When it comes time to replace your roof, consider choosing a more environmentally friendly option. Eco-friendly shingles offer superior indoor climate control without raising your monthly energy costs. These roofs are often exceptionally durable and will dramatically reduce your need for service and repairs. They can also boost your home’s curb appeal for longer than other options. Keep reading to learn more about your local eco-friendly roofing options.
Defining Environmentally Friendly
Eco-friendly roofs are more energy efficient than other shingle options. They limit how much heating and cooling escapes from your attic, which decreases the strain on your HVAC system. Energy efficiency is also key to keeping your home comfortable at a low and affordable cost. By limiting your energy waste, you minimize your carbon footprint and improve your impact on the local environment.
Investing in an environmentally friendly roof doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your home’s integrity. These roofs will protect your property against snow, ice, strong winds, debris, moisture, and more. Unlike traditional asphalt shingles that may only last a couple of decades, many eco-friendly roofing options are designed to last for upwards of 50 years. By limiting how often you have to replace your roof, you cut down on materials being sent to the landfill.
Eco-friendly shingles are also often made of recycled materials that can be used again. They may be sourced locally or made from natural, reusable resources. Using environmentally friendly shingles that are free of chemicals helps you limit the damage done to your neighborhood.
Types of Eco-Friendly Roofs
You don’t have to jump immediately to installing a living roof to substantially lower your carbon footprint. There are many other eco-friendly options available that can make your home look modern and fashionable. When choosing the best shingles for your property, be sure to keep in mind your budget, the local weather, and the weight of the material.
Solar Roofing
Utilizing a home’s rooftop to capture solar energy is one of the most popular eco-friendly concepts today. Although solar shingles — solar cells made to look like regular asphalt tiles — are available, the slope of a roof often isn’t ideal for their maximum efficiency. The more common approach is installing solar panels. These need to sit on a strong and sturdy roof that can handle the extra weight. Either of these alternatives works by absorbing energy from the sun and converting it into electricity that can then power your home.
Solar roofing options don’t add any airborne pollution and are great at cutting down your energy bills. The relatively high initial cost of installing solar devices on your roof is eventually offset by the savings in utility costs over the long term
Metal Roofing
Modern metal roofs can last upwards of 50 years with proper care. They’re a type of cooling roof that redirects sunlight away from your property. This helps to lower your costs during the summer and decrease emissions from your HVAC system. While these roofs are considered eco-friendly if they’re made of recycled materials, there are a few concerns with new metal roof production.
Smelting new metal can allow massive amounts of carbon dioxide into the earth’s atmosphere. Additionally, some of these roofs have copper or zinc present. Over time, the trace amounts of these metals will be washed away into nearby lakes and rivers. Professional installation and attic insulation are necessary to ensure your roof won’t be prematurely damaged or prone to overheating.
Concrete Shingles
Shingles made of concrete will also reflect the sun’s rays away. Concrete tiles are made with natural cement, water, sand, and iron pigments. They’re long-lasting, reducing your overall effect on the landfill. Concrete tiles are also resistant to fire, impacts, and wind. They may require you to add reinforcements to the home and roof to bear the extra weight.
One potential issue with the cement production process is that it releases high levels of carbon dioxide. Extracting the aggregate that makes up the concrete can also damage the surrounding land. Sourcing recycled concrete or shingles from eco-friendly companies will limit the potential downsides.
Cool Roofing
Also known as white roofs, this option uses a combination of white glue and gravel to reduce the heat your home absorbs. Cool roofs are known for their high thermal emittance. They get rid of excess heat by releasing thermal infrared radiation. This type of roof works best in areas with a lot of sunlight and high temperatures. If your city is too humid, your roof can start growing mold, which will impact its efficiency and appeal. Fortunately, you also have the option to invest in a coating that will prevent growth for years at a time.
Clay Roofing
Clay roofing options provide helpful insulation in both warm and cold seasons. They’re resistant to fires, strong winds, and pesky insects. Durable clay tiles are one of the longest-lasting roofing types available and can stay useful for up to 100 years. Your roof’s structure may have to be updated so that it can support the extra weight without bowing or collapsing.
There are a few risks associated with clay roofing, such as cracking or breaking. Repairing tiles soon after a damaging storm or accident will help maintain the roof’s lifespan and integrity. Another key issue to keep in mind is how the clay you’re using was extracted. In some cases, clay mining can result in water pollution, soil erosion, and biodiversity loss.
Slate Tiles
Similar to clay tiles, fire-resistant slate roofs can last up to a century as long as they’re correctly installed and maintained. Special roof coatings can be applied to make the tiles more energy efficient. Without a professional installation, there’s a higher chance of broken tiles that require repairs. If moisture gets into the roof, it could compromise the safety of your attic and home.
Producing slate tends to create a large amount of waste. Mining this rock requires drilling many deep holes and detonating the dirt around the buried slate before carefully removing it. This harms the environment and offloads harmful chemicals into the ground. Fortunately, slate can be recycled and reused, maximizing its eco-friendliness.
Cedar Wood Shakes
Wood has been a popular roofing option for centuries. Cedar wood shakes are beautiful additions to any home and naturally supply insulation that lowers your utility costs.
Unfortunately, roofs composed of wood are at higher risk for pests and fungus. They can be treated with a fire-resistance coating that must be applied regularly over the years. They often require maintenance throughout their lifespan to keep them appealing and secure. On average, they’ll last about 15 to 20 years, which is about the same as asphalt shingles.
Superior Roofing Replacements and Services
Axis Roofing can take care of all your roofing needs from replacements to storm damage repairs in Mesa, AZ. Our expert team has more than 40 years of combined hands-on industry experience. We’re a BBB-accredited business that can work with all types of roofs and materials. Count on us to provide commercial and residential roofing maintenance and installations as well as 24/7 tarp service for emergency repair situations. Call us at Axis Roofing today to schedule your free consultation and estimate in Mesa.
