If you are searching for ways to make your home more environmentally friendly, installing a green roof may be an option. Many roofing contractors are offering natural or green roofs as roofing material options. An eco-friendly roof has several benefits, including a reduction in energy use, low maintenance and a great way to do your part in reducing your carbon footprint. Although installing vegetation is the primary option for a green roof, there are also several other options. For example, if the roof of your home has a slope on the majority of the roof, but a small area is flat, roofing contractors in Des Moines can use a combination of materials.
Traditional materials, such as metal can be used on the sloped areas and vegetation can be installed on the flat section. Green roofs that contain vegetation are installed in several layers, including a waterproof membrane, a drainage layer, such as gravel, a layer of soil and a layer of plants. There are several options for the type of plants that can be used, including edible plants and vegetables. The area where vegetation will be installed should be sturdy enough to hold the weight. For example, a green roof can be installed on a flat area over the patio, if there are additional weight bearing beams installed.
An eco-friendly roof adds an extra layer of insulation to your home, which helps to reduce the loss of cool air during the summer and loss of warm air in the winter; many people report a savings of as much as a 75 percent in the cost of energy after installing a green roof. Vegetation on the roof also benefits the environment, because they capture a large majority of atmospheric deposits and airborne pollutants. When you contact a roofing contractor about installing a green roof, it is important to verify that the company installs vegetation as well as traditional green materials. A roofing contractor will be able to inspect the roof of your home to determine if vegetation can be installed as well as how large of an area can be as a source of plants.
