Sustainable, energy efficient homes are the new gold standard when it comes to building works. But this doesn’t mean your existing home can’t also be brought up to scratch. Whether you’re working on a new dream home or updating the one you have, here’s how to make sure your roofing is an environmentally friendly choice.
Types of eco-friendly roofing materials
When you first start looking into an eco-friendly roof, you may be surprised by how many options there are. Common ones you’ll come across include:
- Standing seam metal roofs
- Rubber roofing
- Recycled shingles
- Reclaimed slate or clay tiles
Depending on your budget and where you live, each of these may be a great option for your roof. But, if we’re being honest – we think our roofing materials tick all the boxes for quality, budget and eco-friendly options. We choose to use Colorbond steel and Monier roof tiles for our roofing projects because of their high quality. They’re suitable roof materials for Australian climates and are designed to last you 50+ years. So, how do you make these materials eco-friendly? We’ve got 6 tips for you.
1. Choose a white roof
It’s long been known that light coloured roofing is excellent at reflecting sunlight and therefore it keeps your house cooler, even under the harsh Australian sun. White or light coloured roofing is commonly known as a ‘cool roof’ because it’s reflective abilities help it to avoid absorbing excess heat. The Colorbond steel range have 5 light, attractive colours which qualify as solar reflective. Invest in a new roof and save money on your energy bills instead.
2. Get better insulation
Just like a white roof will keep your home cool, quality insulation will make sure it stays warm. A home that warms itself will be less reliant on indoor heating – saving you money on bills and lowering your environmental impacts. Choosing the wrong type of insulation can cause condensation or moisture problems. Our team can help you decide which insulation will offer the best thermal performance, sound absorption and be safe for you and your family.
3. Look for recycled materials
Colorbond roofing is made from long-lasting steel which contains a large percentage of recycled materials. It’s fully recyclable down the track and can easily be reused without repurposing saving on valuable energy and resources. With 5 layers of protection – steel, metallic coating, pre-treatment, primer and topcoat – it’s stronger than regular steel and twice as eco-friendly.
Monier terracotta roof tiles are made from natural materials, easily reused at the end of their roofing life and biodegradable. They’re long-lasting and you can even extend their lifespan with reroofing.
4. Is it compatible with solar panels?
The strong Australian sun is perfect for powering your home through solar energy. Both Colorbond roofing and Monier tiles are highly compatible with solar panels to get the most power out of your roof.
5. Add a skylight
Anything that your roof can do to lessen your energy consumption will go some way to increasing your sustainability. Skylights can increase your natural light in tricky areas, like laundries and hallways which means less reliance on electricity.
6. Ask about fire protection
One of the sad realities of climate change is the increase in extreme weather events. Australia has always had bushfires, but we’re increasingly at risk with the dryer weather and hotter days. Colorbond roofs have superior fire protection for homes in bushfire prone areas. This can help protect your property in the event of a fire and minimise the rebuilding efforts in the aftermath. Hooky’s Roofing are highly experienced in bushfire prone metal installations in all four bushfire codes; FZ (Flame Zone), Bal-40, Bal-29 an Bal-19. Not only will this roofing material keep you safe, it should withstand a fire which will mean less
Make sure it’s genuine
All of these sustainable benefits only apply to genuine Colorbond and Monier roofing. It’s simple to check as genuine branded roofing will have markers on the product or packaging to show where it’s come from. Hooky’s Roofing have been supplying Sydney homes with Colorbond roofs for decades and are recognised by the Metal Roofing & Cladding Association of Australia. We’ve been partnered with Monier Roofing for just as long and are proud to be a supplier of their quality roof materials in Australia. We also have a 10 year workmanship warranty on all our installations. With over 2,400 happy customers and counting; you can rely on Hooky’s to get the job done.
Get an eco-friendly roof with Hooky’s Roofing
With over 20 years’ experience in the roofing industry, Hooky’s Roofing are the experts on new roofs, replacement roofing, cladding, insulation and rain gutters in the residential and commercial markets. To discuss your eco-friendly roof options, contact us on 0408 026 601.
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