Many homeowners love metal roofs and the variety of styles and colors they offer. They have great aesthetic appeal and can really add value to the look of a home.

These roof materials also offer great wind resistance and are energy efficient. A quality metal roof can reflect the sun’s UV rays, keeping the home at a more even temperature and protecting the home from sun damage.

Homeowners also love metal roofs for their green roofing impact, as they are easily recycled into scrap metal or made from recycled materials. However, not everyone is a fan and they have begun to meet public opposition for the first time.

All Opposed?

While we can all agree that not every roof material is appropriate for every home, there has been very little negative feedback about metal roofs until now. One roof contractor in California is speaking out about the dangers of metal roof for California residents.

Much of California is susceptible to wildfires and the threat of fire damage. Metal roofs come with a basic level of fireproofing that, generally, does not require additional maintenance or additional treatment for the average home. However, homes that are at a greater risk of fire danger require additional fireproofing to be sure the home is as safe as possible.

Just because one California roofer does not feel metal roofs are appropriate for  California homes doesn’t mean that they can’t be used at all. Homeowners that are interested in metal roofing should shop around for the best material, making sure to find a metal roof that has a “Class A” fire rating. Copper roofs are considered Class A roof materials and aluminum roofs must have fire resistant underlay materials to meet the Class A standard. Many metal roofs may also come treated with chemicals that increase their fire safety rating.

Many homeowners choose new roof materials for their appeal and overall look for the house. While many older roof products may bring a sense of class and history to a roof, they may also bring increased roof problems. Traditional roof products like wood shakes give great curb appeal to a home, but at the additional cost of maintenance and roof repair.

Classic Problems With A Classic Product

Wood shakes are one roof material that can really cost a homeowner in repairs. Despite their appeal, they are one roof product that is the most susceptible to water and pest damage. Wood shakes split, rot and break much easier than asphalt shingles or other roof materials. They are also more vulnerable to water damage, leading to mold and mildew problems. Pests an easily eat or damage wood shakes, causing for more reliance on general maintenance to keep their performance up.

Several companies now offer a product that gives the aesthetic appeal of a wood shake without the need to compromise the roof’s integrity. Rustic Shingle manufactures a product that  looks like traditional wood shakes, but is made from aluminum. Homeowners can now take advantage of the benefits metal roofing has to offer with the design and style of a traditional wood shake. Rustic Shingles are fade and crack resistant, offer unbeatable protection against high winds and hail, and even provide energy savings by its high reflectivity of the sun’s UV rays.

The Shepherd of the Hill Presbyterian Church in Chaska Minnesota, removed the shingles and insulation on their roof and added structural insulated panels.

The foam plastic panels are squeezed in between two boards. The 7 ½ inch wide panels are energy efficient and expected to save as much as 50% of the churches energy bill.

Going Green

When the 40 year old church had water leaking into the sanctuary, they decided to go green with their new roof. Reverend Gordon Stewart said “what we’ve come to realize is that we’ve got to live collaboratively and in friendship with the earth itself, and not treat the earth as a garbage dump.”

$79,000 for the Job

The 80 church members were able to raise the $79,000 needed for the roofing project. When talking about the sustainable roof, Reverend Stewart said, “practices that are energy efficient, that don’t waste energy that recycle, all of the things we can do, that are within our reach to do, to be responsible stewards of the earth itself.”

The panels were provided by Extreme Panel Systems, Inc. of Cottonwood, Minnesota and Progressive Panel Builders, LLC in New Richmond, Wisconsin installed the panels.

Residents of urban areas are about to get a break from the toxic gases in the local air. Roof materials have recently made the leap into a new type of green roofing, providing environmentally conscious tiles that can actual absorb smog.

What’s New

Recent advances in roof materials have brought welcome relief for homeowners and residents of urban areas. Urban living is plagued by air pollution and residents have very little option for avoiding it. Improvements in the green roofing industry have brought rooftop gardens into urban areas to help combat some of the effects of air pollution, as well as add a much needed green space to an otherwise concrete filled city.

Clay tiles and a cement roof product are now available in a smog reducing variety. Made from titanium dioxide, these new roof materials combat pollutants by reacting with nitrogen oxide in the air. The result is the breakdown of toxic gases into harmless nitrate gases. The tiles are activated by the sun’s rays, which starts the chemical reaction that breaks down the nitrogen oxides in the air into oxygen and nitrates.

Cleaner air means happier homeowners and renters. Big cities have face numerous challenges, but luckily are getting a little help from roofers that are committed to finding top quality products.

When it comes to choosing the right roof material for your home, sorting through all the choices can be exhausting. With so many different types of materials, each available in a variety of colors and styles, many homeowners tend to shy away from non-traditional materials.

Wood shingles, also known as shakes, have a checkered past. Depending on who you ask, these unique roof shingles come with their fair share of risks, but they also bring many benefits as well. Due to the costly nature of roof repair and replacement, many homeowners simply don’t want to risk installing a roof material they haven’t used before.

Advantages

Wood shingles offer a variety of colors, style of cut and dimensions. They can be easily tailored to fit many angles and roof lines, as well as cut in various styles. Many homeowners may use them to cover the entire roof, or provide a designer style accent to a portion of the roof. Some homes even use wood shingles to accent portions of the exterior wall to the home.

Wood shingles are typically made from cedar, a naturally water resistant and aesthetically appealing wood. They are lightweight and allow air to flow beneath the shingle to the underlying materials, which can provide necessary heating and cooling effects to the attic of a home.  These days, wood shingles are available in a recycled version, which is made from recycled wood and scrap lumber. Recycled roof materials have become popular among the green roofing movement.

Disadvantages

Wood shingles do require a bit more maintenance than other roof materials. Since they are made from wood, they tend to be more vulnerable to water damaged, mold and insects. However, regulations require that wood shingles get chemically treated to reduce the risk of fire or water damage. The increase maintenance requirements can also lead to an increase in the costs associated with maintaining the roof materials.

Wood shingles can be a great roof material choice for many homeowners. Choosing an unfamiliar roof material is not a bad idea as long as special considerations for the weather conditions and maintenance requirements are upheld.