If your home needs a new roof, there are many different points to consider when comparing different roofing systems and materials. Durability, aesthetics, and of course, cost are all highly important, but if you are an environmentally conscious homeowner, you will also want to consider how eco-friendly your home's new roof will be.
Asphalt shingles may not seem like an eco-friendly roofing system, because they are made from petrochemicals. However, they can have some surprisingly green benefits. Here are four reasons why a new asphalt shingle roof can be an excellent eco-friendly addition to your home:
Tough And Long-Lasting
Manufacturing any roofing material consumes energy, and leads to carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere. For a roofing material to be environmentally friendly, it must be highly durable, and able to withstand many years of use without requiring repairs or replacement. The longer it lasts, the less energy is consumed manufacturing replacement materials.
Asphalt shingles may not be as durable as expensive, premium roofing materials like slate tiles, but they certainly hold their own. When properly installed by a roofing contractor, asphalt shingles can last for several decades before extensive repairs or replacement becomes necessary.
For lasting durability, you should avoid cheap, three-tab asphalt shingles. Choose dimensional shingles (also known as architectural shingles) instead. These specialized asphalt shingles are thicker, stronger, and more long-lasting than cheaper alternatives. Their added thickness also gives them an attractive, three-dimensional appearance, giving your home a more distinctive appearance than the other asphalt-roofed buildings on your street.
Cool Roof Technology
A home that stays cool during hot weather is more environmentally friendly than a home that has to rely on energy-hungry air conditioning systems. Installing cool roofing is one of the most effective ways to reduce your reliance on air conditioners.
Cool roofing is designed to reflect sunlight, rather than absorb it. Because these materials absorb less heat from sunlight, they transmit less heat into your home during hot, sunny weather.
Asphalt shingles that integrate cool roofing technologies are widely available. Cool asphalt shingles have specialized, reflective surface coatings that are highly reflective. They are also manufactured in relatively pale colors, that reflect more light than black or darkly colored shingles.
The popularity of asphalt shingles means that virtually every roofing contractor uses them. You are sure to find a quality roofing contractor in your local area that offers asphalt shingle roofing and won't have to transport them very far to install them.
For more info, contact a local company like Ohio Roofing Siding and Slate LLC.