Metal Roofing Is a Greener Alternative to Asphalt Shingles
May 9, 2012 | By Mike Gonet | Filed under: Articles, Education, Green News, Metal Roofing
Don Hickman’s slogan for his company, Hickman Metal Roofing in Gainesville, Florida, is, “This ain’t your granddad’s tin roof!”
Metal roofs have evolved significantly from the days when they were most commonly used on barns. Today’s metal roofs come in a variety of styles and colors and can even look like slate and asphalt shingles. Even better from an Earth-friendly and economic perspective, metal roofs offer several energy efficient and environmental benefits over traditional asphalt shingles.
“One of the things I get asked almost universally is, ‘Is it noisy when it rains?'” Hickman said. “That’s where we came up with the slogan. I think what they’re thinking of is how noisy (tin barn roofs) are when it rains, but those roofs were open rafters. You could see the underside of the metal roof and certainly it was noisy, but that’s not the case in modern construction. That’s one of the objections I have to overcome is the perception that it’s noisy.”
Metal roofs reflect the sun, reducing the amount of heat penetrating the home. A reflective metal roof can reduce cooling demand by 10 to 15 percent and can save up to 25 percent in energy costs compared to a dark gray asphalt shingled roof. Plus, some are made from recycled materials and all can be 100 percent recycled at the end of their useful life.
http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/04/30/2775244/metal-roofing-is-a-greener-alternative.html
