Sustainable Roofs Part 1: 3 Steps to an Eco-Friendly Roof

Homeowners are continuing to become more and more aware of roof-related environmental concerns, such as landfills overflowing with discarded roofing materials, and many take a stand in terms of their future roof replacement and home improvement projects. Luckily, there are several ways to turn your regular roof into an eco-friendly roofing system.

For the first part in this blog series, V. Nanfito Roofing and Siding discusses the three steps in making an environmentally- friendly roof.

Roof Design

The first step is designing the roof. The roof design must accommodate adequate drainage and minimal maintenance. For this reason, pitch pans and exposed sealants should be excluded from the design, as they are likely to cause leaks. And when leaks begin to manifest in your roof, your green roof performance becomes compromised.

Material Choice

Next is the material choice. There are plenty of recyclable roofing materials for those who wish to reduce their carbon footprint. As an environmentally-conscious homeowner, you should communicate with your general contractor about what your options are.

The best raw materials come from recycled roof materials such as asphalt shingles. The asphalt used in these shingles is fully recyclable, and may actually be repurposed from other, older roofs. Metal is another material that can be recycled and repurposed.

Installation

The last stage is the installation of your roof. This is one of (if not the) most important part(s) of the process. You should be aware of any accessory items used during the installation, because they will all contribute to your roof’s sustainability profile. Take caution in using adhesives, primers and cleaners, all of which have chemical properties that could affect the environment. Furthermore, incorrect installation will cause the energy efficiency of your home suffer, and could threaten the structural integrity of the roof itself. Poor installation can also lead to issues that would require a premature roof replacement.

At V. Nanfito Roofing and Siding, the leading roof maintenance company, we value sustainability, and are always looking for ways to reduce our carbon footprint on all of our roofing projects. Call us today at (203) 639-1634 or fill out our contact form to request a free project estimate. For the second part of this series, you can look forward to learning about the sustainable benefits of installing an eco-friendly roof.