Removing Tarnish From Copper Roofing

When copper is exposed to water it turns a bluish green color like the statue of liberty or the roofs on old mansard buildings.

Removing tarnish from copper roofing. Working with rust removal chemicals can be dangerous so make sure you take the proper safety precautions. To remove rust from large metal items you can use an acidic rust removal chemical treatment. Keep in mind that metal roofs tend to be much more slippery than an asphalt roof and that many aluminum roofs will also dent easily if walked on. Once all the tarnish is removed make sure to clean the copper piece thoroughly with warm water.

As you may imagine if your entire roof is. Use three parts lemon juice to one part coarse salt. When you clean your copper roof use natural ingredients that will not destroy the patina as they remove the buildup and gunk. The good news is all copper tarnishes and the bad news is all copper tarnishes.

First put on a pair of rubber gloves a dust mask and some protective eyewear. This means if you use six cups of lemon juice you will need two cups of coarse salt. Preserving the coppery shine. The process of the change in color of copper when it is exposed to air is called oxidation oxidation typically turns copper black which is evidenced by dirty looking pennies that have been passed around for a long time.

Buff the roof with a clean soft flannel cloth to bring up the shine. There are 2 main ways that effectively clean copper remove tarnish and gain that shiny polish again. If needed use a soft toothbrush to get into crevices to remove grime. Ways to clean copper and remove tarnish.

If you want to retain the freshly revealed copper shine spray or roll paint the entire roof with a clear lacquer or a clear polyurethane coating. As the copper oxide is removed turn the piece to a new spot. Make a paste from vinegar flour and salt to clean heavily tarnished items. You can use mechanical sanding best in one direction with fine grit sanding paper or sponge or chemical hd copper cleaner gel or mild acids methods to clean your roof or gutters.

Copper is not difficult to clean but it needs to be cleaned frequently to maintain its original luster for a longer period of time. Before you can clean your metal roof you ll need to do a thorough inspection of the roof itself. A good scrub with a mild vinegar solution should be enough to restore most metals. Clean your copper and seal out the tarnish and oxidation with everbrite.

Polishing a copper roof is not practical there are several ways to remove the tarnish. If it s not you can up your cleaning power by mixing 1 2 cup 120 ml of vinegar 1 teaspoon 5 7 g of salt and about a cup of all purpose flour into a thick paste. Fill a plastic container with a little bit of your rust remover. But it is nothing to fear as you can always use a specialty food safe copper polish or household tricks to shine it back up.

Rinse the roof again with warm clear water to flush away all the soap residue and dirt. Therefore it s usually best to clean a metal roof from on top of the house itself.