material they call "tough 12", a 12 oz/sq. ft. copper roofing product.  I haven't seen it, but it should reduce the material cost by about a quarter.  Greencu is the copper expert, perhaps he can comment on "tough 12".

   Also have a look at http://www.copper.org, the Copper Development Association web site.  It's not well organized, but if you poke around long enough, there's lots of information there.

   -- J.S.

   Edited 6/18/2004 5:02 pm ET by JOHN_SPRUNG

1. 
   seeyou | Jun 19, 2004 01:23pm | #5

   I've never heard of "tough 12". 12 oz copper is pretty flimsy stuff, though. I did look into a product called "SS copper" or something like that. I can't find the website now. It's copper coated stainless steel. Looked promising, but was only available in metric ton rolls which doesn't suit my set up.