North Carolina · Copper roofing
Copper roofing in North Carolina
Genuine copper makes sense in North Carolina on accents such as bay windows, porch roofs and dormers; for a whole roof, copper-look aluminum is usually the better buy. Metal Roof NC installs both: Interlock's Solid Copper system and Interlock aluminum in the Copper Penny color. Copper costs more and changes color as it weathers.
What are my copper roofing options in North Carolina?
There are two: genuine copper or the copper look in aluminum. Interlock Roofing makes a Solid Copper roofing system that Metal Roof NC installs, usually on bay windows, porch roofs, dormers, cupolas and entries, where a small area of copper makes a big impression. For a whole roof, Interlock aluminum in the Copper Penny color gives a warm metallic copper tone at the cost of an aluminum roof. Many North Carolina homes combine the two: an aluminum main roof with a copper accent over the porch or bay.
How does copper weather in North Carolina's climate?
Copper changes color as it weathers, from bright metal to brown and, over years, toward green. The Copper Development Association says the final color depends on location and local weather, with salt, moisture, sunlight and orientation all playing a part. A copper porch roof on the coast near Wilmington or Beaufort and one in Raleigh or Charlotte can age differently. If you want that change, only real copper gives it. If you want the copper color to stay as it is, copper-look aluminum is the better fit.
Will copper runoff stain my house?
It can. Rain washes copper salts off the roof, and where that runoff reaches brick, stone, concrete or painted trim, it leaves green stains. Good copper detailing uses overhangs, gutters and drip edges to keep runoff off other materials. Copper is also one of the most noble metals, so it must be separated from less noble metals such as aluminum and galvanized steel, and its runoff can speed up their corrosion. On a mixed roof, the flashings and drainage are planned so copper and aluminum never share water.
Is Interlock Solid Copper covered by a warranty?
Yes. Interlock Solid Copper carries the Guardian Lifetime Limited Material Warranty from Interlock Roofing, the same material warranty as the aluminum system. It covers the roofing material for the original purchaser for as long as they own the home, transferable once, and it does not cover workmanship. The installation is covered by the Metal Roof NC 5-Year Labor Warranty. Our warranty page explains both.
What does copper-look aluminum offer instead?
Copper-look aluminum is Interlock's heavy-gauge aluminum panel in the Copper Penny color, with an Alunar® 70% PVDF finish (AAMA 2605); the Alunar® coating is warranted 30 years. It does not turn green and has no copper runoff. The material and finish carry the Guardian Lifetime Limited Material Warranty from Interlock Roofing, for the original purchaser while they own the home, transferable once, and workmanship is covered by the Metal Roof NC 5-Year Labor Warranty. In Triangle and Charlotte subdivisions, check with your HOA's architectural review committee before choosing either copper or a copper color.
How much does copper roofing cost compared with aluminum?
Genuine copper costs considerably more than an aluminum roof of the same size, which is why it is usually kept to accents. We don't publish copper prices. For aluminum, Metal Roof NC's rule of thumb is that an Interlock aluminum roof typically costs about 2.5 to 3 times a traditional asphalt-shingle roof; prices vary job to job with roof size, pitch, tear-off and other conditions, and an on-site estimate is required for an accurate price.
Copper roofing questions, answered
Can I get a copper roof in North Carolina?
Yes. Metal Roof NC, an authorized Interlock aluminum roofing dealer based in Raleigh, installs Interlock's Solid Copper roofing, most often on bay windows, porch roofs, dormers and other accents. For a whole roof, most homeowners choose copper-look aluminum in the Copper Penny color instead.
What warranty comes with Interlock Solid Copper?
Interlock Solid Copper is covered by the same Guardian Lifetime Limited Material Warranty from Interlock Roofing as the aluminum system: it covers the roofing material for the original purchaser while they own the home and can be transferred once. Workmanship is covered separately by the Metal Roof NC 5-Year Labor Warranty. Read the full warranty before you sign.
Is a copper roof worth it in North Carolina?
On an accent such as a bay window, a porch or an entry, often yes. On a whole house, the honest answer is usually no: genuine copper costs considerably more than an aluminum roof, it changes color as it weathers, and its runoff can stain what sits below it.
Does copper turn green near the coast?
Copper weathers from bright metal to brown and, over time, toward a green patina. The Copper Development Association says the final color depends on location and local weather, with salt, moisture, sunlight and orientation all affecting it, so a coastal roof and a Piedmont roof can age differently.
Does copper stain siding and gutters?
It can. Copper salts washed off the roof cause the characteristic green stains when the runoff reaches other materials. Overhangs, gutters and drip edges that keep runoff off brick, stone and painted trim are part of a good copper detail.
Can copper and aluminum be used on the same house?
Yes, with care. Copper is one of the most noble metals and must be separated from less noble metals such as aluminum, and copper runoff can speed up corrosion of them. The installer plans flashings, separation and drainage so the two never share water.
What is the alternative to a copper roof?
Copper-look aluminum: Interlock aluminum panels in the Copper Penny color with an Alunar® PVDF finish. It keeps a warm metallic color rather than turning green, and has no copper runoff to stain the house. The Alunar® coating is warranted 30 years.
How much does a copper roof cost in NC?
We don't publish copper prices; copper is priced per project. Genuine copper costs considerably more than an aluminum roof of the same size. You get a project-specific estimate before work begins, with copper and copper-look options side by side if you want them.
Request a project-specific estimate for copper, copper-look aluminum, or both.
Where we install in North Carolina
Metal Roof NC installs Interlock® aluminum roofs across the Triangle, the Charlotte area, the Triad and Piedmont, and the coast. See every service area.