Solder Old Terne Roof

The terne is popular again with architects and designers for its weathering properties.

Solder old terne roof.

Terne roofs can last a very long time. A lot of terne roofs are a good 100 years old. While some purists may frown upon using solder to mend together two pieces of metal there is one thing for sure the practice of soldering isn t going anywhere in our trade. Roofing soldering irons have enclosed flames and constant heat is applied to the copper tip.

Our terne had been tested and approved for restoration repair or new construction even in areas where it is planned to be used close to the old follansbee terne. To say a terne roof would last 170 years might be optimistic but it s not out of the question if the roof has been well maintained over the years especially if it s located in a benign climate like that in some of the drier western states. Use pure tin lead free or high tin solder sticks. Terne z t alloy coated products are easy to solder ensuring water tightness for specific construction details.

When the old terne metal is removed it should be replaced with new terne coated stainless steel or 20 ounce copper. Soldering has been common practice in the metal roofing trade to ensure water tight joints and to strengthen seams. Soldered joints blend in effortlessly with terne coated material as both have substantial tin content u0003in common. However terne coated metal roofs must be painted regularly.

Metal was also formed into ridge caps for wood shingled roofs and used to line built in box gutters. This is preferred over the hand irons which will lose heat. In the late 1800s steel roofs began to be coated with terne metal. 16 ounce copper will work too but for the smaller extra cost and the promise of a metal roof that can last a century with little maintenance the 20 ounce copper would be preferable and the stainless the most durable.

Tin is a breeze to solder making our terne stainless material supremely easy to work with.