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Why copper guttering? |
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Copper was mankind’s first metal and was used during the Stone
Age over 10,000 years ago. Over the course of the millennia,
mankind became increasingly proficient at handling this metal,
deploying it for the most varied tasks – for example, hammering,
heating, forging or mixing it with other metals to create alloys
such as lead, silver or pewter.
The discovery that copper and tin could easily be mixed provided the
name for an era: the Bronze Age. All great cultures and civilizations
worked with copper. The Colossus of Rhodes was made from copper
and the Ancient Egyptians used copper for their water pipes.
But the name for copper actually came from the Romans,
which they called “aes cyprium”, which later became “cuprum”,
the origin of today’s “copper”.
There are very few materials that maintain their technical function
and shape over extremely long periods of time. These include copper,
a material that creates its own protective layer and that – with its
patina – only reveals its full design qualities during the aging process.
It is remarkable that around 40% of all copper applications are in
construction. And there are countless further copper alloys, of which
brass and bronze, in particular are being increasingly deployed
in architecture.
Quality, durability and beauty have been the compelling attributes
of this material for centuries. Copper has been used as a roof and wall
cladding material for buildings since time immemorial. In addition
to the functional characteristics, one of the primary reasons for this is
undoubtedly its aesthetic qualities.
To this end, its – as a result of weathering – constantly changing patina
influences the appearance of a building, whereby the original coppery
sheen of the metal gradually develops into a sequence of warm, brown
shades before the external surface acquires its characteristic green.
Andreas Renner GmbH & Co. KG,
Bamberg GERMANY
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