The Churchill Inside Corner Conductor Head | Leader Head

Chimney Cap Material: Copper, Stainless Steel, Aluminum or Galvalume (Steel)?

Colored Materials: The first thing to consider is whether something in colors is desired. If so, that narrows choices down to either Kynar Aluminum or Kynar Galvalume (steel). Kynar-based PVDF are coatings formulated to resist sun and weather damage.

• Steel (Galvalume) - Available in colors: Zinc Aluminum coated Steel for higher corrosion resistance, coatted with Kynar colors. Comes in the same colors as aluminum with a more rigid substrate, however, it is also heavier. Galvalume materials have self healing properties where cut or scratched.
  Since this material is steel based, it is not an ideal choice for coastal (saltwater or brackish water) environments. For those, aluminum is the better choice.
• Aluminum - Available in colors: Offering the same colors and look as Kynar coated galvalume steel at a lighter weight. Unlike galvalume, this can be used in costal environments.
• Galvalume Plus (Acrylume): Zinc/Aluminum coated steel with an acrylic coating. Galvalume has a similar look to galvanized steel while being vastly more corrosion resistant. Galvalume materials also have self healing properties where cut or scratched.
• Copper: Our most popular material. Copper does not rust and has antimicrobial properties. It is widely used in any environment. Copper can can be soldered or welded, which makes it a much better choice for now and future repairs. Copper comes with a raw finish that will start to patina immediately once outdoors, turning partly brown the day after the installation and mostly brown within a month. Although there's no precise way to determine due to many factors, copper will typically start to turn green within 25-35 years.
• Freedom Gray: This copper based material offers all the same advantages as copper with a tin/zinc coating that will develop a mature slate gray patina after around one to three years of weather exposure.
• Lead Coated Copper: Copper that has been dipped in lead. A traditional material that offers all the same advantages as copper. Because of the lack of solubility, not only lead coated copper prevents most if not all staining, it's environmentally safe.
• Stainless steel: A trade off between color choices and sturdiness/longevity. While stainless steel withstands the test of time, it is limited to its mill finish (2B finish) look. The stainless steel we typically offer is a 304 alloy (most common). This alloy should not be used in coastal environments. A 316 marine alloy can be offered as a special order material.
• Zinc: Special order. A traditional look at the cost of a more malleable, lighter material. While easier to work with, zinc is soft, and not always (depending on size and configuration) the best choice for a chimney cap. It can be offered as a special order in either a raw or other finishes.