The Environmental Benefits of Metal Roofing
The Environmental Benefits of Metal Roofing
Part I:
Why Go With Metal Roofs? Metal roofing has been around for a long time. It has existed in different forms throughout the centuries. More than twenty percent of all commercial roofs in the United States are made of metal, and more than forty percent of residential roofs are also made from the this popular material. However, in spite of the material’s durability, metal ranks lower in terms of market share in the roofing industry.
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More than 20% of all commercial roofs in the United States are made of metal, & more than 40% of residential roofs are also made from the this popular material
The Environmental Benefits of Metal Roofing
The relatively small following it has in the realm of roofing materials comes from the mistaken notion that it is costlier than its rival products. Some homeowners also doubt the versatility of the material when it comes to aesthetics, and think that there are very few design options for metal roofs. Others also view metal roofing as requiring a lot of maintenance. All of these assumptions are false; yes, metal roofs can actually be low-maintenance and highly sturdy, making these an environmentally conscious building option.
Although strides in technology have turned some metal roofs into technological marvels, the popularity of this building material stems from its innate durability and strength, which has extended the stability and useful life of the base material even further. Even an unpainted roof made of basic metal sheeting is already better than a roof made of traditional asphalt tiles, for example, due to durability and temperature control.
The Environmental Benefits of Metal Roofing
Metal can be long lasting, attractive, and low-maintenance when sourced from reputable sellers and installed by qualified contractors. What some people do not know is that this kind of roofing can also be quite environmentally friendly, in addition to being cost-efficient. In fact, a seemingly basic metal roof can go beyond other materials in terms of life-cycle cost, one of the reasons why it is eco-friendly. You can go even further and extend the ecological benefits of a metal roof by adding a basic rainwater collecting system to harvest the runoff for gray-water use or a solar panel system.
The right choice of roofing and roofer can provide you with a metal roof that’s long lasting, good-looking, and reasonably priced. It can also provide you with a wide variety of cost-efficient benefits – reduced temperatures, lower energy costs, weight, sustainability, recyclability, and so on. Metal roofs are good for the environment, and a great building choice for modern homes and buildings with all the different styles and aesthetic options.
The Environmental Benefits of Metal Roofing
Part 2: Metal Roofing
Metal roofs are one of the most ecologically conscious choices of building materials available today. If you purchase the right materials and your roof is installed by a qualified professional, it’s bound to last long and require little in the way of maintenance. A longer-lasting roof and a small amount of upkeep means you won’t need to spend a lot of money on constantly replacing metal sheeting or tile; nor will you need to put a lot of effort and resources into keeping your metal roof as good as new. .
Long Life = Low Resource Requirements
The Environmental Benefits of Metal Roofing
This also makes it one of the best roofing materials available. Install and you’re set for quite a while – with no replacing, fixer upping, and hardly any upkeep. This means that you’re reducing the resources you use and minimizing your carbon footprint as well. Here’s how you can ensure optimal life for your metal roof:
Choosing the Right Materials In this day and age, rust is hardly a factor in the maintenance or lifespan of metal roofing. Of course, the base material is only as good as what protects it. A strong galvanized overcoat on the metal tiles or sheeting you use should render the roof rustfree. G90, a galvanized coating, is essentially a layer of melted zinc applied onto the steel directly. This popular coating option protects said material from corrosion and your roof from premature deterioration. Buildings or residences near the ocean should consider metal roofing made from a steel/aluminum/zinc alloy called galvalume. Industrial roofs in areas with possibility of acid rain need a coating of zinc, aluminum, or copper to stay in tip-top shape. With these coatings and the material’s natural impact resistance, your roof should last a long time.
The Environmental Benefits of Metal Roofing
Low Maintenance = Easy Upkeep This kind of material also needs very little attention compared to other modern roofing options. Sloping roofs hardly accumulate precipitation as the angle sloughs rain or snow right off. The coatings also give the metal roof the ability to withstand the elements and prevent any seepage. The tight molecular bonding of the coating helps to accomplish this. What this means is that metal roof maintenance, on the average, only needs to occur twice a year at most. Checking in the springtime for snow and ice damage and in the summer for the stability of the fastenings is recommended. Note that this is erring on the side of caution; steel withstands extreme heat and hurricane-level winds. In earthquake-prone locales, the superb ratio of strength to weight inherent in the material means any agitation of the structure places little stress onto the roof itself and the structure it protects. Metal roofing is a prime choice for a building material. On top of the advantages that have been mentioned here, you can extend the environment-friendly factor of your roof, too. Less use of natural resources, lower utility bills, and reduced energy use are just a few other things that make this material an eco-conscious and practical option.
The Environmental Benefits of Metal Roofing
Part 3:
Metal Roofs for a Smaller Carbon Footprint
With easy access to the Internet, even little kids know what is and what isn’t good for Mother Earth. If made to choose between two things, the average Joe now usually selects the environment-friendly option. Homeowners are likewise turning towards construction alternatives that leave as little impact as possible on the environment and, in some ways, helps the environment as well. Metal roofing is one of these surprisingly eco-conscious options. In addition to being able to withstand what the elements bring, there are also a lot of other qualities and possibilities that actually help the homeowner reduce building costs and upkeep, plus the carbon footprint of the roof, too for passive and active environmental benefits.
The Environmental Benefits of Metal Roofing
First, most metal roofing can be recycled. What many people may not know is that it exceeds paper and glass in terms of quantities recycled. The process of recycling metal uses up almost a fourth of the energy that creating new metal roofing requires. Because metal is reused, the available recycled metal also reduces the quantity of new metal required to meet the world’s demands. The simplest of metal roofs can also allow homeowners to save money on utility bills because these can lower air-conditioning bills in hotter climes and heating bills in colder areas. These benefits are due to the high performance of the material in solar reflectivity and emissivity. Solar reflectivity means how much of the heat from the sun’s rays is reflected back into the air instead being absorbed into the insides of a building through the ceiling. Emissivity, on the other hand, refers to the ability of a material to release any heat it may have absorbed. With decent insulation, painted metal can reflect heat and emanate any absorbed heat very well. A gray-water system added to a metal roof also allows you to extend the ecological advantages of your structure, as would a basic solar panel system (which is a tad more complex). Mildew, fungi, and algae don’t grow on metal easily, so you can save what would otherwise turn into groundwater and use the water you collect in rain barrels to water your plants, for example, while being assured of reduced contaminants.
The Environmental Benefits of Metal Roofing
A simple solar panel system on top of your metal roof can provide you with “free� energy that you can then use to heat water for your showers and taps. What this does is reduce utility bills and your dependence on standard electricity while possibly lowering the heat absorbed by the metal roof itself. To reap these benefits to the maximum, an appropriately designed roofing base structure must be in place. You need to use the right materials, including good insulation and design the right structure, such as a high ceiling, for example. Installation also has to be of a certain standard. For instance, it needs to be connected to the rest of the structure in the right manner, e.g. using clips that expand to compensate for elongation due to heat. Taken together, all of these with ensure you of lower maintenance expenses and a longer life span (of two to three decades) for your metal roof.
The Environmental Benefits of Metal Roofing
Jones & Associates
3801 Globe Ave. Lubbock ,TX 79404
806-686-1380 (800) 658-2060 www.TheJonesBoys.com