Savannah sits on a low sandy bluff above the Savannah River, where salt-laden humid air, intense summer UV, and violent afternoon thunderstorms hammer every roof in the city. On the 1800s gray brick row houses around the Historic District squares and the steep-gabled Victorians in Thomas Square, copper and specialty metals are not a luxury, they are the material the buildings were designed around. Copper & Specialty Metal Roofing in Savannah means custom-fabricated accents, porch roofs, bay windows, and full architectural roofs in copper, zinc, and aluminum that develop a living patina and outlast the Lowcountry humidity by decades. We fabricate the fine details that historic homes demand, from soldered valleys to hand-formed finials, and we install them so they shed oak debris and tropical-storm rain the way they were meant to. If you are weighing a full replacement, start with our metal roof replacement overview, then come back to specialty metals for the details.
Why Copper and Specialty Metals Belong on Savannah Roofs
Most roofing materials in Savannah fail from the same two forces: heat and moisture. Copper, zinc, and aluminum handle both. Copper forms a protective patina that actually improves with age, zinc resists the salt air blowing in from Tybee Island and the marsh creeks, and aluminum sheds the heavy oak and pine debris that sits on shingles and holds water. On the raised Lowcountry cottages of Wilmington Island and the Isle of Hope, a copper porch roof or bay window cap is the detail that keeps the whole assembly dry.
- Copper develops a living patina that protects the metal and never needs repainting.
- Zinc and aluminum resist salt-laden air better than painted steel in coastal Chatham County.
- Custom fabrication matches the low hipped and flat roof lines of Greek Revival townhouses.
- Specialty metals handle the straight-line wind and hail of summer thunderstorms without denting like thin panels.
For historic homes, the right specialty metal is often the difference between a roof that looks original and one that looks remodeled.
Key info: On a Forsyth Park area Italianate townhouse, we replaced a failing painted-steel porch roof with soldered copper pans that match the original 1890s profile. The copper will patina to brown, then green, and the homeowner will never paint that porch again.
Before you commit to any specialty metal work, check the permit requirements with the City of Savannah's building department, since historic district review can restrict panel profile and color. You can verify local rules at savannahga.gov.
How We Fabricate and Install Specialty Metal Roofs in Savannah
Specialty metal work is not a panel-and-screw job. We measure the existing roof, form the copper or zinc pans in our shop to the exact profile, and solder or seam every joint so the assembly moves with the heat without opening up. On historic homes we match the original standing seam or flat-lock profile, and on Lowcountry cottages we fabricate porch and bay window caps that tie into the existing roof without a visible fastener.
- We inspect the roof deck and existing flashing, then measure every plane and valley.
- We fabricate the copper, zinc, or aluminum pans to the profile the house needs.
- We remove the old roofing and repair any soft decking before we set the new metal.
- We install the pans with soldered or seamed joints and new underlayment built for Lowcountry humidity.
- We form and solder the flashing at chimneys, skylights, and walls so water cannot get behind the metal.
- We walk the roof with you at the end and show you the seams, the flashing, and the patina plan.
Every specialty metal roof we install is built to be serviced, not replaced, so a repair years from now means a patch, not a tear-off.
Key info: In Ardsley Park, a 1930s Craftsman bungalow had a rusted steel porch roof leaking onto the front steps. We fabricated a copper pan roof with soldered standing seams, matched the original profile, and tied it into the main roof with new flashing. The porch has stayed dry through three hurricane seasons.
If your project is in the 31401 zip, see our Savannah 31401 specialty metal roofing page for neighborhood specifics.
Copper and Specialty Metal Approaches We Use in Savannah
Not every Savannah roof needs the same metal. A full architectural copper roof on a Victorian District house is a different job from a zinc porch cap on a Tybee Island cottage. The table below shows the approaches we fabricate and where each one makes sense.
| Approach | Description | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Soldered copper flat-lock | Hand-formed copper pans with soldered seams that move with heat and develop a living patina. | Historic District row houses and Greek Revival townhouses with low hipped roofs. |
| Standing seam copper | Raised seams conceal fasteners and shed oak debris and tropical-storm rain. | Victorian District gables and Thomas Square porches with steep pitches. |
| Zinc architectural panels | Dark gray zinc that resists salt air and needs no painting for decades. | Tybee Island and Wilmington Island cottages close to the marsh and ocean. |
| Aluminum accents and caps | Lightweight aluminum caps for bay windows, porch roofs, and dormers. | Ardsley Park bungalows and Midtown homes where weight and cost matter. |
| Custom flashing and finials | Shop-fabricated chimney flashing, valleys, and decorative finials matched to the house. | Any Savannah home where the detail has to look original. |
We choose the metal and the profile based on the house, the exposure, and the look you want, not on what is easiest to install.
Copper & Specialty Metal Roofing Cost in Savannah: What to Expect
Specialty metal is a premium material, and the price reflects it. In Savannah, copper and zinc work starts around $20 per square foot installed, and full architectural copper roofs on historic homes run higher. The number depends on the metal, the profile, the amount of soldering and custom flashing, and how much deck repair the old roof hides. Access matters too: a steep Victorian gable takes more staging than a flat row house roof.
Get two or three written estimates and compare what each one includes, not just the bottom line. A low bid that skips the new underlayment or the soldered flashing will cost more later. For a full breakdown of what drives the number, see our pricing page.
What to Look for in a Copper & Specialty Metal Roofing Contractor Near Me in Savannah
Specialty metal is a small trade, and not every Savannah roofer who installs standing seam can solder a copper pan. Ask for proof of license and insurance, and get the certificate sent to you before work starts. Ask how many copper or zinc roofs the contractor has actually fabricated, not just installed. Check references on historic homes, because those jobs demand the most skill.
- Confirm the contractor is licensed and insured in Georgia and can show a certificate.
- Get at least two or three written estimates with the metal, profile, and flashing spelled out.
- Ask for references on copper or zinc work in Savannah, especially in historic districts.
- Understand the permit and historic review requirements before you sign, since they can change the profile or color.
When you are ready to talk through your roof, contact us and we will walk the roof with you.
Specialty Metal Details That Matter on Savannah Homes
On a copper or zinc roof, the metal is only half the job. The flashing, the underlayment, and the way the pans tie into the existing roof decide whether the assembly stays dry. We fabricate chimney flashing, valley metal, and wall counterflashing in the same metal as the roof so the whole assembly moves together. On the raised cottages of the Isle of Hope, we also form porch and bay window caps that shed the heavy oak debris without trapping water.
If your specialty metal roof is already leaking or the flashing has failed, our metal roof leak repair team can trace it and fix it without tearing off good metal. For a full assessment before you commit to a replacement, schedule a metal roof inspection.
Copper & Specialty Metal Roofing in Savannah: Pricing Guide
| Service | Price | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Copper accent roof (porch, bay window, dormer) | Starting at $20/sq ft | Includes custom-fabricated copper pans, soldered seams, and new underlayment; access and soldering detail move the price. |
| Full architectural copper roof | Starting at $28/sq ft | Includes hand-formed pans, soldered valleys and flashing, and deck repair; roof height and historic profile drive cost. |
| Zinc or aluminum specialty roof | Starting at $18/sq ft | Includes zinc or aluminum panels, concealed fasteners, and flashing; salt exposure and panel profile affect the number. |
| Custom flashing and finial fabrication | On estimate | Shop-fabricated chimney flashing, valleys, and finials need an on-site look before we quote. |
| Travel | Included | in Savannah and surrounding Chatham, Effingham, and Bryan county areas, no separate call-out or mileage fee. |
| Estimate | Free | Response within 24h at (912) 468-1649, no obligation to book. |
Indicative pricing, the exact cost depends on square footage, finish, and site access. Free personalized estimate within 24h at (912) 468-1649.
