What are the Most Environmentally Friendly Roof Materials?


Environmentally friendly roof materials installed by Davidoff Roofing

Installing environmentally friendly roofing materials allows every home and commercial property owner an opportunity to do their part. We all want future generations to inherit a clean, healthy natural world, and using sustainable roofing materials helps achieve that goal. But identifying the least impactful products for a new roof can be something of a challenge.

What Distinguishes Sustainable Roofing Materials?

It’s important to keep in mind that every building product has some impact on air quality and the natural landscape. Eco friendly roofing materials are those that minimize overall adverse effects and reduce carbon emissions. Evaluating what constitutes environmentally friendly roofing options requires a deep dive into processes that begin with gathering raw material, processing, and even recycling capacity.

Environmentally Friendly Roofing Materials

Metal Roofing Systems

Although mining and processing ore has a negative impact on the environment, the finished products deliver in terms of overall sustainability. Metal roofs rank among the longest-lasting, at upwards of 50 years or more. This facet reduced the need for replacements and the use of another round of materials. But what firmly positions them among the environmentally friendly roofing options is that metal continues to be recycled, eliminating the mining step.

Slate Roofing Systems

Like metal, considerable resources are used to mine stone, and the process has a harmful impact on the environment. But, also like metal, the material makes up for that through its longevity of more than 200 years. Slate roofs often outlast the entire structure and never require anything more than repairs. Barring catastrophic weather, slate can be a one-time installation, and that puts it in the class of the most eco-friendly roofing materials.

Composite Shingles from EuroShield & EnviroShake

One of the most environmentally responsible practices product manufacturers employ involves repurposing. Landfills receive hundreds of millions of used tires annually that too often are buried in the ground. Roofing materials such as EuroShield and EnviroShake recycle rubber tires and other discarded items to create aesthetically pleasing products. Reducing the trash in landfills and eliminating the need to use raw materials makes these sustainable roofing materials.

Cedar Roof Shingles

Harvesting timber has evolved into a relatively sustainable practice. Logging companies are tasked with replanting trees. They also leave the land raked and clear of brush that can set off wildfires. Cedar shingle roofing systems last approximately 30 years, a span considered reasonably sustainable. Adding to its environmentally friendly roof materials pros, cedar roofs are often recycled into the wood chips used by landscapers and home gardeners.

Contact Davidoff Roofing About Sustainable Roof Installations

At Davidoff Roofing, we support the use of environmentally friendly roof materials and encourage our London, Ontario, community members to work toward a world free of pollution. We have years of experience installing and repairing environmentally friendly roofing materials and can help you decide which one is best suited for your home or business. Contact us today about environmentally friendly roofing options and request a quote on your roofing project.