How to Clean a Copper Roof

Copper roofs have a tendency to lose their shine over time. Air causes oxidation and changes the color from a gleaming copper color to a blue-green patina look. It's impossible to forever maintain a constant vigil on a copper roof to prevent discoloration, however there is a way to remove most of it and ways to slow the oxidation process.

Things You'll Need

• Salt
• Flour
• Vinegar
• Dish soap
• Soft clean towel
• Polyurethane spray

Instructions

1. Mix a paste one part salt, one part flour, and one part vinegar.

2. Apply the paste evenly to the roof.

3. Allow the paste to sit overnight. Be sure to check the forecast to make sure Mother Nature doesn't rinse the paste away before you do.

4. Rinse the paste away the next morning with warm soapy water.

5. Rinse again with clean water to remove all soap and debris.

6. Buff the area with a clean towel to restore the shine.

7. Seal the roof with polyurethane spray to prevent air from getting to the copper and oxidizing it.

Tips & Warnings

• A copper roof may need to be sealed every year in areas that have harsher weather conditions and every two or three years in milder climates.

• Ketchup, lemons and salt, and vinegar are all very effective cleaners for copper.

• Use caution when climbing a ladder to clean a roof. It's a good idea to have a second person hold the ladder steady for you.