ZestBlog

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Solar Roofing

Tesla has been producing and installing solar roof tiles since 2016, and other companies have followed. Jay Sanders, a contractor from Maryland, notes that solar tiles and shingles are less efficient than solar panels, but they can still convert 15 to 18 percent of incident sunlight to electricity.

But are they really roofing? “Solar shingles are roofing in the same way that a poncho is a raincoat,” says Rudin. “These systems are functional but don’t have the test of time on their side yet due to how new they are in the marketplace.”

“The idea seems great,” says O’Brien. “But we just haven’t seen customers implementing it in real life. We have been in roofing and exteriors for over a decade and, to date, have only seen one home utilizing this technology.” She cites cost as a possible reason for the lack of interest.

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Synthetic Underlayment

Before installing any type of roof covering, roofers first staple down an underlayment to provide extra insulation and leak protection. Until the 2000s, the materials of choice were roofing felt or tarpaper, but since then, synthetic underlayment has become just as popular, if not more so.

Synthetics are manufactured using polyethylene or polypropylene plastic, and they offer several advantages. They are lighter, stay down better in the wind, absorb less heat, and stay flexible in the cold. They are also safer to walk on, which is good news for workers on high roofs.

Synthetics come in various thicknesses, and the thickest cost 30 to 40 percent more than felt. Some of the thinnest cost less than felt, but thinner products tend to tear out and can be punctured by imperfections in the decking.

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Insulated Metal Roofing

Metal roofing panels and shingles come in various colors and are easy to install. Because metal is fire-resistant, they can earn homeowners a reduction on their insurance. However, one of their downsides is that metal, by itself, doesn’t provide much insulation. This prompted O’Brien’s company to experiment: “We recently completed a multifamily neighborhood of roofs in our Colorado mountains. Under the metal panels, we added specialized insulated foam boards. Although we haven’t had a chance to follow up on the results, I have no doubt that they saw improved energy efficiency over our brutal mountain winter months.”

Insulated metal roofing panels have been widely available since the 1960s. They offer the benefits you would expect from the extra insulation, but at nearly 10 pounds per linear foot, they are heavy and may require extra support.

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