Nowadays, there’s a continuous call for more sustainable options on all types of New South Wales projects and works— including building materials. If you are currently building or refurbishing a commercial or residential property, you’re probably deciding which materials are best for your project.
Roofing, in particular, is one of the main parts of your house that you need to take into consideration. You have a variety of options when it comes to roofing materials, all with their own set of advantages and disadvantages. While there are heaps of factors to consider when choosing your roofing material, sustainability should also be in your list of top priorities.
What makes a sustainable roof?
There’s no exact qualification that defines a sustainable roof. Roofs that are described as “cool” or “warm” are often called sustainable. It is mostly because these roofs are energy-efficient or they help produce clean energy. Some sustainable roofs are so called due to other factors like how they reflect the sun, how they capture rainwater, how they’re covered by greens, or if there are solar panels on the roof. There are roofs deemed sustainable due to their manufacturing history too, like roofs that are made from recyclable materials like tiles, wood, or metal.
Overall, sustainable roofs have their benefits that property owners from New South Wales would definitely be interested in. Here are some of the top features of sustainable roof materials that you should know:
- Some sustainable roofs are energy efficient. These may have insulation functions that protect a room from extreme temperature, which consequently reduces the need for heating or cooling devices like air-conditioning units. Some roofs can have added energy panels that generate and/or store energy for a household as well.
- There are roofs that capture stormwaters. Instead of directing the stormwater to the sewage and waterways systems (which can cause pollution), it can be directly used for landscaping purposes together with other water-essential works.
- Reused roofing materials contributes to the reduction of roofing waste. This lessens the materials that are supposed to be dumped at landfills.
- Sustainable roofs are tested for durability, so it increases a roof’s shelf life.
Sustainable roofs reduce waste, encourages recycling, and contributes to the energy-efficiency of a house.
Types of Roofs Ranked Based on Sustainability
Here are some of the types of roof you can install on your property, ranked based on sustainability.
Top 5. Tile Roofing
If you’re looking for durable and long-lasting roofing materials, tile roofing is definitely the material for you. This material can last for up to a hundred years, and it can be made from various recyclable materials.
What’s nice about tile roofing is it comes with a variety of colours. Some tile roofs also reflect less heat, which contributes to a cooler atmosphere. Tile roofs are heavy too. This means that in terms of insulation, they will be able to keep cool air in circulation inside your property even in an extremely hot day. This type of roofing material is often used in areas with a warmer climate. You can find tile roofing that is made from terracotta, concrete, and decrabond, among others.
Top 4. Roof Pavers
Technically, pavers are paving tiles that are designed to be installed on roofs. This specific type of material is thick—it is at least 2 inches in depth. This roofing material has a cool variety/version as well. This type of roof paver can reflect almost 80% of the ultraviolet light that touches it, which means that it has excellent insulation features.
Roof pavers can boast having all the features of tile roofing. Not only is this material durable, but it will last for decades as well when maintained properly. However, roof pavers can be significantly heavier than other roof materials. If you have a home that can withstand a roof with a weight as heavy as a roof paver, then that’s good. But if not, you can install roof paver on smaller areas of your home or property instead.
Top 3. Metal Roofing
When thinking about sustainable roofing materials, metal roofing would probably be one of the last things on your mind. After all, metal conducts heat easily. If you use a normal metal roofing for your home, you may end up feeling like you’re living in a sauna.
Fortunately, the type of roof we’re talking about here is the coated kind. Coated metal with a light paint colour can give you a cool roof, installed by itself or over another existing roof. Metal roofs are durable and recyclable. This means that it can last for a long period of time. When the time comes, other people can recycle that material and use it for other purposes.
Top 2. Built-up Roofing
If you are going to install a roof for your commercial property (or for industrial applications), an interesting type of roofing to look into is built-up roofing. In this roofing type, you will select any type of flat roof and add layers upon layers of different materials to make a strong, durable, and insulated roof. Most builders install roofs like this one with layers of asphalt and other materials coated with asphalt.
This is called a built-up roof because of the way it was made—with layers upon layers of material (often reinforced with organic materials or glass fibre materials). This roof’s top features are its insulation and (when materials are selected properly), cool roof feature.
Top 1. Living Roof
A living roof is a new and interesting concept that is taking the world of sustainable building by storm. In this type of roof, you won’t need other recyclable materials to beef up your roof. Instead, you can use natural planters and hardy plants to create a “living roof”. This concept is definitely the “greenest” roofing option, but it doesn’t come cheap. You will need to evaluate the weight your structure and see if it can withstand the weight of this roof. You also need to maintain it well—otherwise, the plants can die out.
Find the best Roofing Option for your Property with Amazing Roof Restorations
Amazing Roof Restorations is one of the premier roofing companies in NSW. We understand that our clients may want sustainable roofing options, so we can provide a variety of options for you and your property. Contact us now to see how we can help you restore or build your roof!
