What is your next home improvement project? Many home owners have a long list of jobs, both big and small, that they want to accomplish when their time and budget allows. Roof repair and replacement, however, is a task that often needs to be moved to the top of any home maintenance list.
Commercial roofers will tell you that an investment in your roof is an investment that increases the value of your house. In today’s world, a “green” roof investment is becoming more and more popular. The popularity is partly due to the rebates that are offered. The federal solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) is a 30% tax credit for any residential and commercial properties that convert to solar energy by the end of the year 2016.
Construction projects are always expensive, but with research home owners can often find home improvement solutions that add to the value of a home, as well as provide immediate and long term energy savings. Energy Star qualified roof products, for example, can help reduce the amount of air conditioning needed in buildings, and can also reduce peak cooling demand by as much as 10% to 15%. Roofing contractors can explain the benefits and cost of these newer energy saving products.
In addition to repairing and replacing roofs, commercial roofers can also offer other energy saving tips. For instance, installing reflective metal roofing can save a home owner up to 40% in summer cooling energy costs. In addition, highly emissive metal roofs can reduce urban air temperatures by as much as 12 degrees Fahrenheit.
Installing solar panels is another popular trend because they can decrease your household?s carbon footprint by an average of 35,180 pounds of carbon dioxide every year. Traditional roofing materials reflect a mere 5% to 15% of energy. This means they absorb 85% to 95% of the energy and heat from the sun. Before you begin to tackle the important home improvement project of roofing repair or replacement, make sure that you do your research and select the most energy efficient options.