Think Zinc: Designing and specifying for longevity

In general, one should keep to the following recommendations:

1. Always start with the gentlest method to clean zinc. Simply using water will often resolve the issue, followed by a diluted solution of pH-neutral dish soap. Any solution used should be subsequently rinsed with water.
2. Make every attempt to avoid scouring or scrubbing with anything abrasive, as it can damage one of the coated finishes or the natural patina. Even sweeping or vacuuming areas of zinc can often lead to unsightly scratching.
3. Test any method in an obscure, minimally visible area.
4. If the product is young enough to still exhibit a grain, always work in the same direction as the grain.
5. Should an oil-based product (e.g. strub or façade oil) be used, be prepared to apply this to not only the desired areas, but also the entire elevation to maintain a consistent appearance.
6. Any debris should be removed periodically from the structure’s roofs, gutters, and drains.
7. Superficial scratching can largely be ignored; as an alloy, zinc will simply patinate.
8. To avoid the common problem of fingerprint marks, one should gently clean with a damp cloth or diluted dish soap solution when working with zinc. It is also possible to use zinc with an additional organic clear coating (between 20 and 35 microns thick) to protect the material from fingerprints.

An abundance of caution should be encouraged prior to doing anything more than a light cleaning or rinse. As zinc is a natural product that forms its own patina, time and patience is typically the very best solution.