February 24, 2022 In this new age everyone is trying to live a life that is sustainable for the environment, to basically save our dying planet; so making small choices like choosing the most environmentally friendly roofing makes a difference. So what is Eco-friendly or what are Environmentally Friendly roofs? As the name suggests these are roofs that have a less damaging impact on the environment; they also refer to roofs that are made from recycled materials like plastic, old wood, rubber and the list goes on and on. Such environmentally roofing options reduce the need for extracting and making new raw materials thus saving energy from its creation to its overall use. In this article, we will introduce you to environmentally friendly roofing options if you are not so familiar with them. READ ALSO: Types of roofing sheets in ghana Types of environmentally friendly roofing options in Ghana There are a lot of eco-friendly roofing options in the world. the best way to know which option is best for your building is to consider the architectural style, how much you are willing to spend (some eco-friendly roofs are very expensive) and the overall climate of the country in which the building is located. our advice is to do your background checks so if you are reading this article then congratulations you are on the right path. Give yourself a pat on the shoulder. Here are some environmentally friendly roofing options in Ghana: Clay Tiles Living/Green roof Solar roofs White roofs Hidden roofs Wood roofs Rubber or plastic roof Fibre cement Metal Roof Clay tiles They are popularly referred to as Spanish tiles. Such roofs are made by baking moulded clay. a lot of them have the traditional noticeable red colour, others come in yellow, orange, brown and even white. In Ghana the most common colour of clay tile you can find is terra-cotta. READ ALSO: Improving your home: how to clean your roof Pros of clay tiles They allow hot air to circulate rather than remain trapped They are a great choice for keeping the interior of the building at comfortable temperatures When they break and fall off the roof they do not harm the environment because they are literally made from the same material as the ground. Very durable can last up to 100 years Fire resistant Cons of clay tiles They weigh a lot so they could cause some structural problems if not installed properly They are very expensive Clay roofs are very technical to install When they get dirty they lose their beauty They can get brittle over time Living/Green roof Like Frankenstein will bellow out when he makes his monster, “It’s Alive!”, “It’s Alive!”This roof is unlike Frankenstein’s monster. It is not a monster, it is however literally a living thing, it’s made of growing flora planted over a waterproofing membrane that completely or partially covers the roof. This roofing option is as green as they come, they are super environmentally friendly. Pros of living/green roofs They are great for absorbing rainwater thus reducing the chances of flash floods They are aesthetically pleasing Provide you with a peaceful environment if you live in an overpopulated city They create habitat for wildlife Some are fire-resistant Provide the building with insulation helping to lower urban Cons of living/green roofs They are very expensive to install Crazy difficult to maintain especially if you are a busy person Invite all sorts of wildlife and pest to your home They are quite heavy so may put an extra load on the building If they are not properly installed your walls will become water damaged If the plants are not rooted properly they will not be wind resistant How can I make my roof eco-friendly? If you have already installed your roofing option but feel you could make it greener then you can add any of the roofing options listed here to your already installed roof. Solar roofs are perfect for such projects, especially solar panelled roofs because they need a roof that has already been installed to be attached to. You can definitely down your “ecologically unfriendly” roof and replace it with any of these options. Solar roofs With this, you have the option of either solar panels or solar shingles. Solar panels use literal solar panels which are installed on the roof. The option of solar shingles uses a relatively new form of technology which is designed to look like ordinary asphalt shingles. Pros of solar roofs They are energy efficient They increase the value of your building They save you your buck as they provide your building with free clean electricity Long-lasting Cons of solar roofs They are also very expensive to buy and install They are majorly weather dependent They need a lot of space in order to collect more energy They are not very attractive Expensive Energy Storage. Environmental Impact Assessment is overlooked. What colour roof is best for the environment? The best colour is White. Unfortunately, most companies do not have white as a roof option. You could opt for roofs with lighter colours light grey and light tan or choose a light shade of the roofing colour you want. As a company concerned about the impact of dark coloured roofs on global warming you can try going for roofs that usually come in light of the colour white like clay roofs, cool roofs and the hidden roof. White roofs Commercially they are referred to as cool roofs because they are made to reflect light. White roofs are installed as flat roofs or hidden roofs. They are usually made of TPO or PVC add what they stand for when installed as a flat roof but when installed as a hidden roof, the top is painted or covered in environmentally friendly white paint or left plain to expose the concrete. READ ALSO: Effects of weather conditions on roofs Pros of the white roof For warmer climates, it keeps the interior of the building very cool They cut down cooling energy used in buildings They save you money because you do not have to keep cooling the building They are relatively cost-friendly Cons the white roof it absorbs a lot of heat it They could potentially increase climate warming In temperate climates when it gets colder the building will demand more heating This leads to more emissions Hidden roofs This style of roofing is relatively new in Ghana; it is sometimes referred to as a secret roof. Not a lot of people consider this as an eco-roof but it is perfect as an environmentally friendly roof option. Not only does it have features of the cool roof but because it is flat or sometimes designed at an angle you can add other roofing options to it like you can section part of it to make your roof green or add a solar roofing option to it. READ ALSO: Beauty of the hidden roof Pros of the hidden roof It is very affordable, this is because it is made with concrete. Again, concrete keeps the interior of the building cool because it absorbs most of the heat It can be combined with other roofing options like solar or green roofing options It is very stylish and has the desired aesthetics to it You can use the space it creates as a hung out spot Cons of the hidden roof They can be heavy and might be a bit of a burden on the building’s structural integrity If on drains are put in the building could develop water cracks Less space inside to work with especially if you want to put it in an attic Wood roofs There are two types of wood roofs, one made of shakes and the other made of shingles. The wood is usually sourced from any locally treated wood to give a building the perfect rustic look. Pros of wood roofs They are durable They give your building a unique look because they are not common Biodegradable Can lower your cooling and heating bills Wind resistant Easy repairs Many style options Cons of wood roofs Moss growth on the roof They are not fire-resistant They make great homes for insects so if you want your home infested with them then this is a great option You could have wood rotting Require maintenance every two to three years READ ALSO: Roof repairs: should I patch, repair or replace? Rubber or plastic roof? Though plastic roofs can be a great environmentally friendly roofing option, not all types are great. Take roofs made of bitumen, bitumen by its nature is very toxic and known to pollute the surrounding soil because they sometimes leak impurities; bitumen roofs are also black so absorb a lot of heat. This feature makes them great for colder climates and in warmer ones they increase cooling bills. Rubber or plastic roofs out of pieces of eco-friendly rubber or plastic polymers waste like recycled tires, slate dust and sawdust are a better choice of roofing. Pros of rubber/plastic roofs Water-resistant Not susceptible to moss, fungi, rot or mildew Roofs made of Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM) rubber are fire-resistant Lightweight Some come with a relatively low installation rate Cost less than other environmentally friendly roof options Cons of plastic/rubber roofs Some versions are extremely toxic for the environment They are not durable when exposed to weather conditions like rain and sunshine They are delicate They are subject to shrinking They can break easily What is the greenest roofing material? The answer to this has caused a lot of stir on many platforms, thus the answer to this question will differ from country to country. However in a country like Ghana, there is no straightforward answer, we can not just accept roofing material as the greenest, so our top three greenest roofs in our opinion: metal, clay and green roofs. Metal roofs are by far the greenest roof in Ghana and beyond. They are not only cheap but can be made out of recycled materials and are readily available. They are incredible energy-saving and great reflectors of UV rays. Domod cares about you and your project. We offer the best metal roofing. Let’s save our environment together! Fibre cement This roofing option is very common in Ghana, you can usually find it installed in old buildings built during the colonial era. Fibre cement is a durable material made from composite materials like cellulose fibres, sand and cement which is used together with a cement fibre like cardboard. What makes fibre cement one of the best environmentally friendly roofing options out there is the fact that some roofing materials like wood fibre cement sheets use the recycled pulp of old corrugated containers. Pros of fibre cement Practically fire resistant Easy to cut and drill. Longevity Sustainable and eco-friendly Absorbs sound Versatile and is available in a wide variety of colours and can even mimic materials like wood Because they are light in weight. They do not put too much weight on the structural integrity of the building Cons of fibre cement They take time to make so can cause a delay in your project They are not so durable so they suffer from wear and tear from weather conditions like sunshine and rain Though it can be made from recyclable materials it can not be recycled It comes it high labour cost because they are not available for direct order It requires you to re-paint the siding at some point during its lifetime Metal Roof Metal roofs are among the most environmentally friendly roofing options out there; they come in varying roofing options like tin, aluminum, galvanized steel, copper and aluzinc. Metal roofs are practically the most preferred choice for most Ghanaians, not only are they great for our weather they come in a variety of colours and forms like Domod’s pre-coated Aluzinc and premium Aluzinc sheets which are not only economical but strong. READ ALSO: Aluzinc roofing sheets Pros of metal roofs Metal roofing has been proven to reduce cooling costs in your home by up to 20% They are long-lasting and durable Because they are designed to be reflective they can cut down heating power of the sun which is great for tropical zones like Ghana They can easily be recycled They come in a variety of shapes and colours so you can choose which one you know is right for your building They are more environmentally friendly They do not leak chemicals that destroy the surrounding like other roofs They are very cheap in comparison to other environmentally friendly roofing options Cons of the metal roof Though have so many benefits they can be noisy, especially when it rains Because it is made of metal sheets it can be dented, this does not mean it is low in quality you can fix it by just calling in our professionals to take a look at it They are subject to thermal expansion which can happen as the sun continues to shine over and over again. Features of Domod’s Precoated Premium Aluzinc Aluzinc Roofing Sheet is flat carbon steel coated with an alloy comprising 55% aluminium, 43.4% zinc and 1.6% silicon, because it has a zinc property it has an anti-rust and corrosion feature this means it has the ability to repair itself which makes the material resistant to corrosion caused by scratches. This makes this type of roofing great for the roofs for factories, outside shades and even animal structures. Some of its major features include: Good corrosion resistance at high temperatures Excellent long term durability, especially in the construction sector Good abrasion resistance due to its surface hardness The roof looks new after a heavy downpour as dirt particles are easily washed away How to choose the best roof for your building The material that’s right for your home will depend on the style and architecture of your home, as well as your budget. So when it is time for a new roof, do your research. Consider that there are plenty of options to find the right roofing materials that fit the needs of your project and your budget. So work with a professional roofing contractor to help you make the best decisions for your new roof. When choosing a contractor, be sure to: Check the warranties Don’t judge based solely on price Look for online reviews and references Work with your insurance company FacebookXEmailWhatsApp
