Copper roofs are pretty legendary when it comes to salt air—I remember inspecting a beachfront house after a hurricane once, and the copper roof was literally the only thing still looking chill. Everything else was a mess, but that roof was just sitting there like, "Storm? What storm?"
Coated aluminum isn't bad though. A buddy of mine put some on his coastal cabin about 8 years ago, and it's held up surprisingly well. Granted, he's pretty meticulous about maintenance—he rinses it off every now and then to keep salt buildup down. But even with that, you can see tiny spots where the coating's starting to thin out.
Honestly, I think aluminum can do fine if you're willing to baby it a bit. Copper's more of a "set it and forget it" kind of deal...but your wallet will definitely feel the difference. Guess it's all about how much TLC you're willing to give your roof (and how deep your pockets are).
Copper definitely has the edge when it comes to durability near saltwater. I've seen copper roofs pushing 50+ years on coastal homes, and they're still going strong with minimal maintenance. But yeah, the upfront cost is no joke.
Aluminum can be decent, but like you mentioned, it needs regular attention. One thing I've noticed is that the quality of the coating makes a huge difference. Cheaper coated aluminum panels tend to show corrosion spots pretty quickly, even with regular rinsing. Higher-end coatings—like Kynar finishes—hold up noticeably better, but they're pricier too.
Another factor people overlook is installation quality. Even the best materials won't last if they're not installed properly. I've seen aluminum roofs fail prematurely because of poor fastener choices or improper flashing details. So, if you're going aluminum, it's worth investing in a contractor who really knows coastal roofing specifics.
In the end, it's a trade-off between initial investment and long-term maintenance effort. Copper's great if you can swing it, but aluminum can work fine if you're diligent and choose wisely.
You know, copper and aluminum are great and all, but have you guys considered stainless steel? Yeah, I know—sounds like kitchen appliances on your roof, right? But seriously, marine-grade stainless can actually hold up surprisingly well in salty air. Did a job a few years back near the coast where the homeowner insisted on stainless steel roofing panels. At first I thought he was nuts (and maybe he was...a little), but honestly they're still looking pretty sharp with minimal upkeep.
Of course, stainless isn't exactly cheap either, but compared to copper it might save you a bit upfront. Plus, you don't have that green patina thing going on—unless you're into that Statue of Liberty vibe?
Anyway, just throwing stainless out there as another option. Sometimes thinking outside the usual copper vs aluminum debate can pay off. Anyone here tried it or seen it in action near saltwater? Curious how it's held up for others over time.
"sounds like kitchen appliances on your roof, right?"
Haha, exactly my first thought. Stainless sounds solid but honestly, the upfront cost still makes me pause...I'd probably stick with aluminum and just accept some extra maintenance every few years.
Yeah, aluminum's a decent compromise. I've seen stainless hold up great near saltwater, but honestly, unless you're planning to stay there forever, the cost difference might not be worth it. Just keep an eye out for corrosion spots early on...
