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Residential interior copper ceiling

Q. Thanks in advance to anyone willing to share their thoughts and suggestions.
I build houses about 50 per year. This question is in regards to a custom home we are doing with a sheet copper ceiling in the great room. The sheets of copper are 48" x 60" laminated to sheets of plywood with an industrial sealant. The copper sheets are separated from each other with old weathered barn beams, running in both directions, (spider beams).

We regularly buy sheet copper for roofing applications on Victorian style turrets and the like. I don't know if I, firstly, bought the right product for an interior application, (16 oz sheets 48"x120") and secondly what to "finish" the copper with to provide a permanent bright look.

Any suggestions regarding topcoats, or finishing techniques would be greatly appreciated.

Kind regards, Steve

Steve Martemucci
Residential home builder - Tustin, Michigan
2003

Q. Did you get any response on the copper? I have several 5' by 15' sheets from a 100 year old home my company is restoring and I am looking for some ideas (large vent hood) to do with the old copper. Mark Naessig
- Houston, Texas
2004

A. Hi, folks. Unfortunately, copper won't stay bright on its own. Sodium benzotriazole [on eBay or Amazon] is a preservative that will keep it bright for a while, but it needs to be lacquered for anything like a permanent bright look. Try brass lacquer [on eBay or Amazon] for one or two rattle cans, or contact G.J. Nikolas [a finishing.com supporting advertiser], a major supplier of brass lacquer. Good luck.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
October 2009

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