Aluminum's a solid choice, but even then, regular maintenance is key. I've managed a few coastal properties, and honestly, copper roofing is amazing—pricey upfront, yeah, but it ages beautifully and lasts forever. Worth considering if budget allows...
Copper does look great over time, but I've heard mixed things about how it handles extreme storms and wind near the coast. Any experience with durability in harsh weather?
"Copper does look great over time, but I've heard mixed things about how it handles extreme storms and wind near the coast. Any experience with durability in harsh weather?"
We had copper roofing on our old family cottage near the coast for about 15 years, and honestly, it held up better than I expected. Initially, I was skeptical because I'd heard similar concerns about salt air and storm damage. But here's what happened...
The first few years were pretty uneventful—just the usual patina forming, which actually looked pretty nice. Then we got hit by a couple of nasty storms back-to-back one winter. I'm talking heavy winds, sideways rain, branches flying around...the works. Afterward, I climbed up expecting to see some serious damage or at least loose panels. Surprisingly, everything was intact except for a few minor dents from debris.
Now, I'm not saying copper is bulletproof or anything—no roof really is—but compared to our neighbors who had asphalt shingles peeling off left and right, we felt pretty lucky. The salt air did cause some corrosion around the edges after about a decade or so, but nothing major enough to compromise the structure itself.
One thing I'd suggest if you're considering copper is making sure it's installed properly by someone who knows coastal conditions well. Our installer used stainless steel fasteners and took extra care sealing seams and edges—that probably made a big difference in durability.
So yeah, while copper might not be perfect for every coastal situation (and definitely isn't cheap), from my experience it can handle harsh weather surprisingly well if done right. Hope that helps ease your mind a bit!
Yeah, copper's surprisingly tough if you prep it right. Like you said:
"Our installer used stainless steel fasteners and took extra care sealing seams and edges"
That's key. I've seen copper roofs near the beach last decades with proper fasteners—cut corners though, and salt air will definitely bite ya...
Copper definitely holds up better than most people expect, especially when paired with stainless fasteners. I've seen some coastal roofs that looked brand new after 20+ years, while others nearby were practically swiss cheese after half that time. It's all about the prep and attention to detail—cutting corners near saltwater is like inviting rust to a buffet...and trust me, rust never skips dessert. Good on your installer for doing it right.
