Composite Plastic Roofing
Plastic shingles, sometimes referred to as synthetic or composite shingles, are popular for their low cost and their ability to imitate more expensive types of roofing like cedar wood shingles or slate roofing. Synthetic shingle roofing is lightweight and makes it easy to install roof shingles on your home. They typically have a simple interlocking system, making them a good DIY project. Because plastic is so much lighter than most roofing products, you don’t have to worry about adding any additional structural support to your home to support the weight of your roof.
The innate flexibility of plastic also provides a durable barrier from wind, rain, and hail, and you can even walk on it without causing damage. Plastic shingles are also resistant to many of the problems that plague more traditional wood roofing products like mold, mildew, fungus, rot, or insect infestation. Many plastic roofing products come with a 50 year warranty.
Plastic Roofing Shingles Cost
The average roofing installation price for a composite plastic shingle roof or plastic roof sheet costs anywhere between $25,000 to $50,000 depending on the slope, pitch, and size of your roof. You can expect to pay $4 to $6 per sq. foot or $400 to $600 per square installed on a standard sized single story home. View your potential roof installation savings with local roofing contractors below.
Eco-Friendly Benefits
Composite plastic roofing is probably not your first thought when it comes to eco-friendly roofing. The problem with plastic is that it does not go away. We know that it breaks apart into smaller pieces, but its basic components are not biodegradable, meaning that your plastic products will spend many lifetimes in a landfill. However, plastic composite roofing is actually a good way to put that plastic to re-use.
Because plastic shingle tiles are so inexpensive, you can make the conscious choice to decrease your environmental footprint by investing a little more money to purchase recycled plastic shingles. Take advantage of plastic tile’s relative immortality with a composite roof that will last you a long time, while helping divert existing plastic from landfills. Plastic is also smooth, making it ideal for rainwater collection. Finally, because plastic is so lightweight, the cost of transporting it (and the CO2 emissions that come with that process) is diminished.
Plastic Roof Maintenance
Plastic shingles are virtually maintenance free. But because they typically come in sheets, if you do experience cracking, you will need to replace the entire sheet to prevent further damage.
Cons – Plastic Roof Tiles
There are two primary complaints about this type of roofing. First, even though they are made to replicate the look of more expensive roofing like tile and slate, once installed their thin nature and shiny finish can make it easy to indicate that they are indeed plastic. Secondly, polypropylene, a highly fragile material found in most plastic shingles makes them highly vulnerable to cracking and breakage during the winter. In general, plastic shingles are not a great choice for very cold climates.
It is also important to note that different shingles have varying levels of fire resistance. Make sure to invest in a product that has a Class A fire proof designation for your home.
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