Copper Roofings - A Manual - 1925 - Page 24
Copper is an excellent material for general sheet-metal purposes — particularly for roofing, eaves troughs, gutters, leaders, flashings, ridge rolls, ridge caps, leader heads, cornices, etc.
Its physical and chemical characteristics make it an outstanding metal for long service under severe conditions.
As there are practically no maintenance costs its service value increases with age. It has a high salvage value.
A copper roof will last for generations, probably for centuries. Numerous important buildings, as well as many fine residences, in the United States have copper roofs, some of them over 100 years old; in Europe and Asia are other examples which have lasted for centuries.
Perhaps the oldest copper work in the world which is still in use is the Dragon weathervane on the Beffroi in Ghent, Belgium. This was erected in 1377 and is 548 years old.
The following is a partial list of copper roofs on prominent buildings located all over the world. Except in one case, St. Peter's Church in Rome, all of these roofs are in use today.
Building: Nagova Temple, Japan Date: 1411 Age: 514
Building: Temple of Heaven, Peking Date: 1420 Age: 505
Building: St. Peter's Church, Rome (Valleys and Decks) Date: 1503-1882 Age: 379
Building: Bourse, Copenhagen, Denmark (Tower) Date: 1619 Age: 306
Building: Kronberg Castle, Helsingfors, Finland Date: (Circa) 1635 Age: 290
Building: Christ Church, Philadelphia, Pa Date: 1758 Age: 167
Building: Customs House, Dublin, Ireland (Dome) Date: 1791 Age: 134
Building: Drottningholm Castle, Lake Malar, Sweden Date: (Circa) 1800 Age: 125
Building: Chartres Cathedral, Chartres, France Date: 1836 Age: 89
Building: Dome of Capitol, Jackson, Miss. Date: 1839 Age: 86
Building: York Minster, York, England Date: 1842 Age: 83
Building: Madeline Church, Paris, France Date: 1842 Age: 83
Building: Trinity Church, New York, N. Y. Date: 1846 Age: 79
Building: Dome of Capitol, Boston, Mass. Date: 1855 Age: 70
Building: Dome of British Museum, London, England Date: 1857 Age: 68
Building: Opera House, Paris Date: 1865 Age: 60
Building: Pulitzer Building, New York, N. Y. Date: 1889 Age: 36
Building: Gripsholm Castle, Lake Malar, Sweden Date: 1889 Age: 36
Building: Chateau Frontenac, Quebec, Canada Date: 1891 Age: 34
Building: Temple Beth-el, New York, N. Y. Date: 1892 Age: 33
Building: Tower, Hackley School, Tarrytown, N. Y. Date: 1900 Age: 25
Building: West Street Building, New York, N. Y. Date: 1906 Age: 19
Building: Cathedral of St. John the Divine, New York, N. Y. Date: 1907 Age: 18
Building: Grand Central Terminal, New York, N. Y. Date: 1912 Age: 13
Building: Woolworth Building, New York, N. Y. Date: 1912 Age: 13
Copper retards appreciably the corrosive action of acid fumes, and is a most effective material for use under extreme atmospheric conditions such as are found in manufacturing localities and cities. Near the sea coast and in country districts its durability is unquestioned.
The green coating or patina which appears on copper after exposure to the atmosphere not only acts as a shield against deterioration, but also makes it a most beautiful roofing material. It does not require painting or special protective treatment of any kind.
The non-corrosive properties of copper make it possible to use a thin sheet, and its comparative lightness permits its use in construction work without the necessity of heavy supporting structures. It is one of the lightest of roofings.
The weights of various roofing materials per square (1OO square feet) on the roof are as follows:
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