Page 18 - The Homeowner's Handbook 2017

THE HOMEOWNER’S HANDBOOK EIGHTH EDITION

Roofing02

Select the best defense for your climate.

Your roof should protect your
home from the elements for at Asphalt Composition Roofing

least 50 years. Make sure your
investment counts.

T WASN’T LONG ago that roofing wasn’t much more than an
afterthought—chosen for a house mostly for economic and
occasionally for aesthetic reasons, if you could afford it.
But lately, roofing is recognized among the materials that
can make a significant difference in a home’s energy and
resource efficiency, spurring debate (and propaganda) about
Iissues ranging from recycled content and recyclability to
reflective values and durability—all of which work into a thoughtful
consideration of which roofing material makes the most sense for
your house.

ASPHALT
Cool Roof Shingles
Commanding an 83 percent share of the residential roofing
market is no accident. Asphalt composition roofing (right),
includes conventional three-tab and newer, thicker fiberglass and
laminated types. These products offer affordable options generally
designed to last a maximum of about 25 years. Virtues Caveats
Asphalt’s biggest environmental bugaboo is that it’s derived from ■ ■ Affordable and widely available ■ ■ Petroleum by-product
petroleum processing, feeding fossil fuel demand. It’s also tough ■ ■ Familiar to installers ■ ■ Low recycling potential
to recycle. But the industry has responded to the call for better ■ ■ New finishes increase heat ■ ■ Relatively short lifespan
eco-performance with colors and granular formations that better reflection ■ ■ May leach chemicals into runoff
reflect the sun’s heat, reducing the amount that is absorbed into
the roof and attic or living spaces below and lessening demand on At the same time, cooler shingles last longer, so they’ve increased
the home’s heating system—and therefore the energy it consumes. their likely service life. Recycling programs, which convert asphalt
Recent “cool roof” asphalt composition shingle offerings, in shingles into roads, are also becoming more prevalent. You can
fact, have achieved federal Energy Star status for their reflective help by choosing a roofing contractor who participates in such
values, helping reduce peak cooling demand by up to 15 percent. programs.

Fabral Standing Seam GAF Timberline Cool Roof
Metal Roof Panels Timberline series fiberglass-asphalt
Durable, low-maintenance metal roofing shingles from GAF feature reflective
sheds snow and protects the home from surface granules to reduce attic
extreme weather. Standing seam panels are heat gain and cooling energy use.
finished with the Enduracote paint system, The Energy Star-qualified shingles
which is guaranteed with a lifetime film also contain patented algae
integrity warranty and a 30-year warranty protection with a 10-year warranty.
against color fading. www.gaf.com
www.fabral.com/residential

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