Homeowners are becoming increasingly savvy when it comes to all aspects of home improvement.  As more homeowners look for environmentally conscious choices for building materials, they are seeking out green roofing materials at higher rates than in the past.  Gone are the days of just simply turning off lights when you’re not in the room.  Today’s homeowners want to invest in energy efficient appliances, water saving devices and energy saving windows and doors, and yes, roofing materials too.

The roofing industry has responded by continuously innovating so that homeowners don’t have to sacrifice style and design in order to have an earth-friendly roof installed. We talked to the most experienced roofing contractors in Chula Vista in order to understand what homeowners should consider when looking into environmentally friendly roofing materials.

Things to Consider

With so many different options available, it is a good idea to narrow them down by your priorities.  For example, if you live in an area that is prone to fires, you would do best by looking into roofing materials that are fireproof as well as eco-friendly.  And, if you live in a more humid climate, or one with severe storms, you’ll definitely want to look into roofing materials that withstand rot and don’t sustain damage from strong storms.

You’ll also want to consider that some of the roofing materials that you may be interested in will require additional work to fortify the underlying structure, due to the extra weight of the materials.   Among other things you will want to consider are what type of warranties the materials have and how long the lifespan typically is for your particular choice of roofing.

Lastly, you’ll want to understand what makes the roofing materials you are interested in using, environmentally friendly. For instance, you’ll want to ask about how much of the material consists of recycled products as well as can the material be recycled once it reaches the end of its lifespan and how long, typically, the roof will last if well-maintained.

Okay, so let’s take a look at some options.

Metal Roofs

Metal roofs are having resurgence in popularity because of its green properties.  The amazing thing about metal roofs is that recycling pretty much any metal object such as cars and appliances can make them.  This is a pro for homeowners and businesses looking to curtail how much is dumped into landfills.  Beyond this, metal roofs can withstand strong weather events and are highly resistant to the elements, so you typically don’t have to perform a lot of maintenance for this type of roofing to last 50 to 60 years.

Although, metal roofs usually cost about 2.5 to 3 times more than a typical roof installation would cost, for the homeowner looking at the long-term view, it can definitely be worth the investment.

Clay tiles or Terracotta

Clay tiles are also another popular choice.  We’re seeing these installed more and more on new home developments in hotter regions. Clay tiles offer many benefits.  They last long, they can really complement a home’s design and they are eco-friendly.  So, what exactly makes these types of tiles earth friendly?  Well, for starters, they are 100{97452416355a604f768db1e631a2335c9b2e897402abf1d88dc041d8a2dfc3b5} recyclable so they won’t just simply be dumped in a landfill when it’s time to replace the roof.  Not only this but clay tiles are great for reducing the amount of heat that penetrates through the roof.  This is why they are popular in desert regions and hotter climates.

They also have fire-retardant properties, making them a great choice for homes that may be in higher-risk fire areas.

They do have one drawback, though.  They come in limited earth tone colors of terracotta and brown.  So, they tend to be used in specific styles of homes.

Cool Roofs

So, cool roofs are a fast growing part of the roofing industry because they do a great job of blocking a lot of the heat from entering homes and businesses.  So, if poor insulation or high cooling costs are a concern for you, this might be a good option to consider.

So you may be wondering what a cool roof is?  Basically, a cool roof is a protective sheeting or a special highly reflective paint or highly reflective tiles or shingles that is placed on the roof of a home or business to deflect heat and sunlight.   Most cool roofs are white or light in color in order to facilitate the maximum deflection of sunlight and heat.

The biggest impact a cool roof has on your home is it drastically cuts down on the amount of energy used to cool a home or other building.  They are a good option for those living in very hot climates. Not only this, but cool roofs also reduce the amount of heat that is radiated into the atmosphere, as well.   Although this part of the roofing industry is growing rapidly, it is still a highly specialized field.

For more information about roofing, please visit the J M Roofing website.