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[ Home > Copper Shield > Keeping or Restoring The “New Penny” Look to your Copper ]
Keeping or Restoring The “New Penny” Look to your Copper
When copper is exposed to air, it begins to age and change color. This is both normal and useful, since the patina coating serves as a protectant for the raw copper underneath. Some people, however, prefer the shiny, “new penny” appearance of raw copper, or wish to restore their copper to a new appearance.
To do this requires nothing more than polishing the roof to the desired appearance, cleaning off all traces of the polish, and then applying a specially formulated clear coating to keep the copper looking new. Of these three steps, cleaning & polishing accounts for 95% of the successful results, and most failures are due to skimping during this necessary step.
1.) POLISH THE COPPER TO ITS DESIRED APPEARANCE: Using supermarket copper polishes
may work well enough, but professional polishes often produce better results. Check with a paint or
hardware store for recommendations. We have had good results with Tarn-X® and Wenol® . Make
sure to use a polish that is non-abrasive. Any cloth that you use should be 100% cotton, so as not to
scratch the copper. Never use steel wool or metallic abrasives on copper - they may contain rust
inhibitors that may turn the copper black.
2.) CLEANSE THE COPPER THOROUGHLY: Immediately after polishing the copper, wash the roof
with a weak solution of ordinary kitchen-sink type dishwashing detergent and water. Again, use of a
100% cotton cloth or clean chamois is recommended. After washing, rinse the copper very thoroughly
with fresh water - and lots of it! Dry the copper using a clean chamois or cotton cloth. A hair dryer can
be used for those “hard to reach” spots. After drying the roof, be careful not to touch the copper with
your bare fingers, as the oils on your hands will discolor the copper.
3.) APPLY COPPER SHIELD ®: This coating is specially formulated for use on copper, and actually
enhances the natural beauty of new copper. It contains no substances that will react chemically
with copper.
Copper Shield® is crystal clear, and formulated from a blend of acrylic resins specifically
designed for use on copper. Copper Shield® also contains a UV inhibitor that prevents darkening
due to sunlight exposure, and an agent to prevent corrosion from occurring underneath the paint.
Normal clear enamel or lacquer paints will not prevent the aging of copper. Copper Shield® will
protect the new copper for a period of up to 10-12 years in an exterior application.
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