A copper fire pit can be a gorgeous fixture that adds aesthetic appeal to an outdoor setting on your property. Copper is among the top fire pit materials available because it's durable and attractive. However, you may be reluctant to commit to purchasing a copper fire pit due to the fact that a copper surface can change color over the years. Anyone familiar with the history of the Statue of Liberty knows copper may take on a green tint eventually. Perhaps you’re wondering if this will happen to your copper fire pit. While this can happen, it’s not necessarily inevitable (nor is it necessarily undesirable). Keep reading to learn more.
Copper Fire Pits Turning Green: Why It Happens
Like any item of patio furniture, an outdoor fire pit will be exposed to outdoor elements throughout the years. You might worry that frequent exposure to rain and other such elements will have a negative impact on your copper fire pit’s aesthetic appeal.
First, if you’re concerned your fire pit will rust, that won’t be an issue. This is among several advantages copper fire pits offer. While some other fire pit materials may rust after being constantly exposed to rain, this is unlikely to happen to a copper pit. That’s because rust forms when iron comes into contact with oxygen. Luckily, copper has a very low iron content. This makes it essentially rust-proof.
This doesn’t mean copper won’t react with oxygen in other ways. Initially, when copper reacts with oxygen, it forms copper dioxide, which in turn continues to react with oxygen, resulting in copper oxide forming. This process naturally occurs when copper is exposed to oxygen in the air and rain. It’s the reason copper will often eventually change color. Naturally, copper develops a green patina as a result of prolonged exposure to outdoor elements.
Some homeowners are pleased when copper fire pits turn green over time. They believe the green color adds to a fire pit’s attractiveness instead of detracting from it. It’s also worth noting that a green patina is technically a protective layer. It serves as a barrier between the elements and the copper surface.
The protective layer that could form on your copper fire pit makes copper one of the most long-lasting materials you can find. That, combined with the unbeatably high melting point of copper makes it one of the most versatile metals around, ideal for your fire pits. Read on to find out whether copper fire pits turn green, and what factors to consider when maintaining them.
Will a Copper Fire Pit Turn Green: Important Factors
Whether a copper fire pit will turn green (and how quickly this will happen) can depend on a variety of factors, such as:
Location
The Statue of Liberty took on a green color partially due to its proximity to seawater. Exposure to seawater and sea air speeds up the process of copper taking on a new color. This is worth keeping in mind if you live near the ocean and are evaluating different types of fire pits.
Type of copper used
The type of copper from which your fire pit is made will also influence whether it is likely to turn green over time. If your fire pit is pure copper, it will be directly exposed to the elements and is thus vulnerable to developing a patina.
However, some copper fire pits are made with sealed copper. A seal prevents the oxidation process from starting and therefore allows a fire pit to retain its lustrous finish for a long period of time. If you wish to own an attractive copper fire pit but don’t want to worry about a patina forming on its surface, look into sealed copper fire pits instead of pure copper pits.
Copper is also commonly mixed with other metals to form alloys, such as bronze and brass. Like copper fire pits, brass ones form a patina, but a slightly less strong one. Brass fire pits form what is known as a mottled patina, which is a green patina with a lot of the original brass showing through.
Pre-weathered copper
Some firepits already come pre-weathered with a particular patina already in place. The advantage is that you will already see how the copper fire pit will age, although there is no guarantee that further oxidization will occur. If you buy pre-weathered copper, it’s still worth reading on to discover how to keep your copper fire pits from developing a patina.
How to Keep a Copper Fire Pit From Developing a Patina
Again, some fire pit owners are genuinely pleased with the appearance of a copper patina coat. Perhaps you’re one of them. If so, you can simply allow your copper fire pit to change color naturally without interfering with the oxidation process.
On the other hand, if you don’t want your copper fire pit to become permanently discolored (and you haven’t bought a fire pit made with sealed copper), there are steps you can take to preserve its appearance. At the very least, taking these steps should allow your fire pit to change color more slowly than it otherwise would. Ways to stop a copper fire pit from changing color include the following:
Adding a wax seal
Even if your copper fire pit isn’t made from sealed copper, you can still seal it by regularly applying a wax coating to the copper. There are various wax products available that have been designed specifically to keep copper from oxidizing. Purchase one from a reputable company and follow the instructions carefully to prolong the luster of your fire pit’s surface.
Experts also recommend polishing the surface of your copper fire pits before adding the wax seal and adding either furniture polish or car wax to seal the surface. You could also use a salt and vinegar solution and rub it thoroughly off your copper fire pit to prevent a patina from forming. Wax seals or alternative methods need to be maintained once a month to help prevent a patina from forming.
Creating a mixed patina
With careful care, you could create a patina with a different hue. By cleaning your copper fire pits with kitchen soap, a brown patina will appear, which might better suit the original hue of your fire pit and create a more classic approach. You will need to complete this every month to maintain the caramel hue of this patina. If you don’t want to do this yourself, some fire pits come pre-weathered with this patina in place to avoid you having to age your copper fire pit yourself.
Storing your fire pit
If you live in a part of the country where winters can be very harsh, it’s likely that during the peak winter season, you won’t be spending much time outside. During this time of year, consider finding a safe indoor space where you can store your copper fire pit. A garage or shed may be good options to keep in mind.
If you also live near seawater or an area where natural oxidation is more likely to occur, you may also wish to store your fire pit after each use, particularly if you wish to protect it against the natural oxidization process. Investing in a cover will also help protect your copper fire pits from the elements when it is outdoors or in a sheltered area that isn’t necessarily watertight.
Any outdoor fixture can eventually wear down if constantly exposed to the elements all year. Although other materials may wear down more quickly, copper isn’t necessarily an exception.
Thus, storing your copper fire pit inside when you won’t be using it for a few months can help you keep it in good condition. Luckily, moving a copper fire pit from outside to an indoor spot is fairly easy to do. This is because copper is relatively lightweight. Compared to other fire pits, moving a copper pit may not be a challenging task.
Protecting your fire pit
Even if you aren’t storing your fire pit inside, you can still protect it from the elements to some degree by placing a tarp over it. Just make sure there are no lingering embers and the tarp consists of a safe material that isn’t likely to ignite.
It’s also wise to dry copper fire pits after they’ve been exposed to rain. Although this once again isn’t necessary if you don’t mind your fire pit changing color, if this is something you would like to guard against, it’s best to stop water from remaining on your copper pit for a long time.
Cleaning your copper fire pit
Copper fire pits typically burn wood for fuel. Many choose to buy copper fire pits specifically because they appreciate the rustic quality of a wood burning fire pit. Regardless, after burning wood, lingering ash may be left behind. Additionally, soot remains caked on a fire pit’s surface if it isn’t cleaned away.
Just as you might not want your fire pit to become green, you may also not want it to turn black as a result of ash. You can minimize the chances of this happening by cleaning the ash away after every use and regularly cleaning your fire pit with a mixture of warm water and gentle soap.
Never use a commercial cleaner on copper fire pits unless you know doing so is safe. Some abrasive cleaners can actually damage copper. You should also use a soft, dry cloth to remove water from your fire pit after cleaning it. Steel wool may cause damage just like when buying a living finish for any type of product like a range hood.
Why Would I Want Copper Fire Pits To Turn Green?
Although this article focuses on protecting copper fire pits from turning green, here are some factors you may not have considered in favor of a patina:
- A green patina helps protect copper fire pits from the elements
- A patina is one of the factors in making copper one of the longest-lasting metals
- A green patina blends in well with your garden and can look stylish
- Oxidization is a naturally occurring process in keeping with the outside elements
- With maintenance, you can create a particularly hued patina for copper fire pits
These factors are often what make a green copper fire pits a much-loved addition to an outdoor space.
Copper Fire Pits Can Turn Green, But They Don’t Have To
Sometimes, copper fire pits naturally develop a patina. This may not be a problem for you if you appreciate the unique look this layer can add to a fire pit. However, through proper care, you may be able to stop your fire pit from losing its original color (and you can ensure it doesn’t turn black at the bottom) if this is your goal. Some copper fire pits are also made with sealed copper specifically because a seal keeps oxygen from coming into direct contact with the pure copper beneath.
The main point to understand is that a copper fire pit can change color, but this isn’t unavoidable. Thus, you shouldn’t let this factor keep you from installing a beautiful copper fire pit on your property. CopperSmith also offers a wide selection of range hoods.