All our metal roof ornaments — finials, weathervanes, cresting, pinnacles, and some of the bargeboards — come in zinc and in copper. These are the two metals of the zinc-worker since the nineteenth century. Both last for decades with no maintenance, and we guarantee them for 10 years against corrosion. So why choose one rather than the other? The answer lies in the patina, the existing roof, the budget — and, for a bargeboard, two further materials: plywood and PVC.
Zinc: pearl grey, understated, unsurprising
Zinc is delivered light grey, slightly bright. Within a few months it takes on a fine, matt, pearl-grey patina that protects it for good. It does not rust, does not stain the facade and sits quietly with most coverings: slate, grey tile, and of course zinc. It is the most common choice for a roof finial or a weathervane, and the more affordable one: on the same model, allow roughly 20 to 30 % less than copper, as we already note on this page.
That patina does not need to be maintained, renewed or protected with varnish. It is the coating. Over the years the grey deepens a little depending on exposure, but zinc remains a discreet metal, easy to read against a clear sky or a low one.
Copper: bright pink, then brown, then verdigris
Copper arrives pink and bright, almost golden. It browns in a few months, then over the years takes on the verdigris of Paris roofs and church towers. That patina takes 10 to 20 years to form fully, depending on exposure, rain and air. It is the metal of distinguished roofs: it sits well with red tile, slate and stone, and it brings out ornate motifs — stamped cresting, finials with bells, weathervanes in relief.
Copper, too, needs no maintenance. If you are set on keeping the original shine for a long time, colourless varnishes exist: they age less well than the natural patina, and we do not recommend them. Better to let the piece live and change; that is what one asks of this metal.
Three questions to decide
- What is the roof — and the guttering — made of? Zinc covering and downpipes: stay with zinc, for harmony and to avoid contact between different metals. Red tile or slate: both work; copper adds the warm note.
- What do you want it to look like in five, ten or twenty years? A discreet, stable grey → zinc. A metal that browns then turns green, and that changes with time → copper.
- What budget? Zinc is more accessible. Copper costs more; it is a choice that adds presence to the house and reads from a distance once the patina has set in.
A technical point: do not mix them under run-off
Zinc and copper must not sit in direct contact under run-off: water that has flowed over copper attacks the zinc below (a galvanic couple). A copper finial on a zinc ridge is possible if the base is isolated. If you are unsure, choose the same metal as the roof, or ask your roofer — or us, via the contact page.
And care, in practice?
None, for zinc or for copper: no paint, no varnish, no special cleaning. The patina does the work. You can rinse a piece with clean water if site dirt has marked it at installation, then leave it alone. We do not recommend abrasives or strippers, which attack precisely the layer that protects the metal. The 10-year guarantee against corrosion covers this durability: the piece is made to stay on the roof for decades.
The bargeboard case: zinc, but also wood and PVC
For a decorative bargeboard, the choice is not limited to the two metals. Our bargeboards come in 0.8 mm zinc, 10 mm plywood or 10 mm white PVC, in 99 cm panels, with custom lengths if needed. Zinc and, where the project calls for it, copper follow the same patina and care rules as above. Wood needs a finish and upkeep that belong to the installation (paint or stain, depending on the job). White PVC stays colour-stable and is simply screwed on. You then choose as much by the support (barge, porch, canopy, chalet) as by the metal of the roof.
Where to see the models
Every metal model in the catalogue is offered in both materials. Browse our roof ornaments, finials, weathervanes in relief and cut-out weathervanes. Handmade in the Verdets workshop at the foot of the Pyrenees, shipped within 7 working days for catalogue models, guaranteed 10 years against corrosion.