Had a similar issue with copper flashing on a green roof installation a while back. Thought it'd blend nicely with the plants, but nope...it just made weird streaks all down the stucco walls after rainstorms. Looked like some kind of abstract art, honestly, but not in a good way. Switched to aluminum and it solved the problem. Makes me wonder though—does stainless steel hold up as well with heavier plant growth and moisture? Curious if anyone's tried it on living roofs...
"Makes me wonder though—does stainless steel hold up as well with heavier plant growth and moisture?"
Stainless steel can definitely handle moisture and plant growth pretty well, but honestly, it's not always the best choice for green roofs. Had a client who insisted on stainless flashing because they thought it'd be bulletproof against corrosion. It was, technically, but the cost was eye-watering, and the installation was a pain—cutting and bending stainless isn't exactly a walk in the park. Plus, it can still show streaking, just less noticeable than copper.
If you're looking for something durable and less prone to staining, you might want to consider coated galvanized steel. It's cheaper, easier to work with, and the coating helps prevent corrosion and staining issues. Aluminum's fine too, but I've seen it get dinged up pretty easily during installation.
Funny you mentioned the abstract art look though...I once inspected a house where the copper runoff had created patterns that looked suspiciously like Elvis. Homeowners weren't amused, but I thought it was pretty impressive.
Stainless steel definitely has its merits, but I agree it's not always the most practical choice for green roofs. I've managed a few properties with green roofs, and stainless steel flashing was used on one of them. It held up fine structurally—no corrosion or major issues—but the upfront cost was pretty steep, and the installation crew wasn't thrilled about working with it. They mentioned how tough it was to cut and shape compared to other materials.
Coated galvanized steel has been my go-to recommendation lately. It's durable enough to handle moisture and plant growth without breaking the bank, and installation tends to go smoother. Aluminum is okay too, but I've noticed it can dent easily if installers aren't careful. Had a situation once where aluminum flashing got pretty banged up during installation, and we ended up having to replace sections before the project was even finished.
Funny you mention copper runoff patterns—I had a similar experience at one of our buildings. The copper flashing created these weird streaks down the side of the building that looked like some kind of abstract mural. Residents were split: half thought it added character, half thought it looked terrible. Eventually we cleaned it off, but I still think about how unique it looked.
Anyway, glad you found a roofing company that's treating you fairly. Good contractors are worth their weight in gold these days...
Interesting points about aluminum denting—I hadn't thought about that. I've been leaning toward coated galvanized steel myself, mostly because of cost and ease of installation. But now you've got me curious about copper runoff patterns...do you think sealing or coating the copper beforehand would prevent those streaks? Might be worth experimenting on a small section first to avoid turning my house into an accidental art exhibit, haha.
Copper roofs do look amazing, but yeah, those runoff streaks can be tricky. My neighbor installed copper flashing around their chimney last summer, and after a few rains, there were noticeable streaks down the siding. They ended up sealing it afterward, and it helped a lot, but didn't completely eliminate the issue. Definitely smart to test a small section first—better safe than sorry when it comes to accidental abstract art on your walls, lol. Good luck with your roofing project!