Roano Zinc is a lead-free, preweathered patina on zinc crafted by Zahner to provide a sophisticated, aged aesthetic. Its calm earth tones and variegated hues blend seamlessly into both historic and contemporary designs, offering a matte surface that contrasts beautifully with reflective metals like stainless steel. Suitable for both interior and exterior applications, Roano Zinc’s enduring beauty and versatility make it a distinctive choice for architectural projects.
Designed to age gracefully like vintage wine or tanned leather, Roano Zinc offers a stable surface that improves over time, darkening into a rich umber tone. Crafted from one of the most durable metals, this patina exemplifies Zahner’s commitment to longevity and beauty. Produced with care and precision, Roano Zinc combines aesthetic sophistication with longevity, ensuring it stands the test of time in diverse architectural applications.
Roano Zinc Manufacturing, Properties, and Applications
Roano Zinc is a lead-free, preweathered patina on zinc sheet metal, a proprietary, enduring finish developed by Zahner. The sophisticated material is part of Zahner’s line of raw patinated products, which are designed to age like tanned leather or vintage wine.
Close-up of Roano Zinc sheet material.
Photo © A. Zahner Company
Patination of Zinc
Zinc is a sophisticated material that ages with integrity not unlike the elegance of a copper patina. As one of the most enduring metals, Zinc surfaces can easily last more than 100 years.
Left to its own devices, raw uncoated zinc will either grow lighter or slowly darken as it reacts to environmental conditions. Under typical conditions, patina color will darken, creating a rich umber feel over time.
If exposed to prolonged contact with direct moisture, the metal’s outward face may be susceptible to white-gray areas and/or streaking; this condition can occur with or without a patinated surface. The back face of the zinc material also may suffer from perforation or disintegration of the surface. To ensure best performance, the verso may be covered with plastisol or a similar coating to mitigate potential damage.
Meeting EPA Standards for Patinated Zinc
Zahner produces patinas on lead-free zinc, copper and weathering steel in an award-winning, EPA certified facility in strict compliance with standards for waste management—a process more than ten years in development. As stewards of the built environment, Zahner is dedicated to maintaining minimal impact on habitats surrounding our facilities and projects.
Patina vs. Paint
Surface patina should not be confused with paint. A patina is a self-limiting, mineralized oxide on metal; it will not continue to eat through a surface like rust might, for instance. A patina is a reaction to the elements that, in turn, provides a protective barrier from said elements.
The variegated material exhibits a naturally matte surface and features an organic variance from panel to panel. The result is a refined aesthetic that can easily function for both contemporary and historic designs.
Material Mission
At Zahner, we believe in the details. We believe in cultivating the surface of a building, and in the innate beauty that well-designed architecture brings to its surroundings. Our philosophy is rooted the notion that an architectural surface should hold its beauty for years to come. For this reason, we offer a complete range of zinc patinas which vary as dramatically as the structures of the buildings to which they are applied.
For more information about Roano Zinc™ Preweathered Copper Patina on Zinc, or to specify the material in your next project, contact a member of the Zahner sales team.
