Environmentally Friendly Roofing Choices

If you’re in the market for a new roof, you may be looking at what options can help you save money and last longer.  But what if you’re also looking a more environmentally safe roof?  Are you worried if that’s going to fit the bill?  Lucky for you, there are plenty of options to choose from when looking for eco-friendly roofs.  Becoming environmentally conscious is the responsible thing to do: this is the only planet we’ve got so we might as well do our part to protect it. Many of them also give added benefits such as cooling down your house or even providing electricity to your home!  Depending on what you’re looking for the local climate, pricing, building codes, and the design are factors you should consider before committing to a particular type of roofing material. Pinnacle Roofing and Restoration will help guide you through what choices there are and what is best for your home.

White Roof (Cool Roof)

White roof, or cool roof, is made from any roofing material that has a lighter color to it.  The lighter or white color to the roofing materials helps reflect the sunlight from the house.  When it reflects the sun’s rays it, in turn, reduces the heat in the house as a whole, which means you don’t have to spend as much keeping the house cool during the daylight hours.  Also not to mention how sleek your white roof will look! Now you get to save money and be eco-friendly!

Recycled Shingles

Another green approach is recycled shingles: this is one of the most popular of the eco-friendly roofing options.  The materials are made from many waste sources such as rubber, plastic or wood fiber. This can come from post-home waste or post-industrial waste. They are all safe for your family and you as well as the environment. The style and design are so beautiful you wouldn’t even know they were made from waste materials! When using recycled shingles, you are preventing the accumulation of more waste in landfills and the extraction from raw materials.  These roofs can even last longer than a traditional asphalt roof, and some even come with fire ratings which can reduce your homeowner’s insurance rates.

Standing-seam Metal Roofs

These roofs are extremely durable, long lasting, can reflect the sun’s rays and are from completely recycled materials.  These roofs are a great investment and can last up to fifty years. That being said this type of roof can be costly.  During the hot summer months of Memphis, this roof will help keep you cool and the utility bill lower.  In the long run, this investment pays for itself and is a great option for those wanting to go green.

Wood Shingles and Shakes

If you are looking for the classic wood style for your house but still want to be environmentally conscious with your next roof, this can still be an option for you, but it is not as green as a metal roof or recycled shingles.  There are sustainably managed forests that supply many of the wood shingles and shakes that are used on many roofs today. Some companies also use the leftover wood that has been reclaimed from mills, bridges and other sources. You will also want to check with the building codes because wood shingles are flammable.  This option can also be costly, and since they are biodegradable, they typically do not last as long as other types of roofs.  The lifespan of a wood shingle and shakes roof is about 15 to 25 years.

Clay or Slate Tile Roof

This style of a roof has been widely used for many years and is one of the more popular of the green roofs available. This type of roof is straight from mother nature herself, and some are used from tile landfills. This kind of roof is long-lasting and can be offered as cool roofs to help decrease your utility bill. They even last longer than some metal roofs, sometimes up to 100 years.  If you are in the market for this roof, be prepared to spend a bit more as this style can be costly. You will need to check the building codes because you may need to reinforce the roof deck, as this type of roof can be very heavy.  Also, the roof will require continued maintenance if there are any chipped or broken tiles.

Green Roof

This is about as environmentally friendly as roofs can get. A green roof or garden roof involves growing plants and shrubs on a thin layer of soil over a waterproof layer on the roof.  This kind of roof was very popular in Europe and has started to literally “grow” in the U.S. This kind of roof can last longer than most, reduce air-conditioning costs, prevent rain runoff and is great for insulation. However, this can be somewhat expensive at the beginning and will require some maintenance as time goes on.  You may also have to strengthen the overall structure as the weight of the soil, plants, and water can become a problem.

Rubber Roofing

A rubber roof is made from recycled steel belted tires and is coated with slate to improve the texture.  You can get many different kinds of colors, and that means a somewhat cool roof.  This type of roof is great for insulation, but since it is made from rubber, it can also hold a lot of heat in as well.  This roof can last about 50 years and can hold up against most-if not all-kinds of weather.

There are many options for those looking to choose an eco-friendly roof. We recommend that before deciding on one particular type that you call a professional roofing company.  There are different building codes for each roof, and we want you to find the one that is perfect for your home. Pinnacle Roofing and Restoration would be happy to assist you in your choice. Please contact us and set up an appointment or call us at (901) 438-5084; we are always happy to hear from our friends in the Greater Memphis area!