Metal roofing · Aluminum and specialty metals
Aluminum, copper and zinc roofing
Steel is the right metal for most roofs. Three situations call for something else. Homes within sight of the ocean, where salt eats cut steel edges, want aluminum. Heritage work, from church spires to bay window hoods, often specifies copper. Architects designing a building that should weather rather than fade specify zinc. We fabricate and install all three, in standing seam, flat-lock and shingle forms, and we price them only after seeing the roof.
- Lifespan
- 50 to 100+ years
- Aluminum
- 0.032 in PVDF standing seam
- Copper
- 16 or 20 oz, standing seam or flat-lock
- Zinc
- pre-weathered or natural, 0.7 to 0.8 mm
Panels from BC and Canadian manufacturers such as Westform Metals, Vicwest, Fraser Valley Metal Rolling, Agway Metals.
Strengths
What it does well
- Aluminum cannot rust, even at cut edges
- Copper and zinc need no paint and form a protective patina
- Both are standard in heritage and high-end residential work
- Lighter than steel, kind to old framing
- Fully recyclable
Trade-offs
What to weigh up
- Aluminum is softer and dents more easily than steel
- Copper is expensive and its price moves with the metal market
- Zinc needs ventilated detailing on the underside
- Runoff from copper stains light-coloured surfaces below
- Specialist detailing means fewer qualified crews
In our climate
Salt air changes the choice
Manufacturers' paint warranties for steel roofing carry an exclusion most people never read: exposure to breaking surf and salt spray. That describes a lot of West Vancouver, the Tsawwassen bluffs, Crescent Beach and White Rock. On those houses, a steel roof may still last decades, but the cut edges at eaves, hems and penetrations are where red rust starts, and the warranty will not cover it. Aluminum removes the problem.
For heritage houses in Vancouver, New Westminster and Mission, the issue is appearance and approval rather than salt. Copper dormers and flat-lock porch roofs match what was there, and a Heritage Alteration Permit is more likely to pass when the material does.
Price
Priced for your roof
Pitch, shape, what comes off and how we reach the roof all move the price, so every roof is measured before we quote. For a number now, outline yours on the satellite map.
Specification
- Aluminum
- PVDF finish, 20 year substrate warranty typical
- Copper
- soldered seams on flat-lock, double-lock on standing seam
- Zinc
- back-ventilated with a structured underlay
- Dissimilar metals kept apart at every flashing and fastener
Questions
Aluminum, copper and zinc roofing questions
When is aluminum worth the extra cost?
When the house has an open view of salt water. Steel paint warranties exclude surf and salt-spray exposure, and the cut edges of steel panels are where rust starts. Aluminum cannot rust, so on the waterfront in West Vancouver, Tsawwassen, White Rock or Deep Cove it is the sensible choice.
Why are copper and zinc quoted on site?
Copper's price moves with the metal market, zinc is imported in limited sizes, and both involve detailing that varies hugely from roof to roof. We would rather measure and quote than guess.
Will copper stain my siding?
Runoff from copper can stain light masonry, concrete and pale siding below it with a green-brown wash over the years. We route copper runoff into gutters and downspouts and away from anything it could mark.
Compare
Other metal systems
Standing seam metal roofing
Lasts 40 to 70 years
See details →
Metal shingles and tiles
Lasts 40 to 60 years
See details →
Exposed-fastener and corrugated panels
Lasts 30 to 50 years, with fastener checks
See details →Related services
Replace shingles or cedar with metal
Tear-off, deck repairs, new underlayment, flashings and a metal roof system on a house that had shingles, cedar shakes or torch-on.
See details →
New construction and additions
Metal roofs and siding on new houses, laneway homes, garages, shops, barns and additions, coordinated with your builder from the framing stage.
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Gutters, soffit, fascia and flashing
Seamless aluminum gutters, metal soffit and fascia, and custom-bent flashings that match the roof, so the whole edge of the house is metal.
See details →Guides
Metal roofing near salt water: steel or aluminum on the BC coast?
Salt air and metal roofs in West Vancouver, White Rock, Tsawwassen and Deep Cove: what steel warranties exclude, where rust starts, when aluminum is worth it.
Read →
How long does a metal roof last? Paint systems, gauge and warranties explained
What decides a metal roof's life: PVDF versus SMP paint, Galvalume and aluminum substrates, 24 versus 26 gauge, and what the 40-year warranty actually covers.
Read →Thinking about aluminum and specialty metals?
Free in-person measure, written quote, no pressure after.