Many homeowners in Palo Alto, California and across the country are implementing greener choices for their homes. Constructing a truly eco-friendly home starts with the materials. Everything you use from the foundation to the interior should be sustainable. One of the most sustainable materials used for home construction is natural wood, which has loads of green benefits for your home. If you are looking for an eco-friendly roofing option, any skilled roofer will tell you that wood is a great choice.

Wood Roofing

Sustainably Harvested

Red and white cedar is one of the most sought after type of wood for roofing. It gives the home an elegant, rustic look that certainly raises its curb appeal. Cedar wood in the U.S. is sustainably harvested from carefully managed forests. This allows for healthy growth of cedar trees for the future.

Natural Insulator

One overlooked benefit of wood shingles and shakes is that they are natural insulators which helps a home save energy. The wood’s loose cell structure allows it to be resistant to hot temperatures during summer. It insulates your attic from the heat that can be the reason the bills are racking up on hot day. During winter, cedar wood can also help keep you warm, reducing the need for artificial heating.

Durable and Recyclable

Many people think that wood is not at all sturdy enough for roofing. In reality, it can actually give slate and metal a run for their money. Cedar roofs can last as long as 50 to 60 years if installed and maintained correctly by expert roofers in Sunnyvale from trusted companies like Shelton Roofing. They are also recyclable unlike asphalt, which just ends up cluttering landfills and dumpsites all over the U.S. each year. Wood roofing like cedar can just be replaced and turned to mulch if they reach the end of their life cycle.

Easy Repair

When a few shakes or shingles start to crack or warp, you don’t have to remove and replace the entire thing. You just have to pick out the damaged parts and put in new ones to extend the life of your roof. Not only will this save you a lot of money for maintenance but it can also reduce environmental costs of having to install a whole roof. You can then use the discarded shingles and shakes as mulch to improve fertility of your garden soil.

Sources:

8 Ecofriendly Roof Options for Low Budgets and Up, Houzz

5 Great options for creating an eco-friendly roof, Green Diary

17 Facts About Natural Cedar Roofs, NetWorx