Author: Lee Polevoi | April 22, 2020

When it's time for a roof repair or replacement, an increasing number of homeowners are asking their contractors about eco-friendly roofing options. Solar panels are a popular request, but it's worth exploring other possibilities, including using recycled shingles or recycling the old roof. Read on for a few ways to help your residential roofing customers achieve the goal of a sustainable roof repair or replacement.

The Basics: Metal and Tile Roofing

Metal roofs are among the most durable roofing choices, which means reduced waste and little need for replacement. Recycled metal materials can include steel, aluminum and copper. If your customers are looking to go green without sacrificing quality, remind them of these benefits:

• Metal roofing reflects sunlight and helps maintain a cool household temperature during the summer months.
• Metal roofing is fire-resistant.
• In winter months, snow slides off metal roofs, reducing the formation of ice dams.

Tile is another fairly standard material in a contractor's offerings that is considered among the most environmentally friendly choices. Salvaged or reclaimed tiles might be a good choice for a historic restoration or architecturally unique home, and can last up to a century. However, your residential contracting business should only offer this eco-friendly roofing option if you have experience installing tile safely and correctly.

Recycled Shingles and Rubber

Some of the roof shingles on the market today consist of wood fiber, plastic and other recycled content. Shingles made from recycled materials are a durable, economical option, and never give the impression they are made from discarded products.

Rubber may not be the first recycled roofing option that comes to mind, but you should consider offering it to your customers. Reinforced rubber shingles are produced from old steel-belted radial tires and coated with ground slate to mimic the texture of asphalt. They're also available in different colors and patterns. An expert roofing contractor can use rubber materials to create a roof that looks like a conventional one made of wood, tile or slate. A roof built from recycled rubber can also withstand weather-related damage (severe rain, hailstorms or fallen branches) that might cause severe disrepair in more traditional materials.

Recycling Old Asphalt

You don't have to put green materials on the roof to help the earth. Recycling asphalt shingles after you tear off an old roof reduces landfill waste. The Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association (ARMA) notes that recycled asphalt shingles can be ground up and used in paving and road maintenance. Recycling fees can vary state by state, but offloading old asphalt may be free for homeowners in some regions, according to ARMA. Check your local township or public works department for policies in your area.

From installation to recycling, homeowners have numerous eco-friendly roofing options to consider. By staying up to date on green roofing options and their safe, effective installation, you can equip your eco-conscious customers with a new roof that will keep them snug and dry for years to come.

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