Copper roofing in Pittsburgh, PA

Copper roofing is the metal you see over bay windows, porches, dormers and turrets in Pittsburgh's older neighborhoods, along with the copper valleys, flashing and gutters on many slate roofs. It costs more than any other common roofing metal, but it can outlast the roofing around it, and it weathers from bright penny to brown and, over many years, green.

Rough guide: From $30 per sq ft

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Copper roofing on a bay window: bright new standing seam copper and a half-round gutter on a red brick house

Where copper belongs on a Pittsburgh house

Copper valley between two slopes of gray slate on an older roof

Copper is mostly an accent here: the small roofs over bay windows and porches, the cone on a turret, the cheeks of a dormer, and the valleys and flashing on a slate roof. The National Park Service's guidance on historic slate roofs calls copper one of the best flashing materials, extremely durable, easy to work and solder, and low in upkeep. That is why so much of it is still working on older houses in places like Sewickley and Shadyside.

Flat-seam and standing seam copper on bay and porch roofs
Copper valleys and step flashing on slate roofs
Chimney and wall flashing in copper
Half-round copper gutters and round downspouts
Copper linings for box gutters
Turret and dormer roofs

Sheet weights and seams

Copper is sold by weight per square foot. The National Park Service recommends 16 ounce copper as the minimum for flashing, and heavier 20 or 24 ounce copper for gutters, valleys and places that are hard to reach, because thin copper wears through under the grit carried by rainwater.

Low-slope bay roofs are usually flat-seam copper, with small pans locked together and soldered. Steeper copper roofs take standing seam, with raised seams and hidden cleats that let the metal move with the seasons. Either way, the cleats and nails are copper too.

Copper gutters

Copper gutters, sometimes called copper rain gutters, are usually half-round, with round downspouts on copper hangers. They cost far more than aluminum, so they make the most sense on a house that already has copper or slate, where aluminum would look out of place. Well-kept copper gutters often last 50 years or more.

Copper and aluminum shouldn't drain into each other. A copper roof or valley needs copper below it, not an aluminum seamless gutter, or the aluminum corrodes where the water lands.

Keep other metals away from copper

Copper reacts with steel, iron and aluminum when rainwater connects them, and the other metal corrodes. The National Park Service gives the example of steel nails used in copper sheets. On copper roofing we use copper nails, cleats and hangers, and we keep galvanized and aluminum parts out of the water path. Old repairs made with steel nails or tar are a common reason a copper bay roof starts leaking.

How copper weathers

New copper is bright, turns brown within months and, depending on exposure, slowly develops the green patina you see on old church roofs. The runoff can stain stone and light brick below, so drip edges and gutters need to carry it away from walls and steps.

What copper roofing costs

Copper starts at about $30 per square foot installed for an accent roof such as a bay window, and the total depends on the shape, the seams and the access. Small roofs with curves and soldered seams take the most labor. See our metal roof vs shingles guide for how copper compares with steel and aluminum, and metal roofing for standing seam steel on a whole house.

How the work goes

Look at what is there
We check the copper, seams, flashing and the wood underneath, and photograph it.
Repair or renew
You get a written price to repair the old copper or replace it in a matching weight.
Form and fit
Pans, seams and flashing are formed to the roof and fastened with copper only.
Check and test
Soldered seams and outlets are checked, and the gutters are water tested.

Common questions

Is copper a good roofing material?

Yes, for the right roof. The National Park Service calls copper extremely durable and low in upkeep. Its cost keeps it mostly to small roofs, valleys, flashing and gutters on Pittsburgh houses.

How long does a copper roof last?

Well-installed heavy copper commonly lasts for many decades, often longer than the roofing around it. Its weak points are seams, fasteners and contact with other metals, not the copper itself.

Are copper gutters worth it?

On a house with slate, copper flashing or a historic look, often yes, since they outlast aluminum and suit the house. On a typical shingle roof, aluminum seamless gutters do the job for much less.

Do copper strips on roofs work?

Strips of copper or zinc near the ridge can slow moss and algae, because rain carries a little metal down the roof. They help most on shaded slopes. Many shingles now come with copper granules mixed in for the same reason.

How much is a copper roof per square foot?

Installed copper starts at about $30 per square foot for an accent roof such as a bay window, and it rises with curves, soldered seams and difficult access.

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