This page reflects our legacy field work and the preservation standards we still uphold today. We are now shop-only: we reproduce historic copper elements with period-correct methods and provide selective consulting so on-site work is done the right way by your roofer/GC.
What we reproduce & restore
- Ornamental profiles — pediments, cornices, corbels, finials, spires, and steeple elements.
- Window & door elements — radius/elliptical caps, pans, historic window seals, and eyebrow details.
- Chimney components — custom windscreens & caps, crowns, counter-flashing.
- Water management — ornate leader heads, scuppers, conductor boxes, and decorative downspout transitions.
- Flashing systems — band flashing (straight & curved), valleys, terminations, and transition details to stone or stucco.
- Domes & compound curves — curved banding, cone segments, and complex radius work.
- Stabilization/repair — when an original piece can be saved, we repair in the shop using traditional techniques.
If you have a photo, field sketch, or original sample, we can recreate it accurately.
Methods that respect the building
- Hand-soldered seams for valleys, inside corners, and pans—permanent, watertight, and historically correct.
- Double-lock standing seam where movement and weather demand long service life.
- Movement & separation details to avoid stress and galvanic interaction with dissimilar metals.
- Stone interfaces with drips/breaks to prevent early patina runoff staining.
- Reversible interventions when the preservation plan calls for it.
Materials & finishes
- Temper by application: soft copper for intricate shaping; eighth-hard for panels and standing seam.
- Thickness specified by exposure and profile depth.
- Lead-coated copper available where period appearance or context requires it.
- Finishes: bright, brushed, pre-patinated, or natural aging to match adjacent historic fabric.
Process for historic projects
- Documentation — photos, field measurements, and (if available) an original sample.
- Research & shop drawings — confirm period-correct profiles, seam types, temper, and thickness.
- Mock-ups/approvals — optional samples for architect/HPC review.
- Fabrication — traditional forming and hand-soldering; each part labeled for location.
- Packaging & shipping — crated for protection; nationwide delivery.
- Installer coordination — practical notes for your roofer/GC; site or remote consulting available as needed.
Typical historic scenarios we support
- Reproduction of leader heads and conductor boxes from photos or surviving samples.
- Window seal and cap recreations (before/after accuracy and watertightness).
- Custom fabricated pediments and cornice trims to match existing profiles.
- Chapel/steeple elements and finials, built in segments for transport and install.
- Chimney windscreens & caps sized for proper draft and period appearance.
- Flashing parts to replace failed or sealant-dependent details with soldered permanence.
Who this is for
- Preservation architects & boards (HPC) seeking period-correct copper details.
- Churches and landmark homes with steeples, domes, and ornate profiles.
- Custom builders & GCs responsible for sensitive renovations.
- Homeowners restoring historic properties or matching legacy copper work.
What to send (checklist)
- Photos of the area (wide + detail); scans of any surviving patterns or samples.
- Field measurements or drawings (PDF/DWG); note radius/elliptical dimensions if applicable.
- Context notes (stone below, coastal exposure, dissimilar metals nearby).
- Finish/temper preferences (if known) and schedule constraints.
Ready to begin? Custom Fabrication turns approved details into labeled, crated parts. For planning and review, visit Consulting, or see Legacy & History for our preservation background.