Anuario Brasileiro do Cobre | Brazilian Copper Yearbook 2018

Anuário Brasileiro do Cobre Brazilian Copper Yearbook 2018 55 Learn more: Why use copper in the architecture? - In the history of architecture, copper was always used on vertical walls’ and roofs’ coating and for adornment, on decorative and in domestic use objects. The option for this metal refers to its practicality, sanitization, durability, easy cleaning and low required maintenance. The buildings with copper coating highlight and value the historical heritage built in the cities. What are the advantages of copper coating? - One of the main qualities of the copper sheets is its nobility. The principal advantages are its durability, high corrosion resistance and ease of being worked with. One such example is the numerous constructions spread throughout the world, many centennials that keep the most varied forms of coating properly intact. Copper also presents endless possibilities of design and high quality esthetic, and it is easily found in the form of strips, what allow architects and other design professionals to draw it in customized formal aspects, opening new drawing fields. Why was there a reappraisal of copper use in coatings? - There is a world trend of using copper to crown or to “tie up loose ends” of the buildings, giving them personality, character and outstanding in urban landscape. Technology also participates of the copper´s valuation as an architectural material, as well as in its versatility and the possibility to harmonize color, drawing and texture. What is possible to draw with copper? - There is a big variety of drawings using a copper strip due to the possibility of its folding or stamping, allowing its use in four areas related to coating and protections of the buildings: Top Coat: flat or curved, tailpieces and spare elements. Façades Vertical Coating: panels like curtain walls, interior and exterior façades coating. Accessories for rainwater: gutters, conductors, capture tanks and protective linings. Interior Design: ornamentation, murals, objects, doors, sculptures. Is a copper coating too expensive? - Comparing to other metallic coatings, copper has an initial value a bit higher. However, its advantages over time guarantee a good cost- benefit ratio, compensating the option. How is copper installed and on what type of surfaces can it be applied? - In general, natural copper strips, lacquered or in a patina finish of varied thickness are technically processed on flat or vertical covering and inclined by traditional fittings with simple elevated joints or with wood rafters, consist in the most practical form of executing a copper coating. However, there is also the possibility of flat and stamped tiles of varied shape. The surface where the copper is placed is called “support-base”, built in hot treated plywood, with phenolic resin or solid wood, conditioned against xylophages’ insects and water repellent material to resist the challenge of time. This surface must have a flat and no ledges on the support-base to make the copper strips to stay uniformly settled and avoid imperfections. Coatings for coverings require a skilled workforce, to build flat or curved surfaces, for vertical or inclined wall panels, for solutions to rainwater impounding, protection linings and the interior design. What are the possible formats and dimensions? - In the market, there are natural copper strips and foils. If supplied in rolls, their width goes up to 610mm with 3.17mm in thickness. Straight strips are available with the width from 25 to 600mm and the thickness from 0.30 to 3.17mm. What has to be done to obtain other colors? - There are local companies and specialized workforce for the execution of the artificial patina, with emphasis on the aqua green copper.  Applications Top coat - flat, inclined, curves, cupules and domes. Façade Coating – Enhancing the architecture of the building´s façades by the texture, color and adaptation to the most varied forms. Gutters and rainwater conductors – the gutters and the Rainwater conductors of the building´s roof must have a long lifetime and corrosion resistance. For this reason, copper is the right choice, with a good technical-esthetic result. The possi- bilities of gutter´s design are countless, allowing a harmonious integration with buildings, and fitting to any architecture. Interior Architecture – copper is often used in interiors, ceilin- gs, walls and doors’ coating. Design – copper is used with singular property in the design of ornamental items, facilities and domestic utensils, as well as in sculptures. Its durability, color and forms contribute to the enriching the ambiance. Source: Portal Met@lica – Construção Civil