What are some of the things you look for when buying a new roof?
Well, at the forefront of your mind is most likely COST and DURABILITY. Finding the right combination between these two factors is very important when buying a new roof and rightfully so! Next are also other important factors such as your roof’s STYLE so that it matches your home, the MATERIALS used to build your roof, which kind of leads back to COST and DURABILITY, and of course choosing the right ROOFING CONTRACTOR.
But as society is changing and as we put more and more importance on certain factors within our society, let us quickly discuss one more important factor of roofing.
The ENVIRONMENT.
Today, being aware of the environment and finding environmental solutions is more important than ever. And while it’s most likely very obvious in some parts of your day to day life, such as recycling and energy production, it’s not always as obvious in things you don’t deal with as a part of your daily routine – such as roofing!
We know what you may be thinking, are eco-friendly roofing options going to cost me an arm and a leg?
Well, being that the two most important factors of buying a new roof are COST and DURABILITY, we’ve found ways to make eco-friendly roofing fit into both of those factors.
Yes! Eco-friendly roofing solutions that will not break your bank! In fact, they’re in many cases extremely competitive with non-eco-friendly roofing and in some cases cheaper!
Ah! Now that we have your attention, let’s look at a few environmentally friendly roofing options for your home:
Cool Roof
While research on the subject has been going on for decades, cool roofs and cool roofing materials were officially invented and introduced for public consumption in California in 2001. As one of the newer roofing solutions on the market, there’s a good chance you’ve never heard of it. However, it’s not only environmentally friendly but it also works to keep your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter through temperature retention.
Here is an example of how a cool roof works:
Standing Seam Metal Roof
While standing seam metal roofs are extremely durable, cost-effective, and easy to maintain, one of their coolest features is that their material is 100% recyclable, which means when choosing this kind of roof, you can choose to source the materials from recycled metal. Coming in all kinds of colors, metal roofs can last up to 50 years! Standing seam metal roofs can also help you harvest rainwater for use in gardening, helping you pay less for irrigation and water.
Here is a picture of a standing seam metal roof:
Wood Shingles
Very typical in Florida homes, wood shingle roofs offer a great looking roof that lasts a long time and can be made sustainably. When choosing a wood shingle roof, it is important to ensure the wood used to produce the shingles is produced in a well-managed forest. For more information about what a well-managed forest is please check out this article written by Mother Earth News, Eco-Friendly Roofing Options.
Reclaimed Slate or Clay Roof
Probably the oldest roofing material reclaimed slate, and clay tiles can be purchased allowing you to keep the beauty of slate and clay tile roofs while being environmentally conscious. Slate and clay tile roofs are naturally very durable and can last more than a century. Using light-colored slate or clay tiles can also help cool your home.
Green Roof
While other eco-friendly roofing options exist, we wanted to end the article with one of our personal favorites – the green roof. Green roofs, meaning planted roofs, are especially beneficial in urban areas where the green plants built onto the roof help moderate temperatures. The designs also add an extremely modern look to any home or modern building! Picture left, Chicago’s City Hall with a green roof. Green roofs are also available for homes.
Contact No1 Home Roofing for more information about eco-friendly roofing options or to get a free consultation to find out what eco-friendly roofing materials are available for your home.