[SustainableTompkins] sustainable roofs for houses (so far as is possible)

[Bethany Schroeder]

I agree about your disinclination to go with metal. At the least I think
that house has to have shingles. We'd be happy to share our experience
with local roofers _off line_.

Bethany

At 03:00 PM 8/8/2006 , Simon St.Laurent wrote:
>I've been repairing my old house for a few years now, and I've been
>postponing replacing the roof.  It's time to stop doing that, and I now
>plan to replace it next year.
>
>What are the options for a roof that will last as long as possible with
>minimum negative impact on the environment and minimum need for
>maintenance?
>
>Most of what I can find online about sustainable roofs is for commercial
>buildings, and I suspect climate matters a lot for this, so I'd be
>especially interested in local input.
>
>As you can see at:
>http://livingindryden.org/images/home/completedFront06242005A.jpg
>
>The roof is fairly steep and has a few extra things popping out of it.
>The back is a simple slope.  It needs to be a complete tear off.  The
>bottom layer is cedar shingles, and the top two layers are asphalt.
>
>A green roof (with plants growing on it) won't work on that slope, and
>solar panel roofing tiles are also unlikely to generate much power
>because of surrounding trees.
>
>I'd really prefer not to go with metal, both for aesthetic and for
>long-term maintenance reasons, but could consider it, and certainly
>would be interested in hearing what options there are.
>
>I don't think the house was built to support a slate roof.  It probably
>could, with all the old barn lumber used, but somehow that feels like
>overkill.  Though maybe there's local slate?
>
>Cedar shingles are intriguing, though I've heard they have dire impacts
>on home insurance rates, and I'm not sure how genuinely sustainable they
>are anyway. (I've heard awful things about cedar mulch, though I don't
>know how comparable that is to shingles.)
>
>It may well be that asphalt or recycled plastic are the best options - I
>just can't find much that gives me a detailed comparison.
>
>I know roof-buying is an occasional thing, and new would probably be
>different from renovation, but I'd be very interested to hear from
>people who have ideas for minimizing the negative impacts of this
>one-time project on the world.
>
>(I'm planning to do some other improvements along with the roof.  First,
>gutters that flow into water catchment for the garden.  Second,
>eventually a solar water heater and possibly a small solar installation
>on the back of the house.)
>
>Thanks,
>Simon St.Laurent
>http://livingindryden.org/
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>SustainableTompkins mailing list
>SustainableTompkins at lists.mutualaid.org
>http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainabletompkins
>free hosting by http://www.mutualaid.org