[Shelter] Roofing materials

brobak · Heavy Crude Joined: Apr 06, 2005 Posts: 103

I'm in the process of building a home for myself and my family. I'm trying to split the difference between complete bug-out shack of doom and the palatial mansion that my wife would like. So to that end, I've got 5.5 acres on a little secluded lot in the hills of west virginia, out near a bunch of apple orchirds, a couple of farms, and the eco-village of Broom Grass. Its a passive solar design from Sun Plans and I'm trying to integrate as many energy saving technologies as possible into its design. Solar hot water, passive solar, ground source heat pumps, massive insulation, etc.

I've come to the point where I need to decide on a roofing material and I'm kind of at an impasse. The way I see it, I've basically got three choices. Normal 30 year shingles, a seamed metal roof using cool roof tech, and then a green roof.

The shingles are the cheapest, but have the most solar gain, and will wear out the quickest.

The metal roof should last forever, but is fairly expensive. It can incorporate cool roofing technologies fairly readily and you can also do things like rain catchment off of it without much trouble if its coated correctly.

The green roof is probably the best in terms of solar gain, and insulation. Its in the middle expense wise, it should last indefinitely, but would require maintenence that the other two roofs wouldnt.

So, given these three choices (or possibly others I haven't considered?) I'd like to ask the community which you think I should go with, and why. I appreciate your insights as I work towards building my little slice of low energy realestate. Thank you.

TheTurtle · Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 7:55 am Post subject: Re: [Shelter] Roofing materials

I vote metal, because my wife tells me that's what we'll be using when we replace our current roof. Very Happy

But seriously, I think there is a lot to be said for rain catchment. Water is going to be an issue in the near future (already is in many places); being able to collect it off your roof will be a real plus.

Also no maintenance is a benefit that should not be trivialized.

Nice looking location, by the way. Smile

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RonMN · Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 8:02 am Post subject: Re: [Shelter] Roofing materials

I vote metal (if you can afford it).

The "last forever" factor will be important post-peak!
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spear · Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 8:07 am Post subject: Re: [Shelter] Roofing materials

There is also the option of clay tiles or slate which last indefinately and have good water catchment characteristics.
From what I have seen on the internet,the clay tile manufacturers in the US have a really wide range of products and its certainly worth looking into.
there is a weight issue to these roofs that must be taken into consideration when framing them.
Not only must they be braced but the rafters must be strapped at the peak because the force of the weight of the shingles tends to push forward toward the eves of the house also.
Ive got exposed ceilings in my house so you see the roof pitch from inside.What I noticed last winter was that even though the ceilings are high,and heat rises,when it reaches the peak,it is forced down along the pitch so in a sense the rising heat recirculates.
Plus the ceilng looks like a million bucks even though I am just a humble carpenter.
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Pops · Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 8:09 am Post subject: Re: [Shelter] Roofing materials

I think metal is the way to go too, as long as you check out your installer well. We would have gone that way had we had the $, as it was we went with laminated 30yr comp. Should last 15…

What type metal are you thinking of?
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spear · Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 8:11 am Post subject: Re: [Shelter] Roofing materials

And theres eight tons of clay tile on it.
sorry about the double post.
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brobak · Heavy Crude Joined: Apr 06, 2005 Posts: 103

Well, if I do go with a metal roof, I would definitely try to incorporate a 'Cool Roof' coating, i think they are called AVP coatings. You can apply them to any kind of metal. I was thinking of going with a 1' metal seam room in a color that would work at least decently well energy wise.

I think most metal roofs are either steel w/ zinc galvanizing, or aluminum. I'd probably go with whichever I could afford.

strider3700 · Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 8:46 am Post subject: Re: [Shelter] Roofing materials

I like the metal that I put down on my shop, When/if I need to do the house roof it will be metal as well
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brobak · Heavy Crude Joined: Apr 06, 2005 Posts: 103

Unaclad looks like it has a decent metal roofing system that handles all the cool roofing techs. I'm going to pass them on to my contractor and see how much its gonna run me. Now I have to convince my wife to get a decently efficient color Smile

gnm · Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 9:01 am Post subject: Re: [Shelter] Roofing materials

Metal all the way. I am currently replacing my roof with metal. Great stuff and easy to install. Best for water harvesting too although that may not be an issue in your area...

-G
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brobak · Heavy Crude Joined: Apr 06, 2005 Posts: 103

Looks like she likes the Colonial Red. Smile

Not too bad. .32 reflectivity, .89 emmissivity. At least its in the top half of the colors. I knew I couldnt sell her on the arctic white Wink

Laughs_Last · Intermediate Crude Joined: Jul 26, 2005 Posts: 851

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dissimulo · Heavy Crude Joined: Jun 01, 2005 Posts: 371

I just had two houses re-roofed. I talked to a number of reputable contractors who worked with both asphalt and metal. Every one of them recommended the asphalt over the metal. Part of this had to do with climate - these houses are about a quarter of a mile from the ocean. Apparently, even the very small amount of salt in the air is rough on metal roofs.

Regardless of ocean proximity, they all told me that in a wet climate (PNW) I should expect a 50 year asphalt shingle to last about 30 years and a metal roof to last 35 to perhaps 40 years. Even if I got 10 more years out of a metal roof, it would not justify the difference in cost.

I thought I would be going with metal, but I ended up going with asphalt.
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TommyJefferson · Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 8:51 am Post subject: Re: [Shelter] Roofing materials

azreal60 · Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 4:55 pm Post subject: Re: [Shelter] Roofing materials

I don't know about 15 years. Have you read the stuff Rob Roy has written on earth roofs? His earthwood project as far as I know has been standing for almost 30 years. The way he tells it, it will probably last 60 more. I'd check into an earth roof if I where you.
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