If you are building a new home or renovating your existing home, your preference of roofing material is one of the most important factors in construction. Roof shingles is the best option ahead of tiles or metal. Moreover, they are environment friendly and easily suits to rain, wind, heat, sunlight, cold, sleet, hail and snow. The home owners or builders have to replace their shingles at some point of time, such shingles like conventional asphalt roof shingle will last for 20 years. If you are planning for shingles that should last more than conventional asphalt roof shingle then it is essential to consider green roofing products listed here.
Let us have a look about the various environment friendly roof shingles and some of important roofing tips in detail.
Recycled composite shingles
This is one of the most popular and greenest roof shingle option. Typically, they are produced from waste materials like rubber, plastic or wood fiber that are recycled. Some shingle models are produced from clean waste from homes (post-consumer waste), while other from factory waste (post-industrial waste).
Recycled substance shingles are long-lasting, lighter, and durable for the environment. They do not need algae inhibitors or flame retardants, and some models are even mold and hail resistant. Moreover, they look attractive and don’t look like they are produced from waste materials. These recycled shingles are totally eco-friendly, which helps to avoid waste from landfills and condenses the need to extort and course raw materials. These products come with 50-years warranty and are recyclable. Some of its models also carry fire rating that will help to lower insurance rates.
Solar shingles
Solar shingles hold PV (photovoltaic) cells looks like the regular roofing shingle in shape and size. These shingles are totally environment friendly and help to collect sun power used as electricity. There are conditions, where homeowners gradually sell the collected energy to electric companies. It usually depends upon the size and energy usage of your building to decide the required number of solar shingles for your house. But still installing a few shingles can also help to produce the energy. For installing solar shingles, you need to replace the entire roof and combine these cells into the existing roof. This building integrated photovoltaic (BPIV) roofing is cost-effective and produces clean electricity. Moreover, they carry lower-price power than the conventional solar panels.
Asphalt shingles
Asphalt shingles are relatively affordable, easy to install and one of the best green looking shingles popularly used in Canada. Their two versions, latest fiberglass and traditional organic shingles will appear similar on your roof. Some of eco-benefits of fiberglass version has a good fire rating, shows a greater opposition to heat, and are widely popular in climatic areas having mild to moderate temperature. It is important to choose light-colored roof shingles to your house, as researches have proved that dark shingles would give more heat to the house and surroundings. These asphalt shingle are available with 40 years warranty.
Reclaimed lumber shingles
Wood shingles and shakes were the popular choices in many parts of the country especially among builders and home owners. If planning to install wood roof shingles then it is necessary to consider the shingle made from reclaimed lumber. Conventional wood shingles have very less eco-friendly benefits, whereas reclaimed lumber serves as the better option.
The reclaimed lumber companies make lasting roof shingles using wood materials reclaimed from bridges, oil mills, wine tanks, old water and other similar sources. Moreover, they acquire old wood materials all over the country and makes it a point to course locally, where you buy the roof shingle products. This helps to cut transportation energy and costs in a great way.
Reinforced rubber shingles
This is also another environment friendly option, which they are manufactured from old or used steel stripped radial tires. Furthermore, this product is coated with quality ground slate for better texture. This reinforced rubber shingles are available in wide range of colors. The major advantage of this material is that they are durable and long-lasting and comes with 50 years of warranty that includes against extreme weather and hail.
Environment friendly roofing tips
Roofing installation involves complete analysis and verification. It is not the work for people who are not experienced, where as the job involves great dangerous heights, lifting heavy materials on steep slopes. While purchasing eco-friendly roof shingles, it is essential to compare and refer the options carefully.
Conclusion
Environment friendly roof shingles are the best option for constructing a green building or home. It is necessary to check the hail ratings, warranties and fire ratings before buying.
