Every homeowner will reach a point where they have to replace their old roofing shingles because of age, exposure to heat, rain, wind and sometimes hail storms. Whatever the reason for needing a new roof, this is a good time to start thinking about the environment and how you can help by replacing your roof with an eco-friendly roofing system.
Sometimes you hear about installing a green roof and you may envision the green roof that is literally green with vegetation. This would be considered the ultimate green roof and there are places where this type of roof is welcomed. In some larger cities they are experimenting with a vegetation roof on the top of high rise apartments and office buildings but to have one of these in your Denver neighborhood or even your Boulder, Colorado home might be an unwelcomed site from your neighbors.
So let’s look at how we can be eco-friendly while not taking away from the curb appeal we and the neighbors want to see. There are many different types of roofing materials and choosing something that is either recycled or an eco-friendly product is a good choice.
The best known eco-friendly roofing material is your wood shake shingles. They are made from old growth western cedar and the energy cost to produce these shakes is relatively low. But this type of material is flammable without some chemical treatments that basically negate the idea of being eco-friendly. These are also not good for most homes in the Boulder CO area because of the large amount of trees and closeness to the foothills where forest fires can be a problem.
So the next best option is to look at recycled roofing material. Roof shingles can be made from recycled wood fiber, plastic and rubber. These types of shingles are not only durable but they are also attractive look great on most homes. Using recycled shingles can help lessen the amount of waste going to the landfills and ultimately reduced energy costs for reducing pollution. Some recycled shingles come with a 50 year warranty so talk to your roofer in Boulder CO about the options available.
Another material that is natural and very durable is slate roof tiles. Slate roof has a long warranty and has been known to last hundreds of years. You’ll find many companies that provide eco-friendly roofing materials like slate. Slate is an expensive option that isn’t a good fit for everyone. Clay tiles are a less expensive option that is also very eco-friendly but they don’t last as long as slate tiles. One more thing about installing these products is that they are heavy and your roof may need additional reinforcements to handle the extra weight.
Recycled rubber is another material that is trending more popular these days. Rubber roofing tiles are made from old steel belted radial tires and ground slate. This material may not be allowed in some areas so you want to talk to your roofer to find out if this material can be used for your roof.
So next time you need to replace your roof consider some of the many eco-friendly roofing materials available and do your part to help preserve our fragile environment.
The post Eco-friendly Roofing Materials – Understanding Your Options appeared first on Mountain State Roofing.
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