Green buildings have evolved over the last few years and have become quite popular today. However, a common mistake many homeowners tend to commit when planning to construct a green home is ignore the roof. The roof tends to be the largest area of unused space in a home.
In addition to protecting the home from outside elements, these roofs have great potential to make a green home greener. So if you are rethinking about your roof’s design and aim to make a more eco-friendly choice regarding the matter, here are the top 5 eco-friendly roofing options you can choose from.
Recycled Rubber Roof Shingle
Recycled rubber roof shingles are, as their name suggests, made from recycled tires salvaged from vehicles. This eco-friendly roofing material is extremely durable and hence, dependable. Furthermore, it is even more eco-friendly when compared to slate or wood.
It also makes the material stronger than other roofing materials. Better yet, the rubber shingles can be molded, shaped and colored to look like any other roofing material, including wood and slate. Hence, you will have the advantage of opting for a conventional roof design albeit at just a fraction of the cost for other roofing materials.
Reclaimed Slate Tile or Clay Roof
Clay tiles have been used as standard roofing materials for years on end. These red clay tiles are still coveted by many homeowners and offer an elegant charm to the overall look of the house. Slate is also considered a very popular roofing option for historic homes. The more recent design trend features reclaimed and salvaged clay/slate tiles that offer an eco-friendly vibe to the home by preventing otherwise usable tiles from ending up in landfills.
However, clay tiles can prove to be expensive. Clay tiles are also quite heavy and would need proper reinforcement to stop falling off. Maintenance would also be a bit high as you replace and repair chipped or broken tiles regularly.
Sustainable Wood Shingle Roof
A wooden roof offers an instant rustic charm to a home. The more recent roofing designs that use the material opt for wood shingles derived from sustainably managed forests. Choosing FSC certified wood shingles would help you enjoy the look and feel of a proper wooden roof while remaining loyal to the environment.
Like clay tiles, wood shingles can be expensive. They are also flammable and so, would not be a wise choice for an area with notoriety for fires.
Reclaimed Metal Roof
This recyclable roofing material offers a long lasting and durable roofing option that would offer a great return on investment for homeowners. Recycled metal roofs are also available these days in lighter shades, thus adding to the home’s green factor.
The only problem tends to be the upfront costs one would need to take care of while construction. Metal roofing may also not be a wise option in areas that experience heavy snowfall as it would create large drifts around the house.
Recycled Content Shingle Roof
Recycled content shingle roofs are also gaining prominence in the market these days thanks to their ability to mimic any other roofing material ranging from slate look shingles to cedar shakes shingles.
When compared to recycled slate and sustainable wood, recycled content shingle is a much cheaper option. It also offers a slew of eco-friendly benefits for homeowners, including 50 year life span and a manufacturer recycling program.
The only hitch with recycled content shingle roofing material is that it is not available in white color. This would probably lead to minimal cooling options during the hot summer. However, efforts are underway to create products made of recycled content shingles that can offer this added benefit for homeowners as well.
It is imperative that you give due importance to the roof when planning a green home. Constructing a roof with eco-friendly materials will help it offer ample protection to your home while saving you plenty of money in terms of energy related costs in the long run.
