Residential Green Roofs

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Green House

Green is a great in commercial roofing, but what about for residential roofing?

Read more articles related to: energy-efficient roofing green roof green roofing jim cory Roofing

Brett Hall/Joe Hall Roofing

Source: REPLACEMENT CONTRACTOR Magazine
Publication date: May 12, 2010

By Jim Cory
Ask a roofer what a green roof on a commercial building is and he probably has a clear idea of the options. It could be a vegetation roof installed on top of a water-proofing system or a roofing system designed to save on the cost of heating and cooling the building. Or it could be both. Many such systems exist because there's a market for them. Commercial building owners budget to replace their roofs on a regular basis, and reducing energy consumption, as well as prolonging the life of the roof and thus of the building, is always a goal.

Residential Green

But for residential steep-slope roofs, where exactly does green fit in? Obviously no one is going to plant a garden on a gable roof, since it would all slide off in the first hard rain. So is the concept of green roofing restricted to commercial roofing applications?
In Naples, Fla., roofer Ken Kelly, president of Kelly Roofing, doesn't think so. He is convinced that green is the way to go with residential roofing customers, so much so that he puts green roofing front and center on the company website. "Commercial customers are the ones with the deep pockets," he says. "They can afford the $500,000 photovoltaic system or the 5,000-square-foot roof garden. But green is as big an issue in residential as it is in commercial roofing. Homeowners are asking more questions about green than our commercial customers." Driven by changes in the Florida building code and a desire to save on air conditioning bills, Kelly Roofing customers are amenable to suggestions that green products such as solar-powered attic fans be included in their re-roofing jobs.

Interest, Awareness Vary by Market

For those working on residential roofs, green means a new roof installed with attention paid to emissivity - the degree to which the roof reflects heat and sunlight away from the building - reduced energy consumption, and the recycling of tear-off materials. Different products, different practices. Once incorporated into a company's procedures, customers are often open to these. But cost remains an issue, and not all homeowners are open to green roofing or green roofing products.
Roofers who attend trade shows and read trade magazines may know about green roofing products, but homeowners generally know little. "It hasn't taken off like it has in commercial," says Chris Kamis, owner of Absolute Roofing & Construction, in Parma, Ohio, which divides its business about evenly between commercial and residential jobs. Other companies find similar.
"The customer never brings it up," notes Brett Hall, president of Joe Hall Roofing, a Pantego, Texas, company that also does both commercial and residential roofs. Hall says that it's up to him to introduce homeowners to the subject of cooling the roof with enhanced ventilation and different shingle colors. And if people are getting a new roof because they're planning to move, as is often the case, "it's not that popular a subject. Why invest in something when they can never recoup the cost?"

Demonstrate by Example

Customers may not know that much about the subject, but Absolute Roofing is no stranger to green. Five years ago the company installed the roofing, siding, and gutters at Eco-Village, a 20-townhouse pilot project sponsored by the city of Cleveland and partly funded with federal money. In that case, the cost of using green products was a factor in landing the company the job, but not the only factor.
What was more important were LEED points earned by the builder/designer. And a year ago Absolute Roofing won the business of a Cleveland-area homeowner who required the bidders to show that they would recycle roofing tear-off. Absolute Roofing & Construction did so and won the job. But projects like these are rare. In many residential jobs, which make up 50% of the company's business, green for Absolute Roofing means installing shingles that absorb heat and are eligible for tax credits under the 2009-2010 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Kamis notes that one popular request in the green building line is rain barrels, which capture rainwater run-off and store it for reuse. Solar would be on the agenda, if the price put it within the average homeowner's reach. "Some people are a lot more sensitive about it than others," says Rod Menzel, co-owner of GreatWay Roofing, in Moorpark, Calif. "Some have the money to be environmentally friendly and green, and others don't."
Kelly Roofing found that the suggestion of switching from a shingle to a metal or tile roof in a re-roofing job — the metal product the company installs qualifies for tax credits — met with great receptivity from homeowners once the cost of installing a roof with any of those materials became relatively similar. Because green is all over Kelly Roofing's website, "our customers are expecting us to mention green in our presentation and to follow that up with some sort of green product," Kelly says. The company, which does business in a market where failure to recycle shingle tear-off results in a $500 fine, has "Follow Me To The Recycling Center" painted on the back of all its trucks.

Green in Increments

Other green products popular with roofing and home improvement contractors include radiant heat barriers, which reduce heat transfer through the attic by as much as 95%. Menzel says that there are a number of roofing systems his company uses to reduce heating and cooling costs in commercial products ? far fewer in residential. "We use the Solaris shingle by CertainTeed," he says — an Energy Star-qualified product that meets both emissivity and reflectivity standards. GreatWay Roofing has also seen strong demand for those same solar-powered attic fans, a hot product at this year's International Roofing Expo in New Orleans. But when it comes to big-ticket green items — say renewable energy projects such as solar systems to power the house — most residential roofers hang back. "There are some awesome ideas out there," Kamis says. "But there's not enough interest to make them practical and affordable in the market."Other home improvement companies are looking at eco-friendly roofing products that can be installed without committing to the cost of a totally green roof. Matt Weiner, general manager of Moonworks, in Rhode Island, says that his company is looking at products such as reflective shingles, although "in the Northeast it doesn't make that much difference." What does intrigue him, he says, are photovoltaic cells that can be integrated into an asphalt shingle roof. "It's a way to bring a greener product to the marketplace and differentiate us," he says. And in the end, a means to greater profitability and a higher close rate.

Not For the Faint of Heart

Hall brings up the subject of green roofing to let prospects know what kind of upgrade options are available when buying a new roof. "When we're talking about green, we're talking about ways to conserve energy in your home that relate to roofing," he says. It's as simple as that. And in Texas, where shingle recycling facilities are few, if they exist at all, the major opportunity for green roofing is in increasing emissivity and energy loss, which is chiefly caused by the roof baking away while air conditioning bills go up, up, up. "In Texas, green is emissivity. That's where they start having some return on investment," Hall says.
To prove the point, the president of Joe Hall Roofing decided to design the new home he is moving into this August with the greenest possible roof. That roof material is standing seam metal painted with a cool pigment. Underneath it is ice-and-water shield covering all the decking. Key to keeping the roof much cooler is the 1-inch pocket of air between that OSB decking and the 1-inch polyiso insulation panel. The roof system is fully vented, with removable soffit vents, for cleaning. The next step: a photovoltaic array on the roof.
Besides radically reducing what would typically be a $1,000 a month air conditioning bill during the summer, Hall will use the house to show prospects what green roofing looks like, what it feels like, and how well it works.
—Jim Cory, editor, REPLACEMENT CONTRACTOR.


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Roof and Attic Ventilation

Roof Ventilation Update

The construction industry's leading researcher explains why what we think is true often isn't, and how some of our best hunches, based on observation of field performance, have paid off with problem-free attic assemblies

by William B. Rose

I've gotten many calls over the years about attics and attic ventilation; almost invariably the caller is confused, having heard different things from different people. In this article, I'll discuss the performance of attic assemblies and try to shed light on why there are so many points of view about roof ventilation.

Research Findings
The temperature of a northern-climate roof we monitored throughout the 1990s is shown below (Figure 1). Here is a summary of the study: The roof gets cold at night and is hot during the day. It gets hotter on a sunny day than on a cloudy day. Attic assemblies with openings to the outdoors ("vented" attics) stay a bit cooler during the daytime than unvented assemblies. They also stay slightly warmer at night.


Figure 1. Sheathing temperatures are affected somewhat by roof ventilation, but many other factors play a bigger role.

Many factors influence the temperature on the roof. A prioritized list might include hour of day, outdoor air temperature, cloud cover, color of the roof, roof orientation, where the measurement is taken (sheathing or shingles, top or bottom), latitude, wind speed, rain or snow on the roof, heat conduction across attic insulation, roof framing type (truss or cathedral), and attic ventilation to the outdoors. As you can see, ventilation falls pretty far down the list.

To better understand how wind affects roof ventilation, Canadian researchers T.W. Forest and I.S. Walker measured the air exchange rate in attic assemblies using tracer gases. The graph below (Figure 2) gives us a feel for what they found. That is, air-change rates in the attic tended to increase with wind speed, but the amount of air change at a given wind speed was unpredictable. In fact, even with specific information about climate, construction type, and wind speed and direction, the resulting air-change rates may vary by a factor of 10 or more. Whether air flows out through a roof opening or in through that opening, and whether this airflow induces flow from indoors into the attic or helps dilute and remove moist air from the attic, can never be pinned down very well, except to say that wind is a more powerful factor than buoyancy (the "stack effect").


Figure 2. While higher wind speeds tend to increase attic ventilation, the relationship is a weak one: Ventilation rates at a given wind speed can vary by a factor of 10.

For the most part, roof assemblies behave like any wood structure — they are wetter when cold and drier when warm. Roof assemblies tend to be hot, thanks to the sun, so they tend to be dry. Of course, if the roof leaks, that becomes the biggest source of wetness. High moisture levels indoors or in basements or crawlspaces can also increase moisture levels in the roof. Roof members can become particularly wet or covered with frost near holes in the ceiling or leaks in attic ductwork, where humid air enters the attic. It was the formation of local frost "walnuts" like those shown on the next page (Figure 3) that led researchers in the late 1930s to recommend attic ventilation. (If only they had offered to seal up the ceiling instead!)


Figure 3. Moist interior air leaking through a hole in the ceiling can produce moldy sheathing or frost on a roof truss. This photo by the author shows results from the Attic Performance Project.

Many attic assemblies are built with vents to the outdoors on the presumption that outdoor air will enter the attic and dilute moisture coming from indoors or from the foundation. The further presumption is that indoor air is wet and outdoor air is dry. Both of these assumptions are often false. If there are openings in the ceiling, then air movement in the attic can induce airflow from below, or dilute air from below, or do nothing, in ways that are just plain unpredictable no matter how much research is done. Attic air movement can also induce flow into the living space below, which is a nasty problem when the air conditioning is running.

Observations in the Field
Suppose that the picture of attic ventilation provided by physics, described above, doesn't quite cut it. Too many qualifications; nothing pinned down. Then we can go to our own observations and experiences, subjective and incomplete as they may be. Here's my main finding: Attic assemblies built over the last 15 years or so are pretty good. They may be a crapshoot in building-physics terms, but the crapshoot is heavily biased toward good performance.

Let's look at attic assemblies by component:

Truss construction seems to do quite well. There are disasters that occur during construction. Truss uplift continues to be a problem requiring cosmetic fixes. The industry has, for the most part, discontinued the use of fire-retardant treatment of truss members, thereby avoiding what was a serious concern for several years. The truss heels in many cases still fail to provide the height necessary for good insulation. Attics have become a forest of truss webs, and thus are less usable for attic storage space. But the overall picture is good (at least by my observations).

Gypsum wallboard ceilings have shown improvement. The message seems to have gotten out that ceilings must be airtight — there is no justification, summer or winter, for allowing indoor air or foundation air to pass into attic cavities. The common culprits, such as framed soffits over kitchen cabinets, open oversized plumbing or mechanical chases, and leaky can lights, are going away in most construction where the word has gotten out. Weatherization of existing buildings has kept the focus on closing off any ceiling bypasses. In my experience, most truss-framed attics do fine without special vapor-barrier membranes in the ceiling, but in cold locations, cathedral ceilings may need vapor protection just as walls do.

Insulation. Regarding insulation, most areas of the country have healthy amounts in the attic — R-30 in general and R-38 in northern areas. Cellulose provides good insulation and helps block airflow. Fiberglass, in sufficient density and with good installation, also provides good thermal insulation. Foam insulation is being used more commonly, and has become the material of choice for residential air-sealing. Structural insulated panels (SIPs) work fine, as long as the airflow problem at joints is addressed. Foam insulation has been sprayed on the underside of board and wood-panel sheathing with great success. Insulated panels (often polyisocyanurate) make for good roof-deck assemblies, as we know from commercial low-slope construction, where the foam insulation is often sandwiched between the structural roof deck and the roofing membrane. (All foam needs fire protection, of course.) Open-cell foams such as Icynene may need more vapor protection than closed-cell foams, which have greater resistance to vapor flow.

Vapor barriers still cause squabbling, but most builders know that moisture flow from below comes mostly through holes in the ceiling. Cathedral ceilings require special care in insulation placement and vapor protection. But the new code provisions should encourage insulated sheathing materials or insulated "sandwich" assemblies that resist moisture transport and heat flow as a package. With these roof assemblies (I call them "insulated vapor retarders" or "fat vapor retarders"), the inside surface stays close to indoor conditions, the outside surface stays close to outdoor conditions, and nothing bad happens in the middle. Our laboratory has had such an assembly in place for more than 15 years, with one inch of foil-faced polyisocyanurate insulation directly beneath the OSB decking; the sheathing gets hot during the day, but the OSB above the foam insulation is the driest sheathing of all. Remember: Hot means dry.

Ductwork in unconditioned attic assemblies is not ideal. It's best to place all ductwork in conditioned spaces.

OSB has become the universal sheathing material, by economic and environmental necessity. But we still know too little about the moisture performance of this material, such as under what conditions it will begin to fail. In my laboratory, we have seen the material swell by 50 percent or more under extreme conditions. Will it begin to show signs of sagging between trusses, or will workers be putting their feet through it at the time of reroofing? I don't know, but the absence of signs of product failure in the field — at least to my drive-by observations — is reassuring. Nevertheless, I look forward to the day when the marketplace provides a product with more clearly established performance characteristics. I'll be a strong supporter.

Shingles. I'm reviewing the condition of the shingles installed on our research laboratory in 1989; after 18 years, signs of aging are appearing. We hope to conduct laboratory tests to pin down and better quantify the shingle performance and the factors that influence it. The aging we see shows some temperature effect: The white shingles are in better shape than the dark, and a few of the most aged-looking shingles are found on the hottest bay, the one with foam directly on the underside of the sheathing. Without the numbers to go by, we must rely on observation, and our observations suggest that performance depends on other factors besides the presence or absence of ventilation and whether the assembly is truss-framed or cathedral ceiling.

Of course, natural weathering tests that began 18 years ago say little about shingles that are made today. I sense that the shingle industry is currently producing dimension shingles that seem to lie quite flat, resist wind uplift, and hang on to their UV-protecting granules. I don't know how to reroof over dimension shingles, and it does seem unfriendly to the landfill to have that much more mass in the shingle. Nevertheless, my drive-by observations show a lot of good-performing shingles going on roofs over the last couple of decades, and that is very reassuring.

Roof vents. Many years ago, we measured the "net free area" of about a dozen ridge-vent materials. (We used an apparatus that measures the pressure drop across a vent device with great accuracy.) We found that ridge vents with large openings (minimum opening dimension around 1/4 inch) had an equivalent net free area very close to their rated capacity. Vent devices with small openings — or with filter fabrics, or scrims — performed much worse, as much as 75 percent less than their rated area. (If you want to know how restrictive a vent device is, use your imagination — if it looks like air would have a hard time moving through, it probably does.)

This discrepancy would be a big deal, I suppose, for someone who felt that vent regulations were critical to attic performance. I don't, so for me, having vent devices with less airflow than advertised is not a cause for concern.

Building Codes
You — and your building code inspectors — may be unaware that the 2006 version of the IRC for one- and two-family dwellings permits attic construction with no ventilation of the attic cavity. This new provision, R806.4, is largely due to the efforts of Joseph Lstiburek, Armin Rudd, and their colleagues. In brief, unvented conditioned attic assemblies are permitted when an air-impermeable insulation such as rigid foam is applied in direct contact to the underside/interior of the structural roof deck, with sufficient thickness — given the climate — to prevent condensation on the underside (see "Insulating Unvented Attics With Spray Foam," 3/07).

This new provision is a direct challenge to the rule of thumb that has been in place for 50 years, which says that you have to vent a steep-roof attic so the ratio of net free vent area to the projected roof area is 1-to-300 (or 1-to-150 when using "cross ventilation" rather than soffit and ridge vents). This ratio arose from observations of frost on protruding nail points in Wisconsin homes by researchers at the Forest Products Laboratory in 1937, and frost on aluminum plates in research "doghouses" at the University of Minnesota in 1938, under "outdoor" conditions of -13°F.

The Federal Housing Authority turned these findings into the famous 1-300 ratio in 1942, to be applied as a minimum building requirement for the small homes in its financing program. The requirements were picked up by model codes and others following World War II, and the rest, as they say, is history. Shingle manufacturers did not begin piggybacking their warranties on venting regulations until reports of shingle problems began piling up following the change in asphalt sources in the early 1980s.

To Vent or Not
Every designer and builder should be able to produce good attic and roof assemblies, both with and without ventilation — or anything in between — with just part of a conventional ventilation system. For example, from our studies, roof assemblies that have holes but not necessarily straight airflow paths (one gable end vent, or soffit-only) should also be candidates for good performance. And although unvented roof assemblies can perform well, there are still good reasons to vent: The truss-framed, steep-roof attic with an insulated ceiling has been the workhorse of single-family construction, and ventilation works well with this construction, at least in the northern United States.

In some cases, there are also good reasons not to vent: in wildfire areas, in complex cathedral ceiling assemblies, in existing and historic buildings that have never had ventilation, in shed roofs beneath clerestory windows, with foam insulation (foam and ventilation do not go together — think fire), and in complex roof assemblies that combine steep and low-slope construction. I've also heard persuasive arguments against venting in hurricane-prone regions, but I'm not an expert in that area. In short, since critical performance doesn't hinge on ventilation, then either vent, no-vent, or an in-between "kinda"-vent can be taken as the starting point. Whether the choice works or not depends mostly on other factors.

So you should vent where venting is appropriate and not vent where it is not appropriate. As it turns out, the worst-performing, most mold-ridden attics I have seen were vented — with a flooded crawlspace and a direct path for air movement from the crawlspace to the attic. You can mess up a vented attic by allowing such airflow. You can mess up an unvented attic as well, usually by not providing vapor protection appropriate to the climate and indoor moisture levels. Tight ceilings would be a great first step toward moisture control, summer and winter.

Conclusions
The father of a colleague of mine says that when the word "ventilation" comes out, people stop using their heads. Vented assemblies often perform well, but not always. Sometimes roofs appear to be vented but actually aren't. Still, we can take comfort in the observation, based on years of experience, that our attic assemblies are pretty darn good, and — in my opinion — they're getting better. We need to constantly be on the lookout for new conditions and new problems, as they crop up.

Those of you working in the trenches should continue to build in a way that complies with code and that you know works for your climate. For more information about ice damming, summer cooling load, shingle service life, and moisture issues, visit www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/pdf1999/tenwo99a.pdf (TenWolde and Rose, "Issues Related to Venting of Attics and Cathedral Ceilings"). For all four of these concerns, ventilation makes a contribution that is generally more positive than negative, but it hardly ever makes the difference between success and failure.

For the most part, the focus of codes, researchers, designers, and builders on roof ventilation is misplaced. Instead, the focus should be on building an airtight ceiling, which is far more important than roof ventilation in all climates and all seasons. The major causes of moisture problems in attics and roofs are holes in the ceiling and paths for unwanted airflow from basements and crawlspaces. People should focus first on preventing air and moisture from leaking into the attic. Once this is accomplished, roof ventilation becomes pretty much a nonissue.

William B. Rose is a research architect with the Building Research Council at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and the author of Water in Buildings: An Architect's Guide to Moisture and Mold. This article was adapted from The JLC Guide to Moisture Control.

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Green & Eco Friendly Roofing Options

Eco-friendly Roofing OptionsChoose from a variety of durable and environmentally friendly roofing materials.  Let Scott's Contracting supply a FREE Green Roofing Estimate for your next roof. 

Scotts Contracting offers Roofing Options that carry a "LIFE TIME GUARANTY" with prices that Start at $5 / SQ FT

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June/July 2010

By Dan Chiras 

Most homeowners have to replace their roof shingles at some point. Exposed to sunlight, heat, cold, rain, wind, and sometimes snow, sleet and hail, conventional asphalt shingle roofs last 20 years, if you're lucky.

Recycled Shingles

Among the most popular — and perhaps the "greenest" — of all roofing products are shingles made from recycled waste materials, such as plastic, rubber or wood fiber. Some products are made from clean post-consumer waste (waste from homes), others from post-industrial waste (factory waste). Recycled-content shingles are amazingly durable, and they look nice, too. You'd never know they were made from "waste" materials!
Recycled-content roof shingles help divert waste from landfills and reduce our need to extract and process raw materials, which lowers energy consumption and reduces pollution. Some of these products are recyclable, too, and many come with amazing 50-year warranties. A few even carry fire ratings that could lower your insurance rates.

Wood Shingles and Shakes

In many parts of the country, wood shingles and shakes have long been a popular choice among builders and homeowners. Unfortunately, conventional wood shingles are made from old-growth western cedar. Although the amount of energy it takes to produce this product is relatively low, the harvest of old-growth trees is not sustainable in the long run. These shingles are also quite combustible and can no longer be used in areas where there is a risk of brush and forest fires.
If you would like to install wood roof shingles and local building codes permit them, consider a product made from reclaimed lumber. The Armster Reclaimed Lumber Co. in Connecticut, for example, makes roof shingles using wood reclaimed from mills, bridges, old water and wine tanks, and a number of other sources. This company acquires old wood throughout the country and makes an effort to process it locally — close to where you purchase the product — to reduce costs and transportation energy.
Another environmentally friendly wood shingle is produced by Maibec Industries in eastern Canada. The company harvests sustainably grown (certified by the Forest Stewardship Council) eastern white cedar trees to produce shakes and shingles. These are most commonly used for siding, but they can be used for roofs, if installed according to the company's recommendations.

Make Good Wood Choices

Almost half the world's original forests have disappeared, one-fifth since the late 1950s....

If you'd like a roof that will outlast a conventional asphalt shingle roof and is made from environmentally friendly roofing materials, consider the products outlined here. Many of them are virtually immune to hail. Green roofing products are many and varied, ranging from recycled-plastic shingles to recycled-metal roofs to sustainably harvested or reclaimed wood roofs. The best option for your home depends on the design of your home, local building codes and price considerations.

Slate and Clay Tiles

Slate is a natural material and produces an extremely durable roof tile — one that can last hundreds of years. Several companies offer slate tiles, and one company offers a 100- year warranty, a deal that will expire long after most of us.
Mining slate and transporting it to market is an energy-intensive process, but several slate roof tile manufacturers offer salvaged slate and clay roof tiles. Durable Slate in Ohio sells both. Clay tiles also are a highly durable roofing material, although they won't last as long as slate.

Metal Roofing

Many metal roofing products include at least some recycled material, but one advantage of metal roofing is that it can be recycled at the end of its life. Because metal roofs can last up to 50 years, roofing replacement is less frequent, which means less waste in the long run. They offer exceptional durability and fire-resistance, and they're ideal for those who want to collect rainwater from their roofs to water gardens (or for household uses). You don't have to worry about chemicals that might leach from a conventional asphalt roof. Standing-seam metal roofs work nicely as the base for thin-film photovoltaic panels, too.
Metal roofs are great in snowy climates because they allow snow to slide off, which prevents ice dams from forming. (Ice dams can damage roofs of improperly insulated homes.) To protect walkways from snow sliding off the roof, you'll need to install snow bars or a similar device over walkways, garage doors and entryways.

Rubber Roofing

Another recycled roof material is reinforced rubber shingles made from old steel-belted radial tires. The material is coated with ground slate for texture and comes in a variety of colors. A big advantage to this material is a long life and a 50-year warranty, including against hail and other extreme weather. Verify with your local building department that rubber roofs are permitted in your area before choosing this option.

Roofing Tips

Roofing is not a job for the inexperienced. It involves working at dangerous heights — possibly on steep slopes — and lifting heavy materials. Roofing requires a considerable amount of knowledge and skill, too. So, unless you've done this kind of work before, are skilled in carpentry, and perhaps have guidance from a professional roofer, this is a job best left to the pros. Read up on safety precautions before you consider doing any roof work, and never work alone.
There's a wide variety of eco-friendly roofing products, so compare your options carefully. Be sure to check the materials' fire ratings, hail ratings and warranties. Call your insurance agent to see whether the product you're considering will qualify you for a discount on your homeowner's insurance.
To re-roof your home, you'll likely need to obtain a building permit and pass an inspection. Be sure your building department approves the shingle product you've selected before you lay your money down!
Although the products discussed in this article offer many benefits, they do have some downsides. Some of them are not as widely available as conventional roofing products, so you may have to shop around to find the option you want. Many green building material outlets sell roofing products. Green Building Products: The GreenSpec Guide to Residential Building Materials provides a helpful listing of environmentally friendly products and manufacturers.
You may also have to shop around to find a roofing contractor who is familiar with the product you're interested in using. Some of these products are relatively new to the market and, although they've been tested, not many roofers have experience with them. When shopping for an environmentally friendly shingle, try to talk to roofers who have installed it, not just to a salesperson. Also ask your roofing contractor whether your old asphalt shingles can be recycled. Some companies grind asphalt shingles to create products for roadway maintenance and repair.

Additional Notes: If you're interested in a slate or clay tile roof, either new or recycled, remember the framing of your roof needs to be strong enough to support the weight of these tiles, which can be substantial. You may need to consult with a structural engineer or with your building department to determine whether your framing is up to the task.

The Cost of a Metal Roof vs. Other Options
Eco-friendly roofing products typically cost more than asphalt shingles — sometimes two to four times more — but you most likely get a product that will outlast two or three conventional roofs, saving you substantially over the long term. You may also qualify for lower insurance rates. These benefits add value to your home, whether you stay there or sell it, and you're also helping promote a healthier, more sustainable world.
Metal roof cost estimate: Installation of standing-seam metal roofing on 2,500-squarefoot, two-story house (area of the roof estimated at 1,500 square feet), does not include cost of removing old shingles:
Cost for materials only: $6,300
Contractor's total, including materials, labor and markup: $9,800 (about $6.53 per square foot)
Other options, per square foot installed:
Laminated, asphalt, 30-year shingles: $3.15
Cedar shingles: $6.65
Clay tile: $9.20
Costs are national averages and do not include sales tax.

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Cool Roofs That Reduce Air-Conditioning Bills

Consider a cool roofing material if you live in a hot, sunny climate. Cool roofs reflect heat instead of absorb it, which helps make your home more comfortable and reduce air conditioning costs. Check with your local building department or neighborhood association for possible roof color restrictions.

Let Scott's Contracting supply a FREE Green Roofing Estimate for your next roof. 
Scotts Contracting offers Roofing Options that carry a "LIFE TIME GUARANTY" with prices that Start at $5 / SQ FT

Email: scottscontracting@gmail.com
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Green Roof Facts

 Scotts Contracting can assist in the Construction of your next Green Roof.  Offering Services for the Greater St Louis Region.

Green roofs and living walls offer many benefits, including cooling buildings, reducing storm-water runoff, providing wildlife habitat, growing food and creating jobs.

What Is a Green Roof?

A green roof is an extension of a new or existing roof that involves a high-quality water proofing and root re-pellant system, a drainage system, filter cloth, a lightweight growing medium and plants. Green roof systems may be modular, with drainage layers, filter cloth, growing media and plants already prepared in movable, interlocking grids, or, each component may be installed separately. Green roof development involves the creation of "contained" green space on top of a human-made structure. This green space could be below, at or above grade, but in all cases the plants are not planted in the "ground."

One Size Does Not Fit All

There is no single type of green roof that works for all buildings, climates and client needs. Green roofs can be categorized as "intensive" or "extensive," depending on the depth of growing medium. Six inches or less growing medium depth is an extensive roof, also characterized by its lower weight, lower plant diversity, cost and maintenance. Intensive green roofs have more than six inches of growing media and tend to have higher plant diversity, higher weight, cost and maintenance.

Green Roofs Moderate Building Temperatures

One benefit green roofs provide is increased savings on heating and cooling energy costs. Results vary according to size of the building, climate and type of green roof, but when Environment Canada ran a simulation, they found that a typical one-story building with a grass roof and 3.9 inches (10 cm) of growing medium would result in a 25% reduction in summer cooling needs. Field experiments by Karen Liu in Ottawa found that a 6-inch extensive green roof reduced heat gains by 95% and heat losses by 26% compared to a conventional reference roof.

Reducing Urban Heat Island Effect and Pollution

Green roofs decrease the cost of meeting greenhouse gas reductions and adapting to climate change by reducing the "urban heat island effect" -- the phenomenon of metropolitan areas being significantly warmer than surrounding rural areas, due to the heat-reflecting nature of concrete and other man-made materials and the release of heat from air-conditioning systems and machinery. The reintroduction of vegetation into cities promotes natural cooling by absorbing, instead of reflecting, the sun's rays, and through evapotranspiration. Traditional black roofs can reach temperatures of 158°F/70°C, and as a result have an enormous effect on building and ground level temperatures. One study concluded that 25% green roof coverage can reduce the urban heat island effect by up to 1.8°F/1°C. Green roofs can also mitigate air pollution levels by trapping particulates and capturing harmful gases.By Damon van der Linde and Steven Peck

Read more Green Roofing Facts Here :

Scotts Contracting can assist in the Construction of  Your Next Green Roof. 

Serving the Greater St Louis Region.

If you are interested in Green Building on an Investment Property Check out the Benton Gut Rehab Blog Series-Benton Gut Rehab Green Blog Series

Part 1: History

Part 2: Stone Foundation Repair

Part 3: Tuckpointing the Brick Walls pt 1

Part 4: Tuckpointing the Brick Walls pt 2

Part 5: What were they thinking?

Part 6: Paint Pro Tip #35

Part 7: Repairing Water Damage-Exterior Wall

Part 8: 1st Floor Weatherization

Part 9: See the Difference a Little White Paint Makes

Part 10: Interior Framing-Plumbing-Laundry Room

Part 11: Kitchen Framing Tip #36-Benton Rehab Project

Part 12: Water Main Repair- Benton Rehab

Part 13: Benton Rehab Project Drywall Installation and Tip: Number 1172

Scott's Contracting

scottscontracting@gmail.com

http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.com

Benton Project Stage 2 Dismantling Roof Demolition

Stage 2 Benton Rehab Warehouse Roof-Before Photo

With the Dumpster delivered and parked in the bay the crew has started removing the roof-despite the rain StLouis has been getting as of late.

We estimate the Roof we are removing was 50 years old and was originally a rock ballast roof system with an additional 4-5 layers of patching.

Tearing Off the Existing Roof-Stage 2 Benton Project

Tearing Off the Existing Roof-Stage 2 Benton Project

Parking the Dumpster in the Warehouse Bay we estimate will save 1 days worth of  Labor for the Crew and makes our lives much easier for the roof tear off!

Despite the Rain the Crew is making good progress with removing the existing roof with 1/4 to 1/3 of the old roof removed.

See additional photos of the project at Google Plus






Thank you for stopping by St Louis Renewable Energy. Feel free to comment in the section below or contact Scotts Contracting- St Louis Home Improvement Projects and Energy Reducing Needs Get Your Green Building Tips and Resources at St Louis Renewable Energy Green Blog

Roofing Underlayment- Local Supplier

As a Green Builder Part of what Scotts Contracting Offers is to bring St Louis Area Green Building Resources-

Email Scotts contracting for the building of your next roof.

Under All

Do you really need underlayment on your sloped roofs?

By:

Nigel F. Maynard

A New Generation of Underlayment Can Help Roofs Perform

Do you really need underlayment on your sloped roofs?

A New Generation of Underlayment Can Help Roofs Perform

Do you really need underlayment on your sloped roofs?

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  LINER NOTES: RoofLiner is a lightweight, premium synthetic roofing underlayment that helps prevent leaking. Offering a Class A fire rating, it's made from Elvaloy AC copolymer and can be used with a variety of roofing types including asphalt shingles, clay, concrete, fiber cement, and metal tiles. Each roll measures 48 inches wide.  DuPont Building Innovations. 800-448-9835. www.roofing.dupont.com.
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  MAXX TOP: MAXX TITAN is a waterproof membrane that allows roofs to breathe. It has a shiny silver coating that reflects up to 50 percent of radiant energy, helping keep homes cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, and features a bottom sponge-like layer that protects wood roof rafters and sheathing by absorbing excess moisture.  Cosella-Dorken Products. 888-433-5824. www.cosella-dorken.com.
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  SURROUND SOUND: Surround SR underlayment is a tear-resistant roofing underlayment that offers secondary protection against moisture intrusion. Made from a waterproof polymer, the product is lightweight, easy to install, and slip-resistant. It features five times more material in one roll than 30-pound felt, the company says, and its rolls are 40 percent lighter and 25 percent wider than felt.  Fiberweb. 800-284-2780. www.surroundtypar.com
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  Opus Roof Blanket. (PRNewsFoto/Propex Operating Company, LLC)
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  MAGNUM OPUS: Opus Roof Blanket is touted as being superior to both felt paper and plastic sheeting underlayment. Its composition gives it a slip-resistant surface, and its blanket surface makes it easy for roofers to snap a chalk line. Lightweight and easy to work with, the product stays cool in summer and works in freezing temperatures.  Propex Operating Co. 404-276-6394. www.opusroofblanket.com.
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  STICK IT: Making underlayment installation simple and easy, new Peel-N-Stick Felt is the industry's first and only saturated felt underlayment with a release film backing that can be peeled off, according to its maker. It requires no cap nails or staples for installation. It will be available in every state except Florida.  TAMKO Building Products. 800-641-4691. www.tamko.com.

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Most builders spend a lot of time and money making sure the walls of their homes remain weather proof, using a moisture management routine that involves housewraps, home slickers, and flashing. The roof, however, seems to be another matter entirely.
Some of the same construction professionals take a more relaxed approach to their roofs. They may install an ice and water shield on the first 3 feet of the roof or use 15-pound felt on the entire deck, but that's the extent of their program. Felt is an old standby, they say, allowing the roof to breathe and shed moisture. These builders also say they have not had any problems using this construction method, which raises the question: Is it really necessary for builders to use some type of underlayment between the roof deck and the roofing material?
"Generally, yes," says Maureen M. Mahle of Steven Winter Associates, based in New York City. "The purpose of underlayment is to serve as a secondary drainage plane. Water can and will penetrate the roofing at some point. Underlayment provides a 'flashing' to direct that water away from seams, joints, and vulnerable places in the building assembly."
Underlayment functions much like housewrap: It protects the roof deck from bulk water, but it allows the deck to breathe and release moisture from inside the home.
The preferred method of roofing protection in the old days was asphalt-saturated felt building paper, says the Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH), a joint venture between the home building industry and federal agencies. But now the builder's weapon of choice is synthetic underlayment.
"Mimicking the attributes of housewraps, synthetic roof underlayments are now available to serve the same function as a secondary weather barrier with better resistance to tearing, moisture, and ultraviolet rays than traditional roofing felt," PATH writes on its website.
These products are made from a variety of materials, such as polypropylene, polyester, and fiberglass fabric. They are lighter in weight than felt building paper and usually can be exposed to weather for six months.
"Moisture resistance and hardiness make synthetic underlayment a good choice as a secondary weather-resistant barrier under roof cladding," PATH says. "Polypropylene and similar synthetic materials resist moisture, tearing, and degradation from UV rays, making them a durable, relatively long-term covering that can be used for disaster response. Fire-rated synthetic underlayments can provide added protection against fire spreading through the roof in multifamily housing and/or in regions of the country that are prone to wildfires."
Earlier this year, Wilmington, Del.–based DuPont Building Innovations introduced RoofLiner, a lightweight synthetic roofing underlayment that the company says provides excellent protection against leaks as well as enhanced durability and tear resistance. "Durable, high-quality roof underlayment is the foundation of any roofing system," said Alan Hubbell, DuPont's marketing manager for builders and remodelers, in a statement for the product's introduction. "The competitive pricing and enhanced features of DuPont RoofLiner make this product a welcome addition to the DuPont Weatherization Products portfolio," he added.
Joplin, Mo.–based TAMKO Building Products has a new introduction of its own. The company says its Peel-N-Stick Felt is the industry's first and only saturated felt underlayment with a release film backing that can be peeled off and the underlayment applied directly to the roof deck—making it easy to install, says Stephen McNally, TAMKO's vice president of sales and marketing.
Installing underlayment is no different than installing felt. It might even be easier. Some underlayments require fasteners but, on the plus side, underlayment weighs a lot less than felt. Some have self-adhering features so a little peeling and sticking are all that would be required. PATH says synthetic underlayments may cost about 30 percent more than felt, but "labor cost should remain the same or decrease."
But what about builders who say they don't use underlayment yet have not had any callbacks? As one reader wrote in a forum on the website of The Journal of Light Construction (one of Builder's sister publications), "I've removed old roofs that had NO underlay and didn't leak during their term."
The decision to use underlayment, Mahle says, is somewhat dependent on roofing type. "It's much more typical in shingles, slates, etc.," she explains. Still, she advises not to risk building a house without one. "We would recommend it under all types of roofing on sloped roofs," she says. It's a good idea under standing seam metal … but less critical. To my mind, the only exception would be membrane roofing [typically flat roofs]." Mahle adds, "I wouldn't go without one in any climate where you have above [average] potential for strong winds with rain."

Email Scotts contracting for the building of your next roof.

If you are interested in Green Building on an Investment Property Check out the Benton Gut Rehab Blog Series-Benton Gut Rehab Green Blog Series

Part 1: History

Part 2: Stone Foundation Repair

Part 3: Tuckpointing the Brick Walls pt 1

Part 4: Tuckpointing the Brick Walls pt 2

Part 5: What were they thinking?

Part 6: Paint Pro Tip #35

Part 7: Repairing Water Damage-Exterior Wall

Part 8: 1st Floor Weatherization

Part 9: See the Difference a Little White Paint Makes

Part 10: Interior Framing-Plumbing-Laundry Room

Part 11: Kitchen Framing Tip #36-Benton Rehab Project

Part 12: Water Main Repair- Benton Rehab

Part 13: Benton Rehab Project Drywall Installation and Tip: Number 1172

--
Scott's Contracting
scottscontracting@gmail.com

Why is there ICE in my Attic and where did it come from?

• Ice Dams are created when the Hot Moist Air Rises from the Interior of the Building.  
• Any snow built up on the roof will now also thaw and refreeze at the gutter area and build up eventually working its way under the shingles and into the home.

• As the Hot Moist Air Rises into the Attic and meets the Roof Framing System.  Condensation Occurs on the Cold Framing Members consisting of: Rafters, Roof Trusses, Roof Decking

• As the Condensation Cools the Moisture in the Air Freezes on the Roof System and is why venting the attic is suggested.

Example 1 of how Ice Dams Form in the Attic 

Example 2 of How Ice Dams Form in the Attic

Read how Ice Dams are Prevented in upcoming Blog Post or 

view prior Green Blog Posts on Attic and Attic Insulation

Roof and Attic Ventilation | St Louis Renewable Energy

Oct 25, 2010

The construction industry's leading researcher explains why what we think is true often isn't, and how some of our best hunches, based on observation of field performance, have paid off with problem-free attic assemblies. by William B. Rose ...

http://stlouisrenewableenergy.blogspot.com/

Attic Insulation and Attic Energy Solutions | St Louis Renewable ...

Jul 19, 2010

-Attic Insulation-I've put a little information to help assist in explaining 'Attic Insulation for a Home'. I take a whole house approach to improve a Home's Energy Reduction Needs. The Attic Area and Attic insulation being just ...

http://stlouisrenewableenergy.blogspot.com/

Attic Insulation | St Louis Renewable Energy

Aug 27, 2011

Attic Insulation. - Proper Insulation Levels in your Attic coupled with Ventilation will save you Money on your Energy Bills. Certified Insulation Installer for: Batt Type, Spray Foam, Loose Fill-. Green and Eco Friendly options are always available.

http://stlouisrenewableenergy.blogspot.com/

Snow on Roof or Lack Snow is a sure sign... | St Louis Renewable ...

Nov 27, 2010

Lack of Insulation In the Attic; Air Infiltration from the Interior of the House into the Attic Area; Uninsulated Heating Ducts inside the Attic. Scotts Contracting can Inspect your Attic for Proper: Insulation Levels; Adequate Ventilation; Uninsulated ...

http://stlouisrenewableenergy.blogspot.com/

Weatherization Tips- Home | St Louis Renewable Energy

Jul 03, 2011

Attic Insulation-I've put a little information to explain Attic Insulation for a Home. It takes a whole house approach to Reduce a Home's Energy Needs. The Attic Area and Attic insulation being just one area. When Combined with a Green ...

http://stlouisrenewableenergy.blogspot.com/

Snow on Roof-Opportunity to Check Insulation Level | St Louis ...

Mar 27, 2011

Snow on Roof-Opportunity to Check Insulation Level. This last snow we received yesterday is the perfect opportunity to see if your attic is properly insulated. Take a look at the Roof of your Home. -Lack of Snow on your Roof is a sure indication ...

http://stlouisrenewableenergy.blogspot.com/

Insulation, Energy Audit, and Weatherization Services for St Louis ...

Oct 19, 2011

With my Preliminary Figures using a Guesstimate ($400) on your current Energy Bill and using the Dept of Energy's Estimate of 20% Savings for attic retrofits. I've determined that by Sealing your Air Leaks and Adding Insulation to the Attic the ...

http://stlouisrenewableenergy.blogspot.com/

Thank you for stopping by St Louis Renewable Energy. Feel free to comment in the section below or contact Scotts Contracting- St Louis Home Improvement Projects and Energy Reducing Needs Get Your Green Building Tips and Resources at St Louis Renewable Energy Green Blog

sponsored by:

How To Save Money And Make Your Business Sustainable

For businesses large and small, there is a continuing quest to make operations more eco-friendly and sustainable as part of the growing clamour to be a leader in social responsibility. In many cases, running a more sustainable operation means that there are also significant money savings to be made. What are the best options available to both large and small businesses, which will reduce their carbon footprint as well as make their bottom line look healthier?

Guest Post courtesy of Scotts Contracting, St Louis Renewable Energy

Premises

One of the growing trends in building design is that of the ETFE roof. As well as being prominent in many modern designs, the understanding of the impact an ETFE roof can have on a business has seen it become a highly sought after solution by many business owners. Whether it is building their own premises or renting a commercial property, ensuring the building has an ETFE roof can lead to many ecological and financial benefits for a business.

Benefits of using an ETFE roof include:

· Cheaper and greener construction than glass, as well as weighing only 1% of the equivalent area of glass, meaning other environmentally damaging construction materials do not need to be used as much in supporting the roof structure.

· Much higher levels of light transmission than glass, meaning the building can benefit from much lower lighting costs – both an environmental and financial plus!

· An ETFE roof acts as a natural insulator for a building, so similar to the last point, a building will see their heating usage and subsequent bills reduced massively. With most heat from buildings lost through the roof, ETFE could well be the answer you need.

Owners of small business are often paralysed by the feeling that they are unable to have any wide impact on the overall environment; however by choosing a premises with an ETFE roof they will be doing exactly that. The financial benefits also associated with ETFE roofing can also be a huge incentive to new businesses looking to reduce costs.

Alternatives

There are other many widely used alternatives that business owners can use to save money. Building a premises, or renting one, with an ETFE roof is not always possible, so what are the other options available?

· Cut down carbon emissions caused by journeys to work – are any of your team able to work from home? Even considering a property with an ETFE roof, do you need a premises at all?

· Use energy monitoring and saving appliances throughout your business to reduce usage and costs.

· Ensure you recycle as much as possible.

By carrying out these small, simple, yet massively effective steps, you can potentially save your business a lot of money moving forward. Try and affiliate yourself with an environmental awareness group or another that produces certifications, so you can build your credibility as an environmentally aware and friendly business, while all the time continuing to grow profits.

URL: http://www.vector-foiltec.com/
Keywords: ETFE roof


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