Decorative elements in zinc and copper are often the detail that distinguishes a beautifully finished building from a merely functional one. We are talking about chimneys, skylights, parapets, lantern roofs, domes, mouldings and cornices — pieces with a clear technical function (protecting vulnerable joints, channelling water, ventilating roofs) that also define the architectural character of the whole. At ZincArt we fabricate each of these elements in our own workshop, in zinc-titanium or rolled copper, ready to integrate into new and refurbished roofs and facades.
Chimney cowls
The chimney is one of the most exposed points of any roof: extreme temperature changes, driving rain, constant wind and direct contact with combustion gases. A well-sized zinc or copper cowl isolates the smoke outlet from the elements and gives the chimney a clean, durable finish.
We fabricate cowls in various forms — square, rectangular, conical or with a drip edge — tailored to the chimney's original design. The assembly includes the transition aprons between the base of the cowl and the roof covering, executed in standing seam or with lead-tin soldering depending on the detail. This area is responsible for a significant proportion of infiltration on older roofs.
Skylights and roof windows
Zinc and copper skylights bring natural light into attics, covered courtyards and technical spaces without compromising the watertightness of the roof. We fabricate metal frames and finishes for flat, pyramidal and truncated-pyramid skylights, with a structural frame and a drip edge that throws water clear of the glass.
For roof windows and dormers we install the perimeter flashings, lower aprons and lateral copings that connect the frame to the surrounding cladding. They can be made in natural zinc, pre-weathered zinc or copper, ensuring visual continuity with the rest of the roof. On restoration works, we replicate the original design whenever the client wishes to preserve the historic reading of the building.
Parapets and coping (flashings)
Parapets and copings are the upper finish of the walls that crown flat roofs, balconies and parapets themselves. Their function is twofold: to protect the top of the masonry against infiltration and to define a clean coping line for the facade. In zinc-titanium or copper, this general flashing detail has a service life far longer than that of painted sheet alternatives.
We make parapets with a drip edge on both sides, expansion joints correctly positioned, and concealed fixings. On flat roofs, the coping integrates with the waterproofing membrane to form a continuous system. For decorative parapets with moulded profiles, we fabricate the coping to measure, replicating the profile of the original stonework.
Domes and lantern roofs
Fabricating copper or zinc domes is one of the most demanding demonstrations of light metalwork. Each dome is built up from individual segments, cut, formed and soldered by hand until they form a continuous curved surface. It is a noble finish that crowns towers, turrets and singular buildings with an unmistakable silhouette.
The lantern roof — a raised volume above the ridge that ventilates and lights the space below the roof — is an element typical of Portuguese heritage that is poorly served by competitors. We reproduce it in zinc or copper sheet, with side glazing and vents sized to the area of the roof. Each lantern roof is fabricated in the workshop and installed on site as a single piece, avoiding unnecessary joints in the most sensitive area of the roof.
Mouldings and cornices
Mouldings and cornices in zinc or copper articulate the composition of a facade: they mark transitions between floors, frame window openings and introduce shadow lines that enrich the reading of the building. We fabricate simple profiles and classical-inspired moulded profiles, tailored to the architectural style of each project. Each section of cornice is prepared for soldered or overlapping joints, forming a continuous line with no visible interruptions. Window mouldings include a coordinated sill, jambs and lintel, with falls that throw water clear of the wall.
Restoration and heritage
Portugal has a vast historic building stock in which decorative elements in zinc and copper are an integral part of the architectural identity. Before any heritage intervention, we carry out a rigorous dimensional survey of the existing elements, record the profiles and details to be replicated, and propose replacement in zinc-titanium or rolled copper — materials already present on many Portuguese buildings of the 19th and early 20th centuries. The final solution preserves the heritage character and adds decades of service life to the building, with no visible difference between the new work and the original.
Materials
We work with zinc-titanium from the leading European mills — VMZINC, elZinc and RHEINZINK — in three standard finishes: natural (which evolves to a grey patina over five to fifteen years), light pre-weathered (factory-stabilised pearl-grey) and dark pre-weathered (anthracite-grey). For more pronounced chromatic expression, we supply pigmented finishes in blue, brown, green and red.
Copper is supplied in rolled sheet with the characteristic salmon tone of new material, evolving over time to dark brown and, after several decades, to the classic green patina. For projects that want immediate effect, brown pre-oxidised copper or green pre-patinated copper is available, factory-stabilised. Find out more about the materials we use.
Bespoke workshop fabrication
Every decorative element is fabricated in our own workshop, with cutting, folding and soldering equipment suited to working in thin sheet. We work from the architectural drawings, from the on-site survey or from the original piece to be replaced, and deliver the elements numbered and ready to assemble. This workshop production guarantees a quality control superior to that of fully on-site execution: pieces assembled in stable conditions, soldering on properly supported sheet, and tolerances verified before transport.
Decorative elements integrate naturally with our work on zinc and copper roofs and zinc and copper facades. See also our portfolio.
Examples of work
Request a quote
Whether you are developing a new project, restoring an older building or simply need to replace a damaged decorative element, get in touch. You can reach us by phone on 935 610 516, by email at zincart.pt@gmail.com, or send us a message via the contact page. We respond to quote requests within 24 hours, with a detailed proposal and clear timelines for fabrication and installation.