More and more, energy efficiency is of importance to consumers and businesses alike. What vehicle offers the best MPG. What mobile phone can go the longest without a charge. And when it comes to home ownership, what can I do to make my home more energy efficient?
Poor energy efficiency can cost you hundred of pounds over a normal year. The heat loss through single glazed windows, drafts and poor insulation all add up and makes your homes central heating system have to work harder and burn more energy to heat your home.
And while many homeowners will look to energy efficient lightbulbs, draft excluders and the like to help increase their energy efficiency, a great way of increasing your homes energy efficiency is through a modern re-roofing.
Slate Roofing for Energy Efficiency
Slate roofing tiles are a naturally forming material that has been quarried to produce the dark grey roofing slate tiles that you see on thousands of homes across Glasgow.
And natural slate roofing is not just reserved for the older properties in the city. Natural slate is a popular roofing choice for new build properties as well because it is a sustainable material with a low environmental impact. With a life span up up to 100 years, slate requires little maintenance, is weather resistant and non-combustible.
Slate Roofing is a green solution that will reduce your energy use in your home and therefore your energy costs.
The Energy Efficient Advantages of Slate Roofing
Slate Roofing has good insulating qualities. While the energy savings will vary depending on where you live and the condition and energy efficiency of the rest of your home, a 10% increase in efficiency is realistic. And because slate roofing lasts so long, it will require less carbon emissions over its life span compared to tiled roofing options. And even when the slate roofing tiles on your home have reached their life expectancy, they can actually be recycled for other uses.
The advantages beyond energy efficiency
A new roof is a great way of making your home more energy efficient but there are some other positive knock on effects of having a new roof fitted with slate tiles. A new roof will cut down the number of cracks and draft points in your attic. This will further increase the energy efficiency of your home. It is also an attractive and esthetically pleasing thing to look at. Slate roofing will increase the visual appearance of your home and can increase its value for when it comes time to sell and move somewhere else.
And because slate roofing lasts longer, it requires very little in the way of maintenance (exclusions apply for storm damage, nail rot etc) and when you consider that ceramic tiles roofing may need to be replaced every 15 to 30 years, you could actually be making serious savings with a slate roof if your current home is intended on being a long term residence for you and your family.
What are the downsides?
The downside is the initial cost. A new roof cost using slate is more than with tiled roofing but as you will now understand, it is a great investment that protects your home from the Scottish weather, provides increase energy efficiency whilst offering an attractive solution that is seriously cheaper in the long run.
Find out more
If you would like to know more about the energy efficiency options available through roofing and building services that we offer, please contact us today. With offices in Glasgow and Edinburgh, we proudly cover the Central Belt of Scotland for all new roofing, maintenance, repairs and building contractor work.
