Metal is considered the most environmentally friendly and sustainable roofing material available. Metal roofs are 100% recyclable and made with a minimum of 25% recycled material, depending on the type of metal. Metal roofs can often be installed over an existing roof, eliminating the environmental impact of disposal. Metal roofing weighs half as much as asphalt, allowing newly constructed homes to be designed with a lighter structure. In contrast, a typical asphalt roof contains hundreds of gallons of crude oil and needs to be replaced every 12-20 years depending on the pitch of the roof. Approximately 20 billion pounds of asphalt shingles are dumped into U.S. landfills every year. Learn more about the sustainability of Metal Roofing below.
Metal roofing lasts 50-plus years – nearly two to three times longer than other materials. It is 100% recyclable and can be recycled at the end of its long life – that means less in landfills and more reuse than with most other roofing products. Quality metal roof coatings can also mean lower long-term maintenance by naturally resisting moss and fungus, which reduces the need for strong chemical treatments that can be harmful to the environment.
