Roofing Designs

Advantages and Disadvantages of "Green" Roofing Designs

Environmentally friendly or "green" roofing designs are an old type of roofing style that is new again. Throughout time, people all over the world, from medieval Europe to the pioneers on the American plains used sod roofing, the original "green" material. The introduction of new roofing materials in the early 1900's led to the decline of the use of sod but as people are becoming more and more concerned about the environment, new eco-friendly alternatives to sod have become available. Though not as popular in the U.S. as in other places, i.e. Australia and England, green roofing is the new "thing." Here are few advantages and disadvantages of these roofing designs.

Advantages of eco-friendly roofing designs

Green roofs are just that, green. Basically, the new eco-friendly roof designs are panels designed to grow grass and other types of plants. These types of roof are sometimes referred to as "rooftop gardens." The main advantage of this type of roof is that it gives back to the environment; plants help reduce pollution not only in the air, but in water as well because run-off from a green roof is cleaner than run-off from a traditional roof. Another advantage of a green roof is that it insulates the inside of the home from noise, and helps to keep the home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, which reduces energy costs.

Disadvantages of eco-friendly roofing designs

For as many advantages as green roofing designs have, they do have some disadvantages. The main one is the cost. This type of roof has a higher installation cost than traditional roofing materials because of the special requirements needed to ensure safety and that the roof works as it is designed. Two more disadvantages are maintenance requirements (much more than other roofs), and the fact that this kind of roof is not right for some areas, particularly in regions known for strong winds or unusually dry conditions.