"Plus, it ages beautifully...though green patina isn't everyone's cup of tea."
True, copper does have that classy old-world vibe once it greens up—but have you considered zinc? It's not as pricey as copper, and it holds up surprisingly well against salty air. Saw a beach house with zinc roofing after a hurricane once...everything else was trashed, but that roof barely looked bothered. Maybe worth a thought if green roofs aren't your jam?
Zinc definitely has its merits, especially durability-wise. But keep in mind, zinc runoff can sometimes affect nearby plants or soil chemistry. If you're near sensitive landscaping or gardens, copper's patina might actually be gentler environmentally...just something else to factor in.
Hadn't really thought about runoff issues before...interesting point. My neighbor put in a copper roof a few years back—looks great, but man, the cost made my wallet cringe. Wonder if there's a middle ground that's easier on plants AND budgets?
Copper roofs do look sharp, but yeah...the price tag makes me wince too. Wondering if anyone's tried coated aluminum? It's supposed to handle salty air decently and might be gentler on runoff. Still, I'm skeptical about how long those coatings really last—anyone have firsthand experience? Seems like a compromise worth exploring before jumping into copper-level spending.
I went with coated aluminum about 7 years ago, and honestly, it's held up better than I expected. We're pretty close to the ocean, so salt air is a constant battle. The coating hasn't peeled or faded noticeably yet, but I do see some minor wear around the edges and seams. Definitely cheaper than copper, and runoff hasn't been an issue either. Not sure it'll last decades like copper would, but for the price difference, I'm satisfied so far.
