How to Build an Eco-Friendly Roof

Posted on: 23 April 2018

Having the opportunity to construct your very ow custom-build home is a huge privilege, but it is also a responsibility. It's a responsibility because building a house involves putting your stamp on the world in a physical way. In the 21st century, climate change is one of the greatest threats to the planet, and everyone needs to think about the ways their actions impact on the planet. For someone building a home, there is a huge opportunity to ensure the build is eco-friendly. No home is complete without a roof, so here are some tips to ensure that your roof doesn't put undue pressure on the environment.

Opt for steel roof trusses. If you have ever walked past roofs in construction, you will have noticed that the frame of the roof is typically constructed from wooden trusses. This is not the best option from an environmental standpoint because trees have to be cut down to create wooden roof trusses. Steel is a far better choice because it is the most recycled material in the world. You can specify to your roofer that you want roof trusses made from 100% recyclable steel to ensure your roof is eco-friendly from its foundational frame.  

Think about slate tiles. Once your roof trusses and then roof sheathing is in place, you will want to think about the outer finish of your roof. Because it's the external part that is on display, you will want to think about the aesthetic finish as well as eco-friendly concerns. Fortunately, natural slate tiles remain a fantastic option that look fantastic and do minimal harm to the environment. Slate is a totally natural material that does not need to undergo any severe processing or chemical treatments in a factory to make it safe to use. If you look at zinc or ceramic tiles as an alternative, these require much more energy in the manufacturing process, and are therefore worse for the environment.

Add solar panels. One of the great benefits of living in Australia is the abundance of sunshine, and what better way to utilise those gorgeous sunny rays by installing solar panels on your roof and converting them into energy that can be used around the house? Solar panels might not pay for all of your energy bills, but they will certainly make a dent, and more importantly they'll ensure that your roof is always doing its part for the planet.

Will you try out any of these ideas to make your roof more eco-friendly?

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Replacing the shed roof

We wanted to start using our shed as a garage for our cars. We had not been using if for the last few years because the roof was in such bad condition and made the shed unsafe to be around. It turned out to be a lot more affordable than we expected to replace the roof and it's really nice to be able to use the shed again and have somewhere safe to put our cars at night. This blog has some information about what steps are involved in replacing roofs, including how to find a roofer that can help you replace your shed roof on a budget.