Choosing a new roof can be an exciting, yet challenging process. Roofing materials come in all different types, with varying levels of longevity and durability. A new roof is a long-term decision that should hopefully last you upwards of 30 years. Because roofs have an impact on a home’s heat loss and gain, their energy efficiency is important. A new roof is an expensive, long-term investment which is why you need to consider your options carefully and conduct thorough research.
Choosing the right roof type can help give you a green environmental footprint and even lower some utility bills. When you’ve made a decision for an eco-friendly roof, our team at Perimeter Roofing is ready to help with installation. Our contractors are well-trained to handle new roof installation with efficiency and accuracy. We also value customer service, so we’ll ensure you’re happy with our process!
Eco-Friendly Roofing Factors
It can be confusing to know what makes a roof eco-friendly, especially when the media has differing opinions when it comes to sustainable resources. It comes down to a couple of base factors though, which we can help you understand.
- Raw materials
- How the material is manufactured
- Overall durability
- How the roof performs
- How the roof is disposed of at the end of its lifetime
- Material’s resistance to heat gain
What is Sustainable Roofing?
When it comes to sustainability, it’s important to consider raw materials. Sustainable materials are produced without depleting or damaging their source. It’s also important to consider the damage to the earth when these materials are harvested. Roofing materials that make use of fossil fuels or mined materials are not sustainable, because they come from irreplaceable resources.
Sustainable Roofing Materials
Metal Roofing
Metal can take a lot of energy to produce, but it’s a durable and long-lasting material that often contains recycled content. Metal does have the ability to reflect heat, which can reduce heat gain in the home. It’s important that metal shingles are insulated properly, because of their conductivity. Common metal roofing materials include steel and aluminum.
Slate Roofing
Slate is extremely durable, very expensive, and also a heavy material. It does take many resources to mine it, and mining stone is not considered sustainable.
Clay Tile Roofing
Similar to slate, clay tiles are heavy, durable, and also very expensive. They’re made with natural clay, which is a plentiful resource that many manufacturers claim to be sustainable.
Wood Shake and Shingles
Wood roofing materials are often considered the most sustainable because wood is a natural resource. Shakes and shingles do cause energy expenditure to be produced and are not very durable. However, disposing of wood is easy because of its biodegradable nature.
Asphalt Shingles
Asphalt shingles can offer good heat protection and are fairly durable. Constructed of paper, minerals, and petroleum, they can be made of recycled materials. But because of their petroleum base, they are not considered sustainable.
Concrete Tile and Fiber-Cement Roofing
Roofing tiles and fiber-cement roofing are made of cement, which takes a lot of energy to produce. It also releases carbon dioxide emissions, but both of these materials are durable.
Green Roofs
Green roofs are flat or low-sloped roofs that are covered by vegetation, either in the form of grass or other plants. They’ll also have a growing medium and a synthetic waterproof membrane. These roofs can be high maintenance and expensive, but they do offer many benefits, like their ability to absorb rainwater and help reduce heat.
Cool Roofs
Cool roofs use a mixture of white glue and gravel, which is effective at combating the sun’s rays. The amount of heat that gets absorbed is lower, which means your air conditioning won’t have to work as hard. Because they’re constructed of unique materials, these roofs are known to last long. They do have high installation costs and can only be installed in places with high heat and sunlight levels.
How to Choose Sustainable Roofing Materials
Recycled Materials: If your roofing material has recycled content, it should mean that the material can be recycled again at the end of its lifespan.
Coating: Try to avoid copper and zinc coatings on roofing materials, because they can wash off and are dangerous to animals.
Maintenance: If you don’t want to spend a lot of time and money on roofing maintenance, ensure you choose a durable roofing material that doesn’t contain toxic materials.
Weight: You want to be sure that your home’s structure can support the weight of your new roofing material. Slate, concrete, and clay should not be chosen unless your home has trusses to support it.
Color and Reflectivity: Depending on the location you’re in, some colors will produce higher reflectivity. If you’re in a hot climate, choose lighter colors on your roof.
Warranty: It’s important to pick a roofing material that has a long warranty so that you can be sure that it’s both high quality and durable.
We Install Eco-Friendly Roofs!
Are you ready to have an eco-friendly roof? Perimeter Roofing is passionate about installing roofs that reflect energy efficiency. Our friendly contractors can handle any installation project you choose. We also offer solar roofing, which is another great energy-efficient option. Contact us today to learn more!