There are a number of factors to consider when you are looking at roofing materials for your home: how much the supplies will cost, how long they’re expected to last, whether or not the new structure will compliment Roof Seal Painting the home, and how your choice will affect the environment. Selecting a metal for your shingles is not only an affordable and attractive option, it also has a number of benefits for the planet as well.
First of all, the metals being used in roofing materials today are so lightweight that they can be installed right on top of existing shingles, which means that the current materials don’t have to be torn down and replaced. Depending on what the previous shingles were made from, in most cases asphalt and fiberglass, a good portion of those shingles were more than likely destined for a landfill, where they would gradually decompose over time.
Also, because metal has an average lifespan of more than 50 years, it will need to be replaced much less often, and any shingles that do need replacing Roofing Sales Jobs can easily be recycled. In fact, many of the metal materials currently available contain anywhere from 25 to more than 90 percent recycled metal.
A second advantage of using metal for your roofing needs is that this material naturally inhibits the growth of mildew and algae. These roofs are hydrokinetic- that is, they are naturally designed to serve as a barrier to water, allowing it to easily run off away from the home. This keeps mold and other fungi from building up inside the residence, which in turn can prevent a number of illnesses for the owners.
Also, because no petroleum based products are involved, there is a much lower risk of contamination for homeowners who get their water from wells or other groundwater supplies.
Finally, when a metal roof does reach the end of its usefulness, it can be recycled, either into new shingles, or incorporated into other products. This will reduce the need to mine for more, a process which, even if done responsibly, is still hard on the environment.
Some of the main metals used in making roofing shingles include aluminum, steel, copper and zinc; all of these can easily be recovered and recycled with little or no impact on the quality of the new product. Presently, more than 70 percent of all metal shingles are being recycled into new steel, reducing the amount of energy needed for the process to slightly over 25 percent, much less than would be required to convert iron and other materials from their natural state.
Likewise, recycled aluminum production requires just five percent of the amount of energy it would take to produce the metal from bauxite ore, which not only saves energy, but also several tons of the raw material itself, with no reduction of quality. Both copper and zinc are also reusable in a number of household products and items, and with similar reductions in energy usage and raw material consumption.
