There is plenty of consideration that needs to go into the decision to re-roof your home: cost, colour, aesthetic appeal, durability, and the type of roof you want. Sustainability ought to be high on the list of priorities as it will affect your pocket in the long term: you don’t want to spend more than you bargained for in maintaining the roof over your family’s head. Environmentally friendly, or “green,” roofs are great when it comes to durability and sustainability. Read here how can ensure to choose sustainable roofing material for your re-roofing project.
Clay, metal, and slate
Roofing suppliers in Reading and elsewhere will tell you that sustainable roofing material can be recycled, lasts a long time, conserves energy, and safeguards your home against leaks and moisture. Clay, or terracotta, tiles are high in durability, and protects well against water. You need a solid structure underneath them because they are quite heavy, and also more expensive, however. Slate is also excellent for durability, and will probably last longer than your house. Metal roofing materials get the A-grade when it comes to recyclable material: a lot of the latter goes into its production, and they are easy to recycle after they’ve served their purpose. Obviously, they also last a very long time.
Asphalt shingles, wood shakes, and concrete tiles
Asphalt shingles are cheaper than the rest but not as durable and cost effective. Darker shingles retain heat, and they aren’t aesthetically pleasing. If you decide on wood shakes for your roof, ask roofing suppliers in Reading for the ones without preservatives and additives. These are more environmentally friendly, and can last for a long time. Concrete tiles might be very durable, but heavy on the environment, as well as the structure of your house.
How ‘Green’ are they?
When wondering how sustainable and environmentally friendly your roofing materials are, some of the following considerations are relevant. Ideally, you want roofing materials with a long warranty – they are usually more expensive as well. Metal roofing materials and clay tiles come to mind, as long as the structure upholding them is solid enough. Materials made with lots of recyclable material leave a more positive imprint on the environment, though not all of them are the most durable, unfortunately. They are also more cost saving in terms of your energy bill, especially in the long term. Try to avoid cleaning roofing material with industrial or commercial poisonous mixtures; these are dangerous to humans, animals and the environment.
