"Curious if anyone's tried copper flashing in salty air? I've heard mixed stories—some say it lasts forever, others say it turns green and ugly real quick..."
Copper definitely turns green, but I wouldn't call it ugly—more like "character," haha. My uncle's beach house has copper flashing, and yeah, it developed that green patina pretty fast. But honestly, it's held up amazingly well against corrosion. If you don't mind the color shift, copper seems pretty solid. Maybe it's just a matter of taste? Stainless steel is great, but man, the cost difference is no joke...
Copper does hold up decently, but honestly, I'm not sold on the whole "character" thing. My neighbor put copper flashing on his roof about 3 years ago, and at first it looked amazing, super classy. But after a year or two, that green patina kicked in hard, and now it just looks kinda neglected to me. Maybe it's just my taste, but I wouldn't want my new house to look weathered so quickly.
I ended up going with aluminum coated with a protective finish. It's been holding up surprisingly well so far, and it was way cheaper than stainless steel. Sure, it won't last forever like copper supposedly does, but I figure by the time it needs replacing, I'll probably be ready for a change anyway. Just something else to consider if you're not into the green look...
I've been through a similar situation, living pretty close to the ocean myself, and honestly, aluminum with a protective coating was a solid choice. Copper looks great at first, but you're right—once that green patina sets in, it can look pretty rough depending on your taste.
For anyone else dealing with salt air corrosion, here's what I've learned from experience:
First, aluminum is cost-effective and lightweight, but make sure it's properly coated or anodized. Bare aluminum near salty air corrodes quicker than you'd think. The protective finish you mentioned is key—without it, you'll notice pitting and discoloration within just a few years. I had bare aluminum gutters once (big mistake), and after about 2-3 years they looked terrible—had to replace them way sooner than planned.
Second, stainless steel is another option that's worth considering if your budget allows. It holds up really well against salt corrosion, but yeah...the price tag is steep. If you're planning to stay in your home long-term though, it might pay off in the long run. My brother-in-law went stainless steel for his flashing and gutters about 8 years ago (he lives even closer to the beach than me), and they still look practically new.
Third, if you're set on copper but don't love the green patina look, there are sealants specifically designed for copper that slow down or even prevent the patina from forming. You'd have to reapply every few years, which is a bit of a hassle—but it does keep that classy copper shine intact longer.
Lastly, whatever metal you choose, regular maintenance helps a ton. Rinsing off salt residue periodically with fresh water can significantly extend the life of your metal roofing or flashing. It's an extra chore for sure, but trust me—it's worth the effort.
Anyway, sounds like you made a practical call with the coated aluminum. Hope it holds up nicely for you!
Good points overall, especially about the aluminum coating—seen plenty of roofs near the coast, and a good protective finish makes all the difference. I'd add though, zinc is another underrated option. It develops a patina too, but it's more uniform and subtle than copper's greenish look. Not as pricey as stainless either. Just something else to think about if anyone's still exploring options...
- Good call on zinc, hadn't even thought about that one.
- Just moved into my first place near the beach and honestly, the salt air thing caught me totally off guard... rookie mistake, I know.
- Neighbor down the street has copper roofing—looks cool but definitely a statement piece with that green patina. Zinc sounds like a nice middle ground if you don't wanna go full Statue of Liberty mode, haha.
- Also heard aluminum coatings are solid, but does anyone know how often you'd need to reapply or touch it up? I'm all for low-maintenance options here... climbing ladders isn't exactly my weekend hobby.
- Appreciate all these tips though, learning a ton from this thread already.
