Does your family recycle issues like milk jugs and water bottles? If that’s the case, think about them being reground and utilized in roofing tiles. That’s what oftentimes is used for recycled content material in roofing.
Recycled resins are supplies which have been reclaimed and are being reused. Virgin resins went into making merchandise like unique plastic milk containers or detergent bottles.
When these used containers are recycled, they’re cleaned. This means of washing out the used bottles, jars or jugs reduces the mechanical properties of the resins. After cleansing, the containers are reground and made into pellets.
Every time resins are reused, they lose a few of their unique energy. Some firms use these recycled resin pellets to make roofing tiles.
Consider it this fashion: you cleanly pull a bit of packaging tape off a field to make use of once more. The tape may match a second time, nevertheless it received’t have the identical energy and sturdiness as the primary time. It’s the identical means with resins.
Now, take into account virgin resins. They’re produced from a petrochemical feedstock (similar to pure gasoline or crude oil), which has by no means been used or processed earlier than. Roofing producers utilizing these virgin resins are utilizing the purest type accessible. This implies they’re within the strongest attainable type.
Three Steps vs. Six Steps
The purer the resin in a composite roofing tile, the stronger the tile and longer the lifespan. With a virgin resin composite roofing tile, it strikes from compounding to injection molding to the completed roofing tile. That’s three steps within the life cycle.
With a recycled resin roof tile, you additionally begin out with the identical first two steps, however the completed product could also be a plastic soda bottle or milk jug. After it’s used, it will get recycled, cleaned and grinded down. Then it will get injection molded for the second time in its life. After which it will get made right into a roofing tile. That’s a six-step course of.
Why Does it Matter?
Virgin versus recycled content material comes all the way down to energy. A composite roofing tile product of virgin resin is purer, so it’s extra sturdy. This offers the roof the very best probability for a protracted lifespan. This could be a constructive influence on the atmosphere since you solely must get a brand new roof as soon as each 50 years versus each 20 or so years.
Whereas reliable, a “second life” reclaimed/recycled roof is product of “second era” materials, so it may be much less sturdy. This roof can embrace every little thing from hemp fibers to rubber to post-industrial plastics and extra.
Mom Nature Chimes In
Roofs are utterly uncovered to the ultraviolet rays of the solar. Over time, which means that warmth and UV rays can break down the polymer chains in composite roofing. Whereas many roofing producers add in UV inhibitors and thermal stabilizers, resins can nonetheless develop into brittle over time.
If you begin with a virgin resin composite roofing product, the tiles have the strongest probability to outlive long-term. That’s why firms like DaVinci Roofscapes provide a Lifetime Restricted Materials Guarantee.
If you have a look at recycled content material roofing tiles, there’s an issue proper from the beginning. These tiles started with polymer chains already damaged down by the regrinding course of. That places the recycled resin at a drawback.
What’s Finest for Your Roof?
Folks have develop into accustomed to pondering that recycling and utilizing recycled merchandise imply they’re “doing their half” to save lots of the atmosphere. That’s a noble thought, however it’s essential know the info.
Recycled plastics are great for making many issues — furnishings, yoga mats, fencing, and even carpeting. However roofing tiles don’t profit from the identical course of. For the strongest, most reliable and longest-lasting roof, virgin resins must be extremely thought of.
See what DaVinci virgin resin roofing tiles can provide your property or constructing. Discover our shake and slate choices.