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

[Marty Hiller]

Hi Simon,
The cleaner runoff from steel roofs is worth considering if you're  
concerned about preparedness. Choosing the right materials for your  
roof and rainwater catchment system will give you a backup source of  
potable water (which may actually be cleaner than the stuff coming out  
your tap,) and now is the time to decide whether that's something you  
care about. The following website contains information on appropriate  
materials for potable rainwater catchment:

http://www.nsf.org/consumer/rainwater_collection/index.asp? 
program=RainwaterCol

You should also think about whether you want to have rainwater  
available for winter use (e.g. for houseplants, a greenhouse, or winter  
emergencies), since that affects the design of your water storage  
system.
- Marty


On Aug 9, 2006, at 9:41 AM, Jon Harrod wrote:

>
> 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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-------------------------
Ours is not the task of fixing the entire world all at once, but of  
stretching out to mend the part of the world that is within our reach.
-- Clarissa Pinkola Estes