Green Metal Roofing and the Environment
Doing the Right Thing, when it comes to roofing.
The bottom line is, everyone is concerned about the environment. Given the choice of whether to choose a product that is good for the environment or not good for the environment, most people have some criteria that need to be met, and then, of course, they will choose the environmentally sound alternative. Usually, these few criteria are the cost, aesthetics, practicality, or performance of the product.
Metal roofs are the most cost-effective when one considers the service life of a roof, whether it is to replace an existing roof or to put a new roof. The practicality of metal roofing is explained by itself when considering the years of maintenance-free service that a metal roof provides.
The technological advances in the machinery used to form metal roofing and the wide range of exterior paints and finishes are now available to offer a wide variety of textures and profiles even to the point of providing slate look-alike materials —a roofing material that few can afford these days, but in days of inexpensive labor and bountiful resources was once common.
Metal and the Environment
The metal has a natural capacity to stand against the elements of Mother Nature, while other building materials can be affected by these elements at the point of destruction. The metal is durable through cold/hot temperatures, high UV rays, wet/dry weather cycles, hail, windstorms, ice, and snow. The composition of the metal has recycled elements on the raw materials and on the post-consumer ends. Metal, however, has a much greater effect on the environment at many levels, which gives it a stronger position in living cultures and sustainable construction.
Reduced Waste
The metal roof is lightweight, allowing it, in many cases, to be installed on existing covers. This minimizes the need to remove and dispose of existing materials, which may have monetary and ecological savings. The installation of metal roofing on existing shingles provides an additional layer of insulation and serves as an additional sound barrier. The duration of the metal roofing is 50 plus years, reducing the need to replace it. If it does need to be replaced, the torn material may be recycled.
Recycled Content
Most metal roofs have a recycled content ranging from 25 percent to 95 percent. Conventional roof shingles have a much shorter life cycle and use oil-based products as primary raw material.
Recyclability
All metal roof products distributed by Delmarva Metal Roofing are 100% recyclable.
Lightweight
Metal roofs weigh a fraction of other roof products such as slate, asphalt shingle, and concrete tile. The less weight on the roof plane, the less structural support is needed in the building; therefore, less lumber or other materials are required to support it. The average weight for asphalt is at least 2 lbs. per sq. ft, concrete tile is 9 lbs. per sq. ft, and slate is 6 lbs. per sq. ft.
Clean Water Runoff
Metal covers do not support mildew or algae and are not produced with petroleum by-products. It does not contribute to the contamination of rainwater; therefore, this is less of a concern for well and cistern users.
Interior Fungus
The metal roof is a hydrokinetic material that allows water and snow loads to shed from the roof plane. It is also a water barrier, a hydrostatic material, that protects a roof system from the cultivation of fungi created by moisture. This fungus tends to live on other roofing materials.
Algae Growth
Black algae streaks, commonly seen on the country’s roofs, absorb the energy of the sun and increase the temperature in the attic of the house. This results in an increase in energy costs to cool a house and premature deterioration of the roofing material.
Energy Efficiency
The metal reflects up to 70 percent of the sun’s energy, thereby minimizing heat retention. This results in less heat being transferred into the structure of the building. Metal roofs can withstand up to 34 percent less heat gain than asphalt shingles. A reflective roof, like metal, reduces the “Heat Island Effect,” which is a phenomenon in which cities can be 2 -8 degrees warmer than the surrounding countryside. This effect can cook the smog that creates indirectly, seriously damaging the atmosphere within and around urban areas.
Metal Roofs Are the Environmentally Friendly Solution
The disposal of asphalt roofing materials is one of the biggest problems. Many traditional shingles are thrown aside when broken, leading to increasingly large landfills. This is absolutely harmful to the environment. At Delmarva Metal Roofing Inc., we recommend aluminum for your roof as an environmentally friendly metal roofing solution. Here’s why.
- The Building Problem
When roofs are installed, traditional asphalt shingles are at a higher risk of failure. This material usually has to be replaced every 15 to 17 years. Due to the new growth production and kiln drying, Cedar shingles are in the same life expectancy category. These two products have a very short lifespan. Ultimately, planned obsolescence.
This means eventual disposal. You’re just waiting for the roof to fail before you replace it. As the building cycle and disposal take place, more tiles are thrown away. The best way is to recycle the problem. However, traditional materials are rarely in good condition to be recycled. On the other hand, why not consider an aluminum metal roof for an environmentally friendly metal roof solution?
- The Metal Solution
What makes aluminum metal roofs stand out is the material itself. Unlike asphalt and cedar shingles, aluminum metal can be recycled. After all, it will take years before it becomes useless or fragile. This is why many roofs using aluminum metal are made of recycled metal. The manufacturers and contractors gather any damaged or discarded material and re-use it through recycling.
For example, shingle metal roofing, a standing seam metal roof made with a base metal of aluminum, is made of recycled aluminum. They are returned to life using the very large stream of aluminum products that are recycled daily throughout the country. In this way, natural resources are not depleted, and landfills are not buried in more cedar and asphalt roofing material.
At Delmarva Metal Roofing Inc., we stand for a greener and cleaner tomorrow. The first step is awareness. If you have more questions or concerns about our products and services, call us at (302) 858-1699 or fill out the short form so we can start working on your new roof today! We serve residents all over Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia.