the ultimate guide to
green roofing options
We’ve shared plenty of tips and tricks with you on how to remove mold, algae, and moss from your roof and why you should never let anything grow on your shingles. But, did you know there are roofs designed specifically for plants to grow on them? If you’re looking for more ways to help the environment, this guide to green roofing options will help you plan for a roof that’ll protect your home and the ecosystem.
How Green Roofs Are Made
Don’t let those plants grow just yet! While asphalt and wood shingle roofs are more susceptible to damage, even metal, tile, and slate shingles can be harmed by plant growth. As moss and other plants grow and spread, they can creep under your shingles, lifting them and causing areas vulnerable to water damage. If you want a green roof, it’s critical to have a roof specifically designed to house plants.
Like any other roofing material, green roofs are set and laid with a waterproofing layer of underlayment. On top of that, large trays are placed to keep roots and water separated from the roof decking. These trays are filled with different layers of dirt and rocks and are finally settled with the sprouts. It is a fun and creative way to keep the sky gardens in full bloom.
Types Of Rooftop Plants & Their Benefits
Rooftop gardens are not only fun and creative. They’re also incredibly eco-friendly!
- Most commonly used on green roofs, moss is nature’s best air filter. Studies have shown that moss can eat air pollution and then replace it with up to 80% more oxygen levels. A small yard of moss can soak up more pollution than over two hundred mature trees. It has been shown to be so highly effective, that there are now air purifiers created with moss filters.
- Add a pop of color and save the bees with some flowering plants on your roof! Prairie clover, Stonecrop, and Columbine are just a few types of flowers that are native to Indiana and offer nectar to pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds (find more native plants). As native species, these are all extremely receptive to the Midwest climate. However, some can grow relatively tall and may require maintenance to keep them under control.
- Buffalo grass is regularly used for lawns because of its tremendous tolerance to drought, extreme climates, frequent traffic, and low stature which reduces the need for maintenance. For these same reasons, buffalo grass is a great option for green roofing. Additionally, it is highly resistant to diseases and pests, while offering a naturally beneficial safe haven for spiders, ants, beetles, and many other insects.
Modern Green Roofs
If you aren’t ready to replace your shingles with plants, we completely understand. On top of the choices, costs, and maintenance, many homeowners associations do not allow these types of green roofs as they can look messy. Fortunately, this is not the kind of green roofing Clayton Hoover and Sons specializes in. We make sure that our products aren’t just great for your home, but also great for the rest of the environment.
You may not have ever thought about green roofing options, or even considered it a possibility. Thankfully, not only is it a possibility, it’s an entire series of great products specifically catered to those families wanting to go green. Clayton and Sons use CertainTeed’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) products. LEED’s standards ensure that your home is durable, healthy, and environmentally friendly.
CertainTeed Green Roofing Products
While the production and installation of asphalt shingles may seem bad for the environment, today more than 90% of roofs across the country are constructed in accordance with the ENERGY STAR or Cool Roof Council’s policies for green roof systems. As North America’s leading manufacturer of building materials, CertainTeed goes beyond these policies to reduce their carbon footprint.
- Many CertainTeed roofing products are manufactured with pre- and post-consumer recycled content including slag, stone granules, corrugated mixed paper, and sludge. The overall pre- and post-consumer recycled content of our roofing products is between 1 – 89%. Integrating these materials into our products reduces landfill waste and carbon emissions.
- CertainTeed diverts over 250,000 tons/year of slag, stone granules, corrugated mixed paper, and sludge from landfills by recycling these materials into our products.
- In addition to landfill waste reduction, the use of recycled materials in our products reduces the release of CO2 from the extraction and processing of virgin raw materials that are used to manufacture roofing products.
- CertainTeed is committed to resource conservation. Their roofing manufacturing facilities recycle close to 90% of production waste into asphalt materials used for the construction of roads.
- They also integrate recycled content into many of our packaging materials, including corrugated rolls and kraft paper.
Find more ways CertainTeed reduces, reuses, and recycles building materials in their guide on Understanding the role of CertainTeed Residential Roofing in meeting Green Building Standards.
Going Green
If you want to go green, you can opt for the traditional green roof, covered in plants. But if you think that’s not sustainable for you and your family, then you can go with Clayton Hoover and Sons and their CertainTeed green products for residential homes. From start to finish, packaging to shingles, the products are made to be green and efficient for environmental safety. These products are geared toward those that care about the world as much as we do. Contact Clayton Hoover & Sons at ClaytonHoover.com/roofing to inquire about these high-quality, sustainable, and warranty-backed roofing products.
