ecofriend.com

Why Repairing Your Roof Supports an Eco-Friendly Building

Loose shingles of the roof

Roof repairs are crucial to stay on top of, and not just because problems can grow over time. Even a small problem with your roof can have immediate, detrimental effects on your efforts to be eco-friendly.

It’s crucial to repair your roof at the first sign of damage to keep your building as eco-friendly as possible. Here’s how ignoring roof repairs can cost you more than just a bigger repair in the future.

The Environmental Impact of Roofing Waste

A roof with lost reflectivity will strain your A/C

Your cooling system is programmed to maintain a comfortable temperature inside the building, but the hotter it gets, the harder it is to keep that temperature consistent. That’s why commercial roofing systems are designed to reflect heat away from the roof.

 

The less heat that gets through the building, the easier it is to keep it cool inside. When the heat isn’t properly reflected, your A/C has to work much harder to maintain a cool temperature in the building. This not only costs you more money in electric bills, which increases your carbon footprint, but it can also damage your HVAC system.

Signs of an overworked HVAC system:

  • Increasing monthly electricity bills: With the exception of rate increases, a rising electricity bill can be an indication that your HVAC system is overworked.
  • Poor indoor air quality: Part of your HVAC system’s job is to remove humidity and filter the air. If you notice a drop in air quality, it could indicate a problem.
  • You can’t reach your target temperature: No matter how long you run the A/C, if you can’t reach your target temperature, your system could be overworked.

If you’re experiencing any of these issues, get your HVAC system checked out. If your system is being overworked, get your roof inspected as well to rule out (or identify) roof-related causes.

 

Roof problems can compromise your insulation

Some issues can compromise the integrity of your insulation, like an infestation of rats and water damage. Rats will completely destroy your insulation to use it for their own bedding material, either in random places inside your roof and walls, or they’ll drag it outside to an existing nest. Waterlogged insulation doesn’t work as designed. In either case, you’ll end up with rising energy bills and a potentially overworked A/C, as discussed earlier.

 

Waiting to make repairs creates more waste

Repairing Roof

When you’re trying to be as green as possible, reducing waste is likely at the top of your list. The longer you wait to make roof repairs, the bigger the problem will become, and the more materials you’ll likely need to fix the problem. That also means you’ll be wasting more materials.

 

For example, if you allow a leak to continue for years, you could end up having to replace all of your insulation and plywood sheathing, not to mention the drywall if the weight of the water has ruined the mud, causing it to separate from the nails.

 

A water leak can cause mold growth

If you allow mold to grow on your roof’s sheathing, insulation, or ceiling drywall, it’s only going to become a bigger problem as time passes. Although the majority of soaked plywood and drywall will usually dry out, it won’t stop mold from growing in the insulation or surrounding areas that remain moist. By ignoring a leak in the roof, you’re putting yourself in a position where you’ll need to use harsh chemicals to kill the mold. The more mold you have, the more harsh chemicals you’ll need to use to remedy the problem.

Contrary to popular belief, bleach doesn’t actually kill mold. In fact, bleach weakens the protein shell around mold spores, which causes them to multiply and grow. In other words, bleach will make your mold problem worse.

Since common mold-killing chemicals are toxic, you’ll need to find a professional company that uses natural substances to kill mold. Not every city has this service, so you might need to figure it out on your own. The best way to avoid this predicament in the first place is to stay on top of roof repairs and never let even the smallest leak go for long.

 

Roof maintenance supports your eco-friendly efforts

No matter how big or small your efforts are to stay green, keeping up with roof repairs can help. Whether it’s fixing a leak, replacing worn or missing shingles, or keeping your brickwork chimney in good repair, every effort contributes to a more energy-efficient building.

Article by CommunityWriter.

Today's Top Articles:

Scroll to Top