Smith advises homeowners matching up copper accent roofs, gutters or weathervanes to consider a blend of slate roofing with shades of brown, stone and tan roofing tiles. “These unique colors contrast with the copper both at the initial stages when it's first installed, and over time, so they present a winning combination. Warm shades of browns can work well long-term with copper finishes that can take many years to fully reach their patina.”
For homeowners looking to match up copper accents on the home with a shake roof, Smith's advice is to stay away from gray roofing tiles that lean toward the blue color scale and stick with tones of brown. “The gray tiles will look harsh next to the copper pieces when they're first installed and then won't provide a good match as the copper ages. Homeowners with copper exterior accents should also stay away from shades of red and orange because they won't look good with the greenish patina down the road,” says Smith.
The Staying Power of Brick
Brick is made from clay and shale - some of the most abundant, natural materials on earth and requires low embodied energy to manufacture with minimal waste in the process. Countless recycling options are another factor that makes brick a popular choice among “green” builders.
While it is still possible to purchase hand-made brick, itis also possible to buy architectural brick that meets today's extremely strict product specifications which can result in a more consistently performing end-product. But many people may confuse clay brick with "brick" made from other materials. For example, concrete units rely on a cement paste to bond the materials together. Moreover, concrete units are inherently a grayish color, which means that users must inject color pigments before the setting process and use color sealant afterwards to have a color affect. Besides having inherent coloring, advantages to clay brick include the fact that it is stronger than concrete brick.
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Classic red brick topped with a multi-width DaVinci Slate Black roof makes an impressive statement.
Brick has proven its staying ability in both durability and popularity for centuries. With thousands of color and shade options as well as wide variety of special shapes, brick remains one of the most versatile building materials. It is one of the few materials that can actually look better with age, and brick absorbs noise — giving it an acoustic advantage over other materials. Naturally energy-efficient, the dense material of brick has the ability to store heat and then slowly release it, giving it exceptional “thermal mass” properties. Since the primary ingredient in brick is clay which is fired to around 2000 F, it is a non-combustible material. As such, it is an excellent cladding choice to resist or confine fires. Independent building products research also shows brick veneer wall assemblies control moisture better than wall systems clad with other exterior materials. Therefore, brick veneer wall systems help minimize mold growth, wood rot and infestation by insects, and corrosion of fasteners embedded in wood better than other wall assemblies; this translates to lasting value.
IXII GREATER DFW METROPLEX BUILDING SAVVY MAGAZINE 13
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