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TO
HAVE A ROOF OVER OUR HEADS
By
Thomas A. Hirsch
Last
month we were lamenting the fact that we had to compromise our green
building ideals by choosing asphalt shingles to roof our house.
So, what’s wrong with the ubiquitous shingle, you ask?
I get another perspective on roofs when, from an airplane, I see
just what a large surface area is covered predominantly with asphalt-type
roofing. This roof system
lasts about ten to twenty years on average.
We may get to cover over it with another layer of coating before we
have to tear it off and start over. Its
next life is usually in a landfill. These products don’t compost very
well and do last a very long time—a few hundred years, perhaps—taking
up valuable earth space. I
don’t think our descendents will appreciate the shortsightedness of
these choices.
So
from that perspective, and considering the quantities of limited petroleum
reserves that it takes to make them, asphalt shingles have a very low
sustainability quotient, indeed. Where
do we turn from here?
I
was very hopeful to learn of a new product by Eco-Star, which uses
recycled rubber refashioned into imitation slate tiles.
The manufacturer claims a fifty-year life and warranty, along with
the eventual recyclability of the product when its useful life as roofing
material is finished. I
wanted to use it on our house until I learned of the price.
Material costs are about eight to ten times higher than for asphalt
shingles. For those wanting a
slate roof, it’s about half the cost of real slate and looks very
attractive.
For
those who can afford it, slate is an excellent choice for roofing. The costs become ever more prohibitive for us in Northwest
Michigan due to shipping this heavy material a great distance from its
source.
Another
quality, durable and handsome roof option is concrete tile.
The Van de Hyde Company in Wisconsin makes a beautiful product that
comes in slightly less than the Eco-Star product.
A
less expensive and popular option is metal roofing, which is both
recyclable and durable. The
impact on the earth to manufacture steel is sizeable though, and should
not be overlooked. My other gripe with using metal roofing is the
electromagnetic field (EMF) issue, which was addressed in the June issue
of HGJ.
Wooden
shingles, usually cedar, make a handsome and natural roof.
If properly installed, these are insured for thirty-five years and
can last fifty. They are not
appropriate for low-pitched roofs or those under a canopy of trees.
It is of utmost importance that they be well ventilated and
carefully hand-nailed on to
3/4-inch boards spaced 3 inches apart.
The quality of the wood, the quality of the nails and the skill of
the installer will all influence the ability of this roof to perform
correctly.
Thatch
is making a comeback in natural home circles.
It has never really gone out of fashion in cultures that live a
more sustainable lifestyle to begin with.
For instance, in Denmark generations have handed down the skills
required to produce a long lasting (60-80 years) and beautiful roof that
provides insulation and roof covering in one.
They have an industry to sustainably harvest the wetland reeds each
year and make the product available to thatchers.
Wetland reeds here in the U.S. are seen as a nuisance.
Developing a harvesting industry like this could have promise.
Photovoltaic/solar
cell roof shingles have recently appeared in the marketplace.
Still a little pricey, they may prove themselves over time by
providing electricity and a roof covering in one product.
Living-roofs
hearken us back to the pioneer days when settlers built roofs of sod and
allowed their animals to graze on them.
A properly designed living-roof that accommodates the weight and
drainage issues is another attractive alternative.
William McDonough and Associates are planning to use some
living-roof systems in the makeover of the Rouge Plant for the Ford Motor
Company.
If
we are willing to address our petroleum addiction and dig deeper into our
pockets, we find there are several roof options that are more durable,
attractive and easier on the earth. Happy
shopping!
Harmony
Home Construction, LLC.
8122 Barney Road
Traverse City,
Michigan 49684
Ph: 1-877-45-GREEN Fx: 231-932-9193
info@harmonyhomeconstruction.com
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