A Brief Guide to Environmentally Friendly Roofing Materials

As a homeowner, you've likely at least thought about ways to make your home more eco-friendly – even if just to lower the cost of your monthly utility bill! Between energy-efficient appliances to water-saving hardware, recycling, composting, and more, you might never have considered how an eco-friendly roof could fit into the picture! An environmentally friendly roofing system can help by providing a durable and sustainable roofing solution for your home. The roofing industry at large has been offering high-quality, long-lasting, and environmentally friendly roofing for decades; read on to find out how your home can benefit!

Why Should You Consider Eco-Friendly Roofing?

It's estimated that about 7 million homes in the United States are re-roofed every year, resulting in a staggering number of used shingles, tiles, and metal slats being tossed away in landfills. Petroleum-based asphalt shingles typically last an average of 15-20 years, meaning they frequently need to be replaced and thrown away. All of this waste and unsustainable product contributes to the growing environmental problems we face today.

Switching to an eco-friendly roof can help limit the impact your home has on the environment by cutting out unnecessary waste and utilizing sustainably made and long-lasting materials. Even if you're not overly concerned about the environment, there's still no denying the proven savings that homeowners see on their energy bills after switching to a cool roof or another eco-friendly option."¯

Types of Environmentally Friendly Roofing Styles

There are several different types of eco-friendly roofing materials available, with options ranging from simple recycled shingles to metal, clay tile, and more complicated solar panel systems. Determining which of these roofing materials is the best option for your home will come down to your climate, your budget, and your preferences. Let's go over some of the more common eco-friendly roofing materials and take a look at the benefits they can provide."¯

Metal Roofing

Metal roofing has been a popular option in the United States for decades now, owing its reputation to its longevity, toughness, and fire resistance. Metal roofs can easily be insulated from the heat and the cold, naturally reflect sunlight to keep your home cool, and are available in a staggering variety of colors and textures. They've been known to last well over 50 years, making them one of the most eco-friendly options on our list.

Clay Tile Roofs

Clay and slate tiles are made from natural materials and have an almost ridiculously long lifespan. There are several manufacturers on the market today that even offer a 100-year warranty for their products!

Additionally, clay tiles are not only durable, but they also absorb heat, insulate against the cold, and are 100% recyclable. Clay and slate roofing are popular options in dry, arid climates like the American Southwest due to their heat absorption capabilities but can be spotted all throughout the country."¯

Solar Panel Roofing Systems

 When you think of "eco-friendly roofing options," your first thought is probably solar panels, and for good reason. While the upfront cost can be high, there are few things more efficient than turning passive sunlight into energy for your home. Typically available in roof-mounted panels or in the form of roofing tiles themselves, solar panels convert the sun's rays into electricity that can power your home and, if you have some left over, can be sold back to your local electric company!

Given time, solar roofing systems pay for themselves by lowering or eliminating homeowners' energy costs and earning tax breaks through government initiatives. They also reduce your home's energy consumption from burning fossil fuels or other unclean sources of power, cleaning up your carbon footprint. Most existing roofs can either already handle the weight or can be modified to accommodate solar panels, so if you're planning to go solar, check with your roofing contractor to make sure your home is up to the task."¯"¯"¯

Rubber Roofing

At first glance, a rubber roof might not seem like it's very eco-friendly. After all, rubber is made from petroleum, a nonrenewable and unsustainable resource. However, modern rubber roofing styles are made up of reinforced rubber shingles created from recycled tires and other tough rubber products. So, while the rubber itself might not be the most environmentally conscious material, in this case, it's being put to good use instead of ending up in a landfill!

 Rubber roofs can last as long as 50 years and stand strong against storms and harsh climates. They're also coated with ground slate to add texture and are available in a wide variety of colors and styles."¯

Recycled Shingle Roofing

Recycled shingles are exactly what they sound like – roofing shingles made from recycled materials. They are arguably the most popular green roofing option, and studies have shown that they may be the most eco-friendly roofing material on this list.

Created with recycled plastic, rubber, wood fiber, and other similar materials, recycled shingles are incredibly budget-friendly and just as durable as asphalt shingles. They've been known to last up to 50 years, compared to 20 or 30 at most for standard shingle roofs. They're almost impossible to tell apart from other shingles, and they both reduce waste from landfills and eliminate the need to process and create shingles from raw materials, so it's a win-win for the eco-conscious. If you're replacing your asphalt shingle roof with one made from recycled products, ask your contractor if your current shingles can be recycled.

PRQ Exteriors is a Trusted Roofing Contractor in Colorado

As a leading provider of green roofing products and services in Colorado, PRQ Exteriors has been helping home and business owners save money and prepare their properties for the future for nearly a decade. We live and work throughout Colorado, and our admiration and appreciation for the incredible country all around us drives our desire to do what we can to keep our world clean, safe, and healthy for all! That's why we strive to offer industry-leading green roofing services to our community and show how they can be a viable alternative to traditional roofing methods."¯

Excellent Ratings & Testimonials Across All Major Review Websites (250+ Reviews)

Nearly a Decade of Sustainable Roofing Practices

We've been a top-rated roofing contractor for nearly a decade, and in all that time, we've worked to keep our business and our services as green, sustainable, and eco-friendly as possible. Our goal is to provide our customers with a roof that is durable, reliable, and created in a way that makes the world a better place, one piece at a time."¯"¯"¯

To discover how our green roofing options can benefit your home or business, contact the experts at PRQ Exteriors today to schedule your free roofing estimate and consultation.

We'll work with you to understand your goals and develop a plan to make them a reality!