Why is copper the best option for gas lanterns?
Copper is a flexible metal making it easy to create beautiful designs. Copper can easily expand and contract with high temperatures. Gas Lanterns get extemely hot which causes paint and other finishes to peel. Copper is maintenance free. It can endure all weather conditions and lasts forever. Consider the Statue of Liberty. The natural oxidation process creates a patina which provides a natural barrier to the elements and creates a protective coating. While other metals will deteriorate, copper will stabilize as it ages. If you are in a salty environment like the Statue of Liberty, your lanterns may develop a green patina. Most of the time the protective coating that copper naturally develops will be a dark brown. Metal will rust without a protective coating, aluminum will deteriorate through electrolytic corrosion, brass will pit unless maintained through periodic polishing and stainless steel will stain. Plastic components will degrade due to exposure to UV light. All you need to do with your Copper Lanterns is just dust them from time to time and clean the glass.
We offer a natural patina finish for customers who desire a darker lantern by dipping them in a special wash. However, since the patina is natural and constantly changes with exposure to the weather, we cannot guarantee our finishes. They are natural and depend on humidity and other factors as to how they will look. Florida is an especially corrosive environment. We recommend everything installed in Florida to be made of copper and without a patina finish. Letting the copper age naturally is the best route in Florida.