Page 24 - Green Builder Homeowner's Handbook 2016

The Homeowner’s Handbook SEVENTH EDITION

Roofing02

Select the best defense for your climate.

Your roof should protect your Asphalt Composition Roofing
home from the elements for at
least 50 years. Make sure your Virtues Caveats

Iinvestment counts.T WASN’T LONG ago that roofing wasn’t much more than an ¦¦ Affordable and widely available ¦¦ Petroleum by-product
afterthought—chosen for a house mostly for economic and ¦¦ Low recycling potential
occasionally for aesthetic reasons, if you could afford it. ¦¦ Familiar to installers ¦¦ Relatively short lifespan
But lately, roofing is recognized among the materials that ¦¦ May leach chemicals into runoff
can make a significant difference in a home’s energy and ¦¦ New finishes increase heat
resource efficiency, spurring debate (and propaganda) about reflection
issues ranging from recycled content and recyclability to
reflective values and durability—all of which work into a thoughtful At the same time, cooler shingles last longer, so they’ve increased
consideration of which roofing material makes the most sense for their likely service life. Recycling programs, which convert asphalt
your house. shingles into roads, are also becoming more prevalent. You can
help by choosing a roofing contractor who participates in such
ASPHALT programs.
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.

Asphalt’s biggest environmental bugaboo is that it’s derived from
petroleum processing, feeding fossil fuel demand. It’s also tough
to recycle. But the industry has responded to the call for better
eco-performance with colors and granular formations that better
reflect the sun’s heat, reducing the amount that is absorbed into
the roof and attic or living spaces below and lessening demand on
the home’s heating system—and therefore the energy it consumes.

Recent “cool roof” asphalt composition shingle offerings, in
fact, have achieved federal Energy Star status for their reflective
values, helping reduce peak cooling demand by up to 15 percent.

VISION HOUSE® AT MARIPOSA MEADOWS SPONSOR GAF Timberline Cool Roof

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

22 GREEN BUILDER The Homeowner’s Handbook 2016 www.greenbuildermedia.com