In a bid to save the earth from destruction, the use of eco-friendly materials has been encouraged worldwide. Technology has advanced to a point where it helps us determine what materials would hurt the environment and what materials would keep the earth safe and cozy. The production of environmentally friendly roofing materials is a contribution to the protective detail our planet gets.
There are environmentally friendly roofing options available for you depending on the construction of your home, your budget, and the kind of environment you live in. As you read on, you are sure to find out several environmentally-friendly roofing options that fit your needs.
Recommended Environmentally-friendly Roofing Options For You
Clay Roof
Clay is a very eco-friendly material and it is a natural product of the earth. It has been used for the construction of houses over the years, naturally regulating the temperature of the house on the inside. Clay roofs come in different styles and colors, clearing your doubt about their beauty and aesthetics.
Although a clay roof is one of the highly recommended environmentally-friendly roofing materials, it also comes with its disadvantage(s)-which include the cost of installation, as well as the cost of the clay roof itself. Clay is a naturally heavy material and so installing it as a roofing material would require an added sturdy framework that would prevent the house from caving under its weight.
Metal Sheets
Metal sheets are roofing options that are also environmentally friendly, they help to keep the home temperature inside the home down and this helps you to cut down on the cost of air conditioning. Metal sheets also have a long lifespan with little to no maintenance needed. It can last for as long as 50 years without the need to be replaced unless it has been tampered with.
As incredible as this sounds, they also have their perks and their downsides. Metal sheets might suffer dents and possible punctures as a result of unfavorable weather such as a hail storm or a hurricane. They are expensive and can also be noisy when they expand under the intensity of the sun and also when it is pouring. The initial color of the metal sheet also begins to fade after a long while, ruining the aesthetics of the sheet and the overall look of the home.
Solar Tiles
Solar tiles are brilliant options as they come with great benefits. With solar tiles, instead of bouncing the reflection of the sun off its surface, it takes advantage of the energy produced by the sun and converts it into electrical energy. This option helps you to clear your counter of pending electricity bills and all your electronics are powered free of charge. Solar tiles are also durable and have a long shelf life, this means no need for maintenance.
The downside to solar tiles includes the cost of tiles as well as installation costs. Another disadvantage is that it cannot be used in an area with little sunlight, this would defeat the purpose of its design which is to utilize the energy from the sun.
Live Roofs
A live roof as the name indicates breeds life, plant life as well as shelters and protects the house owner. This is a form of environmentally-friendly roofing option where plants are grown on the rooftop. This is the most eco-friendly roofing available. It affords you to have a garden on your roof, maximizing the space available to you and also naturally purifying the air you breathe.
The plants are usually self-sufficient only needing attention when a plant has to be replaced after its death. You could go without replacing it but this would affect the overall outlook of the house. This roofing style also requires strong support as the additional weight of the plants and soil could be enough to bring down the whole structure.
A living roof is not only environmentally-friendly, but it also brings you close to nature. The set-up process can be quite expensive and tasking as your home structure has to undergo an evaluation process to know if your structure can take on that weight.
Wood Shingles
These are environmentally-friendly roofing options you might want to consider when it comes to choosing based on a mature, classic outlook or feel. They are recyclable and durable. They also come in different colors, giving you options unlike when they come in one color. They are thermal resistant and can be converted to compost for your garden.
Wood shingles are expensive and might need replacement if they start to decay and fall apart after about 10-20 years. If you can afford it, changing it or replacing it after a couple of years would not be a terrible idea.
Cool roofs
These forms of roof reflect the sun due to their color. They have been painted in bright colors to specifically bounce off the radiation from the sun. This, in turn, reduces the need for air conditioning as the design of this roofing is to keep the heat out or reduce it to the barest minimum.
These types of roofs can only be worth it when it is installed in a region blessed with a tangible amount of sunlight. They can grow molds if they are installed in an environment with high levels of humidity, ruining the overall look of the roof and the building.
Conclusion
When it comes to choosing the best environmentally-friendly roofings, apart from your pocket, which is your budget, and your style, there are a few other factors to consider. They include the lifespan of the material, the weight, color, and the ability of the material to reflect or bounce off sunlight, its maintenance routine, and its suitability and availability to the location of your home. There are a lot of environmentally-friendly roofing options you can pick from, some of which have been listed in this article, to guide you and help narrow down your options. Keep in mind that by using environmentally-friendly roofings, we save the mother earth from lurking doom and she, in turn, blesses us with resources from her pouch. Also, when looking for environmentally friendly roofing options it is also important to consider those that are energy efficient. You can check out our post on 7 types of energy-efficient roofs you can go with to help you in making an informed decision.
