About Me

Roofers: They Get It You want a safe home. You want a warm home. And of course, you want an energy-efficient home. Do you know what can help you achieve all of these goals? Your roof. That's right, if you call up a roofer and tell them about your desires, they can recommend some roofing repairs or materials to help you achieve those desires. They may recommend a metal roof, or they might recommend adding zinc strips to the roof peak. It all depends. One thing we can promise, though, is that learning more about roofing is a good idea. This blog is a good resource, but we recommend looking for other ones, too.

Search

Categories

Archive

Tags

Is A Green Roof Possible As Residential Roofing?

As more people are starting to worry about the earth and the environment, green roofs are becoming more popular. While not every home can take advantage of a green roof, it is one residential roofing option you may want to consider. Here is just a bit of information to get you started on your green roof research.

What is a Green Roof?

Very basically, a green roof is a yard on your roof. A waterproof membrane is laid down and then a layer of a soil mixture is spread on top of it. Different plants, herbs, and ground covers are then planted in the soil. 

Can any Roof be a Green Roof?

Unfortunately, a green roof cannot be placed on a very sloped roof. The structure must only have a very low sloping angle to keep the soil from slipping down and off the roof. In addition, you may need to reinforce the roof to be able to hold the weight of the soil and any plants. If you live in an area that receives a lot of snow, it is even more important to reinforce the roof. As long as the roofing structure is strong enough or you reinforce it, any flat roof can be a green roof.

What are the Benefits of a Green Roof?

One of the biggest benefits of a green roof is the amount of insulation it provides. You will experience a significant reduction in your heating and cooling bills. This, in turn, means your home will have a lower carbon footprint and you will be contributing to the conservation of the earth and the environment.  In addition, the plants and soil will reduce the amount of rainwater or melting snow flowing from your roof. This reduces the stress on a municipal sewer and water treatment system as well as prevents a septic system from becoming overburdened. The water that does flow down and off the roof will have already been filtered too, keeping chemicals and other toxins from the groundwater. Finally, a green roof provides more oxygen to the area as the plants go through the process of photosynthesis. You may find the air in your home fresher and healthier.

While it may be a bit more expensive to have green residential roofing installed, you will save money on your heating and cooling bills, and feel healthier. In addition, you will be working towards saving the planet. Talk with your local roofing company about your options for a green roof.

For more information on residential roofing, contact a professional near you.

Tags: