The roof is one of the most important features of your Florida home so it’s very important that you choose the right roofing material so that your roof will last you many years. Asphalt shingles are the most commonly used roofing material. Asphalt shingles are very harmful to the environment because they absorb heat, hold on to that heat for a long time, and are rarely recycled (because it is difficult). Asphalt shingles are the most popular roofing material because they are cheaper.

If your roof is getting old and needs to be replaced why not replace it with an environmentally friendly roof.

There are numerous choices available in green roofing. Here are a few:

The Living Roof – This is one of the most popular choices when it comes to Florida green roofing. These roofs contain a layer of soil and plants grow on top of them. A living roof provides much better insulation than an asphalt shingle roof. A living roof helps it blend into its surroundings, and they’re beautiful. The topsoil that was removed during construction can be used as part of the living roof. Green roofs contain plants which help to replace the plants that were destroyed when the home was constructed. Most living roofs are found in Germany. Green roof systems can either be intensive or extensive depending on the plant material and planned usage for the roof area. Intensive green roofs use a wide variety of plants that may include trees and shrubs. They are extremely heavy and require a lot of support. Extensive roofs usually contain herbs, grasses, and mosses. They are not as heavy as intensive roofs. Green roofs can lower your electric bill. They also keep rain water from running off into the ground. The plants on the living roof can help remove pollutants from the air.

Metal Roofs – Metal roofing is sustainable. It contains a significant amount of recycled material. It lasts a lot longer than asphalt shingle roofs and hardly ever needs to be replaced. When metal roofing needs to be replaced, it can be recycled. Metal roofing is fire resistant and can withstand strong winds. Metal roofs will not rust, crack, or rot. It never needs cleaning. Metal roofs are light weight so they don’t require a lot of support. Metal roofs can also be put over the original roof which saves removal and disposal costs.

Cedar Shake Roofs - Cedar shake roofs are also very popular. They are made of untreated cedar and they don’t rot like other wood material does. They also last longer than asphalt shingles. Enviroshake® is a composite roofing product that replicates the look of an antique cedar shake roof but is more durable and more resistant to wind, water, mold and mildew. Enviroshake roofing is mostly made from recycled materials. There are several environmentally friendly options available for cedar shake roofs. One is real cedar shingles which are harvested from well-managed forests or shake tiles made from recycled materials. Either way, you’ll get a long-lasting, beautiful roof that will add a traditional look to your home.

Ceramic Tiles – Ceramic tile is mainly used in the Southwest. Ceramic tile roofs are also nontoxic and long lasting. Individual tiles may occasionally need to be replaced but the whole roof is usually durable. Unglazed tiles are the most popular, but glazed ones also exist. Tiles tend to be expensive, and are also very heavy.

Solar Tiles – Solar roof tiles look just like normal roof tiles however they are covered with a thin film photovoltaic (PV) material which generates electricity. One tile by itself doesn’t produce much power however covering an entire roof can produce a lot of electricity. In fact, an entire roof covered with solar tiles can easily generate enough power for your entire home.

If you choose to install solar roof tiles, you still will need to stay on the electric grid since even the sunniest climates have cloudy days, which limits how much power the tiles can generate. You should still be able to save a substantial amount on your electric bill.

This is an excellent time to purchase solar powered tiles. There are many excellent state and federal tax incentives (up to 80% of the cost). You can increase the value of your home and save on your electric bills by installing solar tiles.

The solar roof tile is made up of photovoltaic modules that are capable of being integrated into any standard roofing system. Solar roof tiles are connected by electrical sockets on their underside. This creates a single electrical unit, and therefore, an electric current. Basically, solar roof tiles use the sun’s rays to absorb heat and generate electricity for your home or building.

One of the most important aspects of the way your roof is designed and built is proper ventilation. You simply cannot over-estimate its importance.  What happens when a roof doesn’t have proper ventilation?  Improper ventilation allows formation of condensation, moisture accumulation, and damage to the roof deck and, eventually, to the stability of the roof.  Improper roof ventilation can also affect the health of your family.

The industry standard for Vero Beach roof ventilation to provide 1 square foot of intake ventilation and 1 square foot of exhaust or outflow ventilation for every 300 square feet of attic space, provided the area is insulated with a vapor barrier.  If the area is insulated without a vapor barrier, the requirement doubles.

Proper ventilation of the roof and attic of a home achieves several important functions:

• It makes the attic space cooler
• It makes the home more energy efficient
• It prevents condensation and accumulation of moisture on the inside of the roof deck, and prevents rotting of the roof deck
• It reduces the risk of fire

Several types of vents can be used to properly ventilate the roof of your home.  Roof ridge vents are placed along the ridge line of the roof. Ridge vents are used for exhaust or outflow of moisture, heat, and stale air.Soffit vents and Eaves are placed at the lower extremes of the roof and provide the intake ventilation.  If you live in an older home, your roof might not be constructed for roof ridge or soffit vents. Older homes were not built with the tight seals of today’s houses. There were cracks and openings around windows and doors, chimneys and other openings.  These cracks and openings allowed fresh air to flow into the house.  On the principle that hot air rises, the accumulated heat and moisture would rise to the attic and out the roof vents.

Without adequate ventilation, moisture rises with the hot air and forms condensation on the inside of the roof deck. This moisture is released into the air inside the house from bathing, cooking, plants, laundry and other causes.  When the condensation forms on the roof deck, it begins to rot the wood.  This introduces mold spores into the air, as well as damaging the wood.  The result, if the problem is not noticed and repaired, can be destruction of all or part of the roof deck and creation of unhealthy air inside the house.

In our increasingly airtight homes, the importance of proper ventilation in roof construction cannot be over-emphasized.  It is important to take the time and do the research to understand the ventilation needs for your home in your region and how best to meet those needs.

Damages to a roof can have many causes. Some of the causes of Vero Beach roof damage are connected to the type of roof you have.  Whether you are trying to protect and extend the life of an existing roof or you want to protect a new roof, here are some of the main causes of roof damage.

1.  Poor Maintenance.  It is important to regularly inspect your roof for small problems and damages and immediately make repairs. This is especially true if your roof has little or no slope.  Regular inspection and maintenance will prevent small minor damage from becoming a major problem or leak.

2.  Wind Damage. Over time any wind can loosen nails in roofing materials. When this happens, a moderate wind can damage the roof. Strong winds and flying debris can also damage a roof, often removing some or all of the roofing material. The best way to avoid this potential damage is to check the roofing and the insulation regularly to be sure it is securely attached to the roof deck. You should also have a secure perimeter fastener.

3.  Other Weather Damage. Most roofing materials can be damaged over time by exposure to various weather conditions.  If you live in an area likely to see large snow accumulations, you need to be sure the roof is adequately supported against the weight of the snow and properly sloped so the snow will not stay on the roof any longer than necessary.  If you live in an area prone to hailstorms, you should know that hail can cause serious roof damage, and you should carefully inspect your roof after every hailstorm.  The sun, pollutants in the air and other chemicals in the air or in the rain can also damage roofing materials. Inspection and repair of minor damages can prevent big trouble.

4.  Problems with Flashing. Because the purpose of flashing is to create a water-tight boundary between roof sections, between roofing materials and other parts of the house and between roofing materials and roof projections, problems with flashing often cause leaks.  These leaks can damage the field of the roof as well as the interior of the house. Flashing problems usually happen because of either design or installation errors.  Some flashing problems can also result from wind damage.  Regular inspection of all types of flashing in all parts of the roof can catch problems early and correct them before there are major leaks.

Each of these major causes of roof damage can be minimized by regular and careful inspection for early and minor problems. Immediate attention to any flaws or damages with competent repairs can help you avoid major damage to your roof and prevent the need for early and costly roof replacement.

Vero Beach Metal roofing used to just be a standard galvanized steel or aluminum roof that was silver. However, with the growing trend of being eco-friendly and saving money on building homes, metal roofs have now been created in a variety of colors and designs to make them much more aesthetically appealing to homeowners.

They are still just as functional as they always have been, but now they are much more stylish than ever before. You can find a huge selection of metal roof colors to choose from. If you’ve decided to install metal roofing on your home, having a stylish and functional roof can give you the best of both worlds.

When it comes to choosing metal roof colors, your options are seemingly limitless. The way that metal roofs are colored is through a polymer paint that is applied to the surface, which means that you can mix up just about any color that you can imagine.

It doesn’t matter whether you want your roof to match your house, to stand out in the Vero Beach neighborhood, or to make a bold statement. There is something for just about everyone with all of the different styles, designs and metal roof colors that are available.

Installing a metal roof will save you money on energy costs because the material reflects heat and sunlight, which keeps your Vero Beach home cooler and can lower your cooling costs in the summertime when in hotter climates.

Additionally, a Vero Beach metal roof generally has a lifespan of about 50 years, which is more than double the life of a typical asphalt roof. Given all these great benefits, along with the option of a rainbow of colors that you can have your roof painted, there really is no limit to the benefits of metal roofing.