Want to add curb appeal to your home on a budget? Here’s a simple DIY you can create in a weekend. How to paint a faux copper metal roof.

How to paint a metal copper roof

Have you ever noticed that bay window on the side of the house?

See it right there on the left?

That roof on top is made of some unknown metal.

I asked my mother.

I asked people who have lived here for centuries.

I tried with every fiber of my being to uncover the metal underneath all the years of dirt and paint overspray and general life. To absolutely positively no avail. The metal remained a mystery.

And you know what else the metal remained? Dirty. Paint sprayed. Sad. Neglected.

And worse?

Generally unremarkable.

So I came up with an idea. I wasn’t sure if it was going to work. I wasn’t sure what it was going to look like. But I wanted to try any way.

So here’s the story glory.

Of how to paint a faux metal copper roof.

How to paint a metal copper roof before

How To Paint a Faux Copper Metal Roof

The Before

Here’s a close-up of the before of the roof.

YIKES.

Wait. Seriously.

YIKES to the entire thing.

How to paint a metal copper roof scaffolding

How to paint a metal copper roof step 1: build scaffolding

Because of all the repairs that needed to be done, my husband wanted to use scaffolding.

We started the project by building up the scaffolding to the window.

(total aside: someone asked me in the last post who the “we” was. My part of the “we” is supervising. And just between you and me—I have a PhD in it. :))

Step 2: replace any wood or flashing

When figuring out how to paint a metal copper roof, you’ll soon discover that it’s a give a mouse a cookie kind of project.

Once we decided to paint the roof, we discovered some boards that needed to be replaced.

You can also replace the flashing if needed.

My husband is going to go back and add real copper flashing around the top of the roof to wick away water (and make it look even cuter).

How to paint a metal copper roof painting

How to paint a metal copper roof step 3: Tape off the house and use plastic to protect the windows

The next step in figuring out how to paint a metal copper roof is taping. My husband taped off the area around the window with painter’s tape and brown paper to protect the house.

Then, he added plastic to the edge of the window to protect it from overspray.

Double-check to make sure everything is sealed.

How to paint a metal copper roof spray painting

Step 4: Spray the roof

We used this spray paint for the roof (the color is so much more “coppery” than it appears online).

I did a little research to find a spray paint that would work for this project.

This one is a paint and primer in one and designed for indoor and outdoor spaces and prevents rust and you can use it on metal.

Here are a few of the tips on how to paint a metal copper roof that we learned along the way:

  1. Make sure your spray paint has a primer.
  2. You will need at least three coats to make sure you have an even finish.
  3. LIGHTLY spray the coats to prevent dripping.
  4. After the last coat, I came up with a brilliant idea to add even more patina. My husband would spray the paint and then use a brush to cross hatch the spray paint to create a brilliant patina that catches the light. In the sunshine, it is so pretty.

Step 5: Remove the tape

Clean up the area.

Remove the tape and the paper.

Take down the scaffolding.

And now?

Here’s a hint of what the roof looks like.

Rounding the corner.

And here’s the house with the new roof.

I wish you could see it in real life.

Trust me.

IT IS AMAZING.

It sparkles in the sunshine and the patina is so pretty.

And when he adds the real copper flashing around the edges it’s going to be a show stopper.

And the best part?

It only cost four cans of spray paint.

THAT’S IT.

It would have been SO EXPENSIVE to add a real copper roof.

But now?

We learned how to paint a metal copper roof for a minuscule of the cost.

I think it’s going to age so well over time and look a little more distressed in places and even more authentic.

And such a great reminder.

That it doesn’t have to be expensive to be beautiful.

PS You can see the entire before and after of this house and all the projects we’ve done here.

It’s been such a fun journey.

Want to know how to decorate your home for free?
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Posted On: April 30, 2020

Written By: KariAnne Wood

Comments

  2. Image for TERESA GONZALES TERESA GONZALES

    It looks wonderful! Thanks for the flashing tip-our bay window has been leaking and I think it is the flashing. Need to add it to the long list of repairs needed once we can get back home.

    Reply
  8. Image for Nancy Nancy

    What is the paint color of your home.? I love this color. But did you paint the brick bottom blue? it hard to tell in photo.

    Reply
  9. Image for Cindy Pratt Cindy Pratt

    Wow! Going to check it out this afternoon ! Your neighbors may need to kidnap him if he gets done with all the honey dos!

    Reply
  14. Image for david david

    Looks terrific! I love when I find an affordable, DIY option (every home repair job in Los Angeles, no matter how small starts at $1,000). And now I want to own scaffolding - it just looks so professional!

    Reply
  15. Image for NormaJean NormaJean

    Your beautiful, show-stopping house, now has her bling! Great idea! Your before and after photos of the house are amazing. It should give anyone hope that with time, talent, imagination, and coin, any house can be beautifully restored!

    Reply
  16. Image for pamela reid pamela reid

    Hello from Prince Edward Island, Canada! We hope we've seen the last of the snow here. What a great idea for the roof. How clever you are :). I just saw the video of your first floor home tour, and you have truly made your home a beautiful place. Great job! It's so nice to see someone using creativity and panache in their homes, instead of just buying stuff! You truly make it your own statement, and can look back with pride on what you have done. Stay safe, and enjoy your time with your family. Those days of togetherness are precious. Sunny thoughts, Pamela

    Reply
  17. Image for Gayle Gayle

    Looks awesome! Your husband is very handy! Just nosey....what does he do for a living? Carpenter? I love your blog because it always involves cost savings with your projects! It seems so many bloggers get items gifted to them to advertise and this is frustrating for us common people on a budget! Love you!! Keep up the good work!

    Reply
  18. Image for Jolyn Jolyn

    I love it! Our neighbor (to the south east of our house) put REAL copper flashing and copper trim on his arched bays and porch, and a band about a foot tall below the flashing around the roof that covers his porch. I can't even imagine what he paid for all of that copper. Every evening we have to pull the shades because it blinds us reflecting the setting sun. I can't wait for it to dull and get a patina. Yours looks lovely, and hopefully it doesn't blind the neighbors.

    Reply
  19. Image for Connie Connie

    My old house (157) years old reminds me of yours. I only had two large windows on outside walls. I can see what the front must have looked like in the past. I had a door where your middle windows are located in the front. When we bought the house in 1997 the front stoop or overhead with black railing was not there. Just the concrete and three long concrete steps. We had an attic with the eyelash with windows on four sides of the roof like is shown in the front of your home. Loved that old attic. Had 17 steps to climb to get up there and lived to be up there when it rained. Sure wished you had your blog going than. Lol. When I moved into that house, I was 56 years old. Painted every inch of inside myself. We had to downsize in 2013 but still painting at age 78. Thanks for showing us your lovely house. It grows more beautifully each day with each project you complete. It’s a lovely old house and you are so Blessed to live in it.

    Reply
    1. Image for Rev. Suzanne Taylor Rev. Suzanne Taylor

      Connie, you go girl! We 70 somethings are not ready to lay our paint supplies down yet! We still have a vision for our home and we love implementing it. God bless you and keep you and yours safe and well.

      Reply
  20. Image for PJ PJ

    It's fun how such a small thing can make such a big difference. Well done as usual. Is it possible the mystery metal could be lead? Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  21. Image for Lynn W Lynn W

    Absolutely love the copper and the flashing will finish it off quite nicely. My parents home has copper accents on the chimney and the vents and it’s truly beautiful! What a nice touch, your husband did a great job 👍

    Reply
  23. Image for Lyn Lyn

    Isn't it great when you get a bang for your buck? It looks great. I recently painted a hutch base and I used a small amount out of a quart of primer, then I bought 2 sample sized paint containers mixed to my color from Home Depot for under $10. I wanted a sample of the color to see if it was what I wanted and then decided another of the same size would do the trick. I had priced some more expensive knobs to match my existing hinges, but I ended up with the identical look for just under $20 for nine knobs from Lowes. I love the way it turned out, and it is a bright spot in our kitchen. I bought the Ethan Allen hutch, top & bottom, for $200 over 25 years ago so I think we got our money's worth. I plan on keeping this piece forever, and I am considering using it in a future home as vanity and adding a vessel sink. Love a bargain.

    Reply
  25. Image for Carol Carol

    This was exactly what I needed today! I'm planning on painting some chairs silver over the weekend and you gave me all the information I needed. Thank you.

    Reply
  28. Image for romeogirl romeogirl

    Beautiful and it seemed relatively easy as those things go. I have to know....do you own scaffolding? Another item on my list :)

    Reply
  33. Image for Leslie Watkins Leslie Watkins

    It looks amazing!! Who would have thought! And I get the we. I have to be careful to be supportive and make him believe I’m a part with my ideas. Bribing him with favorite food works well in building a team over here!! 😂 hahahahaha

    Reply
  37. Image for Julie Briones Julie Briones

    Such a lovely and super affordable answer to improving the roof over your bay window, KariAnne! Looks GREAT! Pinned!

    Reply

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