Material detail · Copper and copper alloys

A surface that records time.

Copper begins warm and reflective, then moves through oxide browns towards patina according to exposure. Factory-aged and alloy finishes let the design start elsewhere on that journey—without turning a living surface into a fixed paint colour.

Discuss your project & request samples Explore finishes

Surface directionStarting points, not fixed outcomes

Important

All on-screen colours are illustrative. Current manufacturer literature and a physical sample govern the final selection.

Published life position100+ years

KME states that professionally installed TECU products can last at least the life of the building. Copper has a documented architectural service life exceeding 100 years, subject to detailing, exposure and installation.

Manufacturer warranty positionUp to 10 years

Product-specific. Warranty terms vary by product and manufacturer; obtain the current written terms for the selected KME TECU or Nordic Copper product.

Natural colour journeySite-dependent

Aspect, rainfall, pollution, salt and shelter influence both pace and appearance; vertical work can change more slowly.

Specification lens

Specify the weathering story—not just day-one colour.

Copper rewards precise detailing and an honest conversation about change. Run-off, adjacent materials and galvanic relationships should be resolved before a finish is approved.

Strong fit

Landmark roofs and façades where material character carries the architecture.
Crafted residential details, curves, complex junctions and bespoke forms.
Heritage work where longevity and traditional hard-metal skills matter.

Resolve before selection

Is the design asking for bright, brown, green, blue or alloy character on day one?
Where will copper run-off travel, and which stone, concrete or metals are below it?
Can the client accept natural tonal variation and different weathering by elevation?

Manufacturer finish library

Compare named products—then verify them in the hand.

These are manufacturer families, not Copperclad-created colour names. The chips orient the conversation; an official current sample remains the decision tool.

TECU architectural copper

KME

Manufacturer range

TECU includes natural copper, pre-oxidised and pre-patinated surfaces, plus copper alloys with warm gold, brass and bronze characters. Each surface continues to respond to light and exposure.

TECU ClassicBright natural copper; weathers progressively

TECU PremiumFine-beaded copper-tin alloy

TECU OxidFactory pre-oxidised brown copper

TECU PatinaFactory patinated green copper

TECU GoldWarm brown-gold copper alloy

TECU BrassCopper-zinc alloy; changes with exposure

TECU BronzeWarm reddish-brown copper-tin alloy

TECU IronDark, expressive copper-alloy surface

Selection noteNatural and factory-aged products are not interchangeable promises of a final uniform colour; use a current physical sample and product-specific technical data.

Nordic Copper

Aurubis

Manufacturer range

Nordic Copper is manufactured by Aurubis and distributed in the UK through VM Building Solutions. It spans mill-finish copper, factory pre-oxidised brown surfaces, green and blue pre-patination, and architectural copper alloys. Natural variation is part of the material language.

Nordic StandardMill-finish copper

Nordic Brown LightLighter factory pre-oxidised copper

Nordic BrownDeeper factory pre-oxidised copper

Nordic BrassGolden copper-zinc alloy

Nordic BronzeCopper-tin alloy

Nordic RoyalRich golden through-colour alloy

Nordic GreenFactory green pre-patination

Nordic BlueFactory blue pre-patination

Nordic TurquoiseExpressive blue-green pre-patination

Selection noteAgree the intended degree and distribution of pre-patination with samples; environmental weathering will continue after installation.