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I have 2 copper roofs over bay windows. They have turned black, we recently moved into the house, and I wanted to try and find the best and easiest way to restore their color.
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The only thing I know of is to buy a commercial copper cleaner from Wal Mart or the like. Sorry.
Trying to keep the copper shiny long term will be a real challenge though.
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I would think you could use normal paint remover chemicals. However, they will affect the appearance of the coppr as well. You may wish to contact the Copper Development Association with this question.
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I am facing a nearly identical issue. We have one copper roof on a Bay window that was painted black by the previous owners. I have e-mailed the peel-away product contact to see if they have a product that is safe. I have been scared to scrape as copper is a soft metal and I have been told many strippers will react with the copper making toxic fumes. Someone suggested use of a heat gun, but I am scared of burning my home down-lol. One painting contracter suggested covering with a new sheet of copper. If you have found a solution please let me know and I will pass on any information I find too!
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Like Todd I would suggest contacting the copper institute. fact is that you need an aggressive chemical to remove it and no matter how you try you will end up marking into the patina (oxidation) of the copper.
I would try laquer thinners on a small area. This normally soften will and remove virtually most paint systems. When you get it down to the copper you may have to polish the copper with a brasso type cleaner and restore it to a uniform near new look.
Hope this helps.
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I am presently installing a copper standing seam roof over my front porch. My installer told me that if you want a "Patina" (Lite green) effect on the copper roof, even one that has oxidized to a dark burn't appearance, a mixture of ruby fluid (solder flux), Miracle Grow and water brushed on with ONE light coating and then washed off after several minutes will clean the oxidation and provide a very nice "patina" effect.
I recommend starting on a small area and test how long to leave the solution on before washing off. If you want to clean the copper only, leave out the Miracle Grow.
Good Luck
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A late sculptor friend of mine had a great story about a copper roof at Cranbrook Academy of Art. He said after the workers finished installing the roof, lots of beer and buckets arrived. A while after the beer break, they were told to use the buckets, the contents were then used on the roof and: voila, vertigris!
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I have just cleaned my roof. What a job. I burnsd the black off with Muratic acid with a spray bottle. Flushed with water. I then used a mix of white vinigar and salt, this left it with a Salmon color. I then used 500 wet/dry sandpaper,had to use distilled water as tap water has chlorine in it,which turned it purple . as I cleanrd each panel, I used oil spray until I could paint it with clear Polyurathane. used tons of rags and I forgot 00 steel wool.
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Wow, you know there is a much simpler solution. We bought a 14 yr. old home in Nov. and our copper roof over the bay window was so black we weren't even sure it was copper. I remembered one of my jobs as a kid was to clean mom's copper bottom pans with Brasso so I just put a thin coat on a 2 x 2 area and let it set a few minutes. I used a soft scrungie pad made for ceramic sinks and with hardly any rubbing it came up bright, shiny copper. Much safer up on a ladder than using stinky m. acid (better for brick cleaning) and took me hardly any time at all.
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IN ONE CORNER OR ON SIDE TRY TO USE TOOTHPASTE (EX. COLGATE) AND SEE IF IT IS REMOVING THAT DARKNESS. WE USE TO CLEAN OUR COPPER AND SILVER ORNAMENTS WITH COLGATE OR BUTTERMILK !!! BELIVE ME OR NOT BUT IT WAS SHINING LIKE A NEW ONE.
7/21/2003
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