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Every piece that leaves the Copperworx shop carries the weight of a lifetime spent learning copper — its tempers,
its movement, its limits, and its possibilities. This timeline traces the craft journey that built one of the
Southeast's most recognized names in custom copper fabrication and historic reproduction.
The Wells Roofing Foundation — 1960s–1989
Copperworx didn't begin in a vacuum. It grew from a multi-generation roofing family and decades of field experience
under the Wells Roofing banner. For the full story, see the
Wells Roofing Legacy & History page.
Era |
Milestone |
Why It Matters |
|---|
1960s |
Family Trade Roots — Brunswick, Georgia Joe Wells grows up in a roofing family in the Golden Isles area, learning the trade alongside his father and uncles from childhood. |
Hands-on apprenticeship from an early age — climbing ladders "since diapers" — built an instinct for metal and weather that no classroom can replicate. |
1970s |
Electronics Education & Move to Charleston Joe relocates to Charleston to study electronics, gaining technical knowledge in circuitry, diagnostics, and computerized systems. |
This dual background — tradecraft plus electronics — later enables Joe to program, maintain, and repair the computerized fabrication equipment that sets his shop apart. |
1984 |
Wells Roofing, Inc. Founded Joe establishes Wells Roofing & Sheet Metal in Charleston, SC, specializing in standing seam copper, hand-soldered flashings, slate, and tile. |
The company that would serve the Lowcountry for 38 years begins — rooted in historic methods and a "do it right" ethos passed down through the family. |
1989 |
Hurricane Hugo & Historic Restoration Boom Hugo devastates Charleston. Joe's name is already known for specialty copper work. Post-storm restoration demand "goes to the moon and never stops." |
Hugo becomes the catalyst that locks in Joe's reputation with Historic Charleston Foundation, preservation architects, and elite residential builders for decades to come. |
Mastering the Craft — 1990–2007
Through the 1990s and 2000s, Joe evolves from roofer to master fabricator — investing in
specialized equipment, developing signature techniques, and becoming Revere Copper's largest coil
buyer on the East Coast.
Era |
Milestone |
Why It Matters |
|---|
1990 |
Copper Fabrication Specialization Begins Joe shifts focus to copper fabrication — custom flashing packages, radius work, historic reproduction — building out the shop capabilities that define today's Copperworx. |
This pivot from general roofing to precision copper work creates a distinct niche: the hard, one-off parts most shops won't take. |
1990s |
Signature Equipment Acquired 10-foot computerized power brake (programmable for crown molding, radius pieces, and complex profiles), Eckle shrinker/stretcher, RBM radius bending machine, roll-forming equipment, and hand rollers. |
Combined with Joe's electronics background, these machines enable compound curves, elliptical pans, barrel panels, and standing seam configurations that require mathematical precision — "it all comes down to math." |
1990s–2000s |
Revere Copper's Largest East Coast Coil Buyer For over 20 years, Joe orders eighth-hard copper coils from Revere Copper — the only customer buying at that volume and in that specific temper. |
Eighth-hard copper offers the ideal balance of malleability and strength for standing seam and complex fabrication. Volume purchasing at this level signals the scale and specialization of the operation. |
1990s–2000s |
Landmark Charleston Projects Nathaniel Russell House, Rainbow Row properties, Charles Enston Homes chapel steeple finial, AME Church lead-coated copper steeple, and the only Bermuda-style copper roof on the East Coast (Texas architects). |
Each project demanded techniques most roofers don't possess — compound miter panels, diagonal panels, barrel standing seam, hand-soldered details, and historically accurate reproduction from photos and field measurements. |
2000s |
Ron Motley Residence Copper fascia, soffit, crown molding (interior and exterior), and full copper roofing for the home of famed trial attorney Ron Motley. |
A showcase for the full range of copper applications in a single high-end residence — roofing, architectural trim, and interior details — demonstrating that copper is "kind of unlimited" in the hands of a skilled fabricator. |
Awards & Recognition — 2008–2022
Decades of craftsmanship earn industry validation — national awards, preservation honors,
national television, and features in major shelter and trade publications.
Year |
Recognition |
Why It Matters |
|---|
2008 |
Samuel Gaillard Stoney Conservation Craftsmanship Award Awarded by the Preservation Society of Charleston for excellence in conservation craftsmanship on historic properties. |
One of Charleston's highest preservation honors — recognizing not just the finished product, but the methods used to achieve it. |
2013 |
North American Copper in Architecture Award National award from the Copper Development Association (CDA) for a project on Daniel Island. |
National-level recognition from the copper industry's own governing body — a peer-reviewed validation of fabrication quality and architectural impact. |
2018 |
Second Samuel Gaillard Stoney Award A rare repeat honor from the Preservation Society of Charleston. |
Earning this award twice underscores consistency across decades — the work isn't a one-off; it's a sustained standard. |
Various |
National Television & Major Publications Featured on the Bob Vila Show (nationwide). Published in Veranda, Southern Living, Better Homes & Gardens, Metal Magazine, Charleston Home Magazine, Palmetto Home Magazine, and Carolina Homes & Interiors. |
Media coverage spanning trade, shelter, and national broadcast audiences — establishing the Wells/Copperworx name well beyond the Charleston market. |
Copperworx: A New Chapter — 2023–Present
After 38 years, Wells Roofing closed on December 31, 2022. Joe launched Copperworx, LLC —
distilling four decades of knowledge into a focused, shop-only operation built on precision
fabrication and selective consulting.
Year |
Milestone |
What It Means for You |
|---|
2023 |
Copperworx, LLC Opens Shop-only custom copper fabrication at 1933 Clements Ferry Road, Charleston, SC. "The only person you'll be dealing with is me." — Joe Wells |
Direct access to the craftsman — no layers, no middlemen. Every piece is built, inspected, and shipped by the same hands that earned the awards. |
2023–Present |
Full Flashing Packages Window and door pans (including elliptical and radius), band flashing, scuppers, leader heads, vents, and accessories — clearly labeled for the installer, crated and shipped nationwide. |
Builders and roofers get shop-built precision they can't fabricate in the field. Quick turnaround. Parts arrive ready to install, labeled and protected. |
2023–Present |
Historic Reproduction & Custom Ornamental Steeple components, pediments, finials, cupolas, windscreens, chimney caps, column lanterns, and architectural details reproduced from photos, samples, or field measurements using traditional hand-soldered and double-lock techniques. |
The rare capability that earned Joe the Stoney Awards — matching original methods so the reproduction is indistinguishable from the original and built to outlast it. |
2023–Present |
Kitchen & Interior Copper Custom range hoods, countertops, wet bars, copper cladding, and decorative elements. Naturally antimicrobial. Living finishes that develop character over time — or sealed to a preferred tone. |
Copper moves beyond the roofline and into the home — functional art built to last a lifetime and leave a legacy. |
2023–Present |
Consulting, Failure Analysis & Specification Review Joe reviews specs, details, and challenging conditions — remotely or on-site when warranted — covering material selection (including Freedom Gray, lead-coated, and pre-patinated copper), temper and thickness, expansion management, and historically correct detailing. |
Set the standard before metal is cut. Decades of field experience distilled into guidance that prevents costly rework, premature failure, and historically inaccurate installations. |
"If you install a copper roof correctly, it's a hundred-to-120-plus-year roof.
There are copper roofs that exist today that are 200 years old — because they
were installed correctly."
Copperworx exists to make sure the next generation of copper work meets that standard.
Whether it's a full flashing package for new construction, a historic detail that needs
to be right, or a kitchen hood that becomes the centerpiece of a home — bring a plan,
photo, or sketch. We can make it.