Interesting points about copper vs zinc. I'm actually in the middle of researching this myself since my roof inspection report came back looking like something NASA would send me—infrared scans, drone shots, moisture maps... felt like I was reading a mission briefing!
Anyway, I've been leaning toward zinc strips because of cost and availability, but your experience with copper staining lighter shingles has me reconsidering. My shingles are a medium gray, so I'm guessing they'd show some streaking but maybe not as dramatically as lighter ones? Still, I'd rather avoid the Statue of Liberty look if possible.
Also appreciate the heads-up about placement. I was tempted to DIY it halfway down the slope (seemed logical at first), but now I'll definitely stick to ridge-line installation. Better safe than sorry... or green.
"I was tempted to DIY it halfway down the slope (seemed logical at first), but now I'll definitely stick to ridge-line installation."
You're spot-on about placement. A buddy of mine tried zinc strips halfway down his roof thinking he'd save some cash and effort... ended up with weird uneven streaks that looked like abstract art. Ridge-line is definitely the safer bet. Also, medium gray shingles usually handle copper runoff better than lighter shades, but zinc still gives you less hassle overall—no green patina surprises later on.
Fair points about zinc, but have you considered copper strips with darker shingles? I've seen them installed properly at ridge-line without any noticeable staining, and honestly the patina issue isn't always a big deal—depends on your climate. Might be worth another look...
"I've seen them installed properly at ridge-line without any noticeable staining, and honestly the patina issue isn't always a big deal—depends on your climate."
Copper strips do look sharp with darker shingles, I'll give you that. But from a budget standpoint, aren't copper materials typically pricier than zinc? I remember looking into copper flashing last year when we redid our porch roof, and the price difference was pretty noticeable. Even with the patina being hit-or-miss depending on weather, I'd still be hesitant to spend the extra cash unless there's a clear advantage in durability or maintenance savings down the road. Have you noticed any significant long-term benefits with copper over zinc, or is it mostly aesthetics driving your choice?
Copper definitely tends to run pricier upfront compared to zinc, no doubt about it. But from what I've seen, copper has a pretty solid edge in durability—especially in areas with harsher weather or near the coast. Zinc can corrode faster under certain conditions, while copper develops that protective patina layer over time, actually extending its lifespan.
Maintenance-wise, copper usually means fewer headaches down the road. I've worked on roofs where zinc strips needed replacing sooner than expected due to corrosion issues. Copper strips installed properly at the ridge-line can easily last decades without much fuss.
That said, if your climate isn't particularly harsh or salty, zinc might be perfectly fine and save you some cash. It really boils down to balancing your budget against how long you plan to stay in the home and how much maintenance you're willing to tackle later on.
