Metal is the Green Roofing Option
June 9, 2021 | Filed under: Buying a New Roof,Environmentally Friendly,Newsletter Articles
If you’ve seen fields of wind turbines, passed a Tesla on the road, or noticed solar panels on someone’s home, then you know how prevalent “green” technology is today. As environmentally-friendly tech becomes more readily available to the public, more people are adopting it in their lives.
For example, electric cars are becoming popular and might replace gas-powered vehicles in the next several years. We also have solar fields and massive turbine farms generating power for us from the sun and wind. So, as we move to renewable energy as a society, what else will turn green?
One answer is your roof. Although you might not think a roof can make a difference, there are several reasons our green roofing is the right choice. For starters, let’s look at the roof you have now. Most people in the US have a composite (asphalt) shingle roof, which has little to no green properties and lasts for ten to fifteen years.
Landfill vs. Recycling
Once you tear off the old roof, it joins the other 13 million tons of shingle waste, according to roofingcontractor.com. Companies are developing asphalt shingles with recycled content, but they don’t complete the recycling loop.
Made from recycled material and recyclable at the end of its life, metal roofing closes the recycling loop. Our aluminum roofing is 99% recycled material (soda cans, scrap metal, etc.) and fully recyclable if replaced.
A Hot Roof vs. A Cool Roof
Asphalt struggles in the heat, absorbing it into your home, bleaching out from UV exposure and disintegrating over time. In contrast, metal roofing reflects heat and, with advanced coatings, retains its color for years.
All of our products have a Kynar 500®/Hylar 5000® PVDF coating that reflects heat, lowers home temperatures, and reduces the load on air conditioning. In addition, our advanced finishes save you up to 20% on energy bills.
But, of course, consuming less power through increased energy efficiency is better for the environment too. And, metal roofing doesn’t outgas (release fumes into the atmosphere) either, as asphalt shingles do.
Solar Installation Costs and Performance
Another advantage of metal roofing is how effortlessly it integrates with solar panels. Solar panels are attached to the metal without penetrating your roof. Asphalt shingles require dozens of holes drilled in your roof to attach mounting points.
Metal roofing allows brackets to be installed underneath panels or clamped onto the ribs between panels, with no intrusions required. These brackets make removal straightforward and eliminate the need to drill into your roof.
Unfortunately, most solar panel systems last longer than asphalt roofs. So when you replace your roof, you have to pay solar installers to remove the solar panels and re-add them after your new roof’s installation. With metal, you’ll have to replace the solar panels first, after 20 years. Typically solar panels will have lost some efficiency by then, but a metal roof will be good for at least the lifetime of the next solar system.
A Weighty Comparison
Metal roofing is lighter than asphalt, so it costs less to transport and, in some cases, can be installed over old shingles. When this occurs, removal costs are avoided, along with your old shingles prevented from joining the huge pile already present in landfills.
The lighter weight is easier on buildings, too, causing less strain. But, on the other hand, asphalt weighs more than steel roofing, and other materials like tile and slate weigh much more, requiring structural inspection before installation.
Choose the Green Roofing Option for Your Next Roof
In a world moving towards “green,” metal roofing is the best roofing option. Metal is fully recyclable, made from recycled material, reduces energy consumption, reduces shingle waste, and facilitates solar panels. On the other hand, asphalt roofing harms the environment, adds to landfills every year, doesn’t integrate well with solar, and contains no recycled material. So, if you want a green roof, the choice is clear.
We’re here to help you sort out your options for a sustainable roofing solution. Contact us today for a better future with a better roof.
