Seattle Roofing: Environmentally-Friendly

When constructing a house in Seattle or any other city in Washington, you need to consider not only its style and design but the materials used as well especially if you are concerned with the environment.  For a perfect roof to make your Seattle home environment-friendly and energy-efficient, you must bear in mind two basic issues: material and color.

There are various materials that can be used for roofing, but not all are eco-friendly.  Most traditional roofing are made of asphalt shingles as they are cheaper, resilient and are easily installed, but they have a short lifespan and are not environment-friendly as these are made of petroleum products and cannot be recycled.

Wood shingles are better than asphalt when it comes to the insulation factor.  Although wood is expensive and looks more beautiful when aged, it is a fire hazard unless it is treated with fire retardant chemicals which are toxic.  Durability is a problem as they do crack and are easily damaged over time thus they don’t last long.

Every roofer knows that Slate being a natural material is durable and very expensive but the downside to this is that it is a non-renewable resource as it is extracted from the earth.

Clay tiles are expensive but the corrugated ones encourage airflow keeping the house cool as they deflect heat.  These can be disposed of without pollution and are much less toxic than asphalt shingles.  But they can be broken and easily damage thus would need repairs or replacements.

Most contractors in Washington would suggest metal for your Seattle roofing needs as they are durable and lasts much longer than other roofing materials, besides being environment-friendly.  Not only do they deflect heat, they can be recycled and would not be a part of the landfill waste.  Although manufacture of this material requires huge amounts of energy, which makes them expensive, the lifespan benefit outweighs the cost.

Color is also a factor when considering eco-friendly Seattle roofing.  As lighter colors reflects heat and dark colors absorbs them.  Most homes have light colored roofing as they aid in reducing outdoor temperature and at the same time reducing heat going into the house. 

When considering environmentally-friendly roofing, some go for a green roof, meaning a “living” roof.  It is much like having a garden covering the top of your house.  There is a protective material used that serves as a foundation for the soil and vegetation.  They act as air filters to airborne toxins aside from getting your own natural insulation.

Going green is quite drastic for most people and it might be too much for you.  But you can still build green by making sure that your Seattle roofing is made from recycled and recyclable materials and has a reflective surface that will reduce heat inside your homes. 

Go for an earth-friendly Seattle roofing. Go green!

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