Building technology I do not like – asphalt roofs

One of the most common roofing materials in residential construction is the asphalt roof – literally hardened tar sprayed on felt paper and coated with a thin layer of colored rock powder. It’s cheap, nasty and disposable, meant to be used for a few years before hauled to the local dumping grounds.

In almost all ways, metal roofing is superior to individual shingles, beyond maybe appearance and initial cost of installation. Metal roofing lasts a lot longer, is fully recyclable, fire-resistant, and compatible with rain-water collection systems. Why pump water from deep underground, when you can literally get it off your roof? Literally with asphalt roofs, even if you’re not using the rainwater that falls on them, you’re still dumping polluted water as it runs over the petrochemical roof into your ground water.