Roofing Contractor for a Green Roof

The monetary cost and time commitment required for a good replacement of the roof is so high that if one is going to undertake the work it is worth making it really worth the effort. A good way to ensure that it is not wasted is to have a green cover installed. A roofing contractor will be able to help guide their client through the process. This sort of design saves money, reduces energy use, heating and cooling needs and storm water run off. There are also a number of financial benefits in that these last a lot longer, they reduce energy cost and they also increase property value.

The most important benefits are those provided for the environment. Having a roofing contractor come in and install vegetation and growing medium on top of a waterproof membrane. The number one trend and the one that requires the least work is called an extensive garden. They require almost no upkeep and satisfy their water and nutrient needs themselves.

They are virtually self-sustaining and only require occasional visits for weeding or other simple maintenance. In exchange they increase the amount of carbon dioxide that gets scrubbed and increase air quality. The thickness of the material insulates the home very well from both heat and cold and the evaporative cooling in summer can reduce the need for air conditioning. There is also a benefit derived form the uptake of rainwater. Rather than using downspouts that often drain to watersheds rainwater is filtered through the plant material and the plants use much of it.

The financial benefits are also myriad. Once the initial cost of a roofing contractor has been paid there is almost no need to ever replace it. The waterproof membrane should hold up for a very long time because the vegetation and soil protect it from ultra-violet light that may degrade it. On the other hand the initial cost to hire the roofing contractor is fairly significant, over three times as much per square foot.

However, because of the durability of the membrane and the money saving benefits of not having to use so much air conditioning and heat the initial cost is recouped in a fairly short span of time. The financial benefits continue even after a person decides to sell their home. This style of construction is in high demand and can significantly increase the price of a home.

This style is not suitable for all homes and could cause dangerous amounts of weight to be placed on a structure that is not suited to it. That is why it is important to call a roofing contractor and have them come out and give an estimate for doing the job. While it may not be possible to do the whole roof in this style it may be possible to incorporate some of the principles.