If you want to keep your home eco-friendly, then you might be considering a green roof. These roofs, which are planted with live plants, can be pretty cool. They are good insulators, and they put oxygen back into the atmosphere. However, green roofs are expensive and they do require some maintenance. If you're looking for an eco-friendly roof option that's more affordable and less demanding, there are a few good options to consider. Take a look.
Reflective Shingles
Reflective shingles are a very eco-friendly roof option, and they share a lot of similarities with the ordinary shingles you're probably used to. They're installed in the same way, and they look like ordinary shingles — although they tend to be a bit shinier and are often lighter in color. These shingles simply reflect more light and heat than normal shingles. This keeps them cool and keeps your AC bills low in the summer. They don't offer a lot of benefits in the winter, however, so they tend to be a more common option for homes in sunny areas. In addition to reducing your energy consumption, reflective shingles tend to be recyclable, and many are made from reflective materials.
Cedar Shakes
If your key goal is to choose a roof that doesn't create any pollution or waste, then you may want to choose a cedar shake roof. Cedar roofs were popular years ago before shingles became so common. They don't always last as long as shingles, but they are quite durable. Cedar naturally repels insects and resists rot better than other woods. When the shakes start breaking down, you can have them removed and let them break down naturally in the soil — guilt-free.
Clay Tiles
People often avoid concrete tiles when they want an eco-friendly roof since concrete requires the use of some non-biodegradable materials. Clay tiles, on the other hand, are made from clay — which is a natural material. A clay tile roof reflects sunlight well to lower AC bills in the summer. Clay roofs also last a long time, which means you won't create as much waste, overall, as you would with shorter-lived roof materials.
Green roofs are certainly an eco-friendly choice, but they can be a bit expensive and high-maintenance. If you're looking for a simpler option, the roof materials above may work well for you. They're good for the planet while also giving you plenty of peace of mind.
For more information, contact a roofing service in your area.
