What it Means for a Roofing Contractor to Go Green

More people are seeing the value of being environmentally conscious. As a local roofing contractor in Dayton, Ohio, we’re no different.  Our “Go Green” campaign is our way of embracing environmentally-friendly practices by looking at every home improvement project through a “green” lens.

Must a roof be replaced, or can it be repaired? What materials can be used that are safer for the environment? How will we dispose of the scraped materials?

Repairing over Replacing

A key contributor to landfill waste is the replace mentality prevalent in our culture. Oftentimes, we don’t consider that something might only require repairs.

The same mentality exists in the roofing industry. Many roofing contractors may push the replacement of a roof because it is a larger, more lucrative project.

As a qualified roofing contractor, I believe that up to 80% of roofs that are replaced are candidates for repair. We want our customers to get the most out of their roof.  There is simply no need to replace a roof that can be repaired and our unbiased consolations will evaluate what is best for you, not us.

Offering Eco-Friendly Products & Services

When a roof is in need of replacing and repairs are not an option, considering longer-lasting options or energy-saving products such as metal roofing or lighter colored roof coverings can help decrease cooling costs. In addition, adding extra insulation to a flat roof provides significant energy savings for the life of the roof system.

All of our Van Martin consultants are well-educated on the latest and best ways to outfit your home with energy-saving materials.

Proper Disposal of Materials

By now, we’ve all been taught the importance of recycling. What first comes to mind is a person separating recyclable materials from general trash for garbage pickup. But we at Van Martin Roofing like to think of recycling as a mentality rather than a specific activity.

Roofing waste makes up over 20 billion pounds of waste in the United States landfills annually. On the bright side, the asphalt being laid down for new roads and patching older roads is largely made up of recycled material. Studies have shown Recycled Asphalt Shingles are as durable and reliable as standard asphalt mixes.

Recycling asphalt helps decrease environmental impacts dramatically and lowers the burden on landfills, which is why Van Martin is proud to recycle our asphalt shingles from every roofing project.

Ultimately, Go Green is a great opportunity to provide our customers with home improvement services that add value to their homes while their values. For Van Martin, it’s easy being green.