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

[Jon Harrod]

We ended up choosing steel roofs for the second neighborhood at Ecovillage.
Compared to asphalt, it has the following advantages:

1.  Longer life expectancy 
2.  Recycled content
3.  Cleaner runoff (for rain barrels, etc.)
4.  End-of-lifecycle recyclability
5.  Avoided need for plywood roof deck--installed directly on purlins
bracing the trusses(not relevant in your case)
6.  Reduced heat build-up in summer.

Disadvantages were higher cost for the roofing material itself, less
flexibility in terms of roof penetrations, and need to avoid scratching
during installation.

We did look at embodied energy content as well but I don't remember the
details.

We also checked out some of the recycled rubber faux slate products and
found they were outside our budget.

We used Fabral Grandrib, which is significantly cheaper than standing seam,
quick to install, and comes in many colors.  Dormers and valleys aren't a
problem.  You can get rubber roof jacks for plumbing vents, etc.

We've had the metal roofs on for 4 years now and have been very happy.  My
biggest complaint is that the snow slides off in big packs--at certain times
of year you need to watch out going out your front door.

Jon





-----Original Message-----
From: sustainabletompkins-bounces at lists.mutualaid.org
[mailto:sustainabletompkins-bounces at lists.mutualaid.org] On Behalf Of Simon
St.Laurent
Sent: Tuesday, August 08, 2006 3:00 PM
To: Sustainable Tompkins County listserv
Subject: [SustainableTompkins] sustainable roofs for houses (so far as
ispossible)

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/ 


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