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Copper siding?

Eva7 | Posted in General Questions on

Could copper roof panels, such as standing seam, be used as siding? Why, why not, and how?

Thank you!

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Replies

  1. Expert Member
    MALCOLM TAYLOR | | #1

    Eva,

    I've used pre-formed snap-lock roofing panels like these as siding with no issues:
    https://www.westform.com/products.php?s1=residential&s2=prolok_12_16
    Things to look out for are:
    - Roofing panels generally are fastened through slots allowing some movement. You don't want them sliding down your walls. As well as screwing through the slots, you should place several gasketed fasteners through the top of the panels so they expand and contract around that fixed point.
    - On a tiny house that goes at highway speeds you want to orient them so the snap-lock is towards the rear, so they don't come apart.
    - They do not allow much drying to the exterior, so your wall assembly needs to reflect that, or mount them on horizontal furring strips.

    1. Eva7 | | #2

      Excellent, thank you! We planned on using vertical rain screen, so instead we would be using horizontal?

      1. Expert Member
        MALCOLM TAYLOR | | #3

        Yes, which means you won't have a drainage plane from top to bottom, or as much ventilation. Probably the easiest way round this is to use Cor-A-Vent instead of wood furring.

      2. Expert Member
        BILL WICHERS | | #4

        Malcolm pretty much covered everything, but I wanted to recommend a type of fastener. You need something that will not loosen with the vibration of driving on the road since loose fasteners will lead to rattles. You can get stainless steel fasteners with a wide-flanged head and a pre-attached rubber washer. You’ll probably need to get these from a commercial fastener supplier like fastenal. This type of fastener will work better than trying to use a regular screw with a separate rubber washer and they’ll save you some installation time too.

        Bill

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