What can you do for roofing that is a bit greener and eco-friendly? Performing a Google search will have you growing Kentucky Bluegrass on your rooftop. I don’t know what neighborhood or climate that is practicle in,  but I haven’t seen a house growing a lawn on their roof around our offices here in California. So we decided to highlight some green alternatives that are more in line with familiar, traditional, and practical roofing options that we are most familiar with — the shingle roof.
Fiber-Cement Composite Roofing
Fiber-cement roofs are long lasting, fireproof, and often use recycled wood fiber in their composition.  At the end of the life of this product, it can be ground up into sand so it is recyclable.  According to sources, these roofs do well in wet or humid areas, but not so well in freeze-thaw climates - check with the manufacturer for where their warranties apply.  Â
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Re-Con Building Products
Naturals product fall under two brands, Rustic Shake and Quarry Slate. These cement composite roofing products are simulated shake and slate products respectively. Both products carry a 50-Year Limited Warranty, and they are warrantied against wind damage, breakage, and appearance - read the details of Naturals’ warranty. The products have a high concentration of recycled materials in their ingredients.  All carry a Class A Fire Rating, Class IV Hail Rating, and a wind rating up to 200 mph. Their products are resistant to moss, mildew and of course termites. No maintenance is required with this roofing material according to Re-Con Re-Con is a subsidiary of Stone Mountain Holdings.  Â




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Metal Shingle Roofing (yes metal shingles)
Metal shingles have a high concentration of recycled materials that contribute to the eco-friendliness in the roofing category. These shingles have come a long way in their resemblance to wood, tile and stone. In most cases they are light weight and can be applied over two layers of asphalt that may exist on your roof already - saving tear-off, installation and the landfill waste (National Association of Home Builders Research Center reports 20 Billion pounds of asphalt shingles are dumped into U.S. landfills each year). And noise? The roofs are designed in a way so that This post continues… »