It’s easy to see how many homeowners tend to take the designs and styles of their roofing or gutter systems for granted. While it’s understandable to dismiss your roof and gutter’s endearing qualities, the essential duties for both of these housing staples have continued to become more intricate as technology keeps progressing. With the emergence of everything from gutter guards to solar-powered panels, the roof has come a long way from its origins of woolly-mammoth-skin-covered shelters that date back to 40,000 B.C. in Siberia. Take a look at how the latest trends in both roofs and gutters are providing homeowners with a variety of benefits that not so long ago were nearly inconceivable:
Solar shingles
As energy efficiency continues to become a more prevalent issue in today’s society, the emergence of solar shingle installations for roofs has grown into one of the more innovative housing trends out there. Solar shingles are generally comprised of photovoltaic cells which, according to NASA, are designed to convert light into electricity. In fact, according to Dow, installing a residential cluster of at least 350 solar shingles may be able to cut your household electric bill by between 40-60 percent. In addition to shaving money off your utilities, solar shingles are also an attractive option in terms of appearance. They’re nearly invisible, and can create a sleeker, more modern look to your roofing while simultaneously being extremely energy efficient.
Heated gutters
Improper gutter maintenance can lead to a wide variety of potential risks and complications for your home. If your house has to endure frigid winters, it might be beneficial to consider installing heated gutters to protect your home from damage due to snow or ice buildup. Roofing shingles can be severely worn down if the presence of icicles continues to increase, causing subtle shifts that may lead to unforeseen leaks or flooding as the temperature rises. Heated gutters are just another example of the latest roofing trends helping homeowners keep peace of mind instead of fretting over gutter clogging in the winter.
Green roofing
One of the more unique trends that’s evolved in recent years is green roofing, or more specifically, growing a vegetative layer upon your roof. While this style of roofing is obviously appealing to gardeners, there are actually plenty of environmental and energy benefits that are making green roofing a popular trend for homeowners. For starters, the plants will act as natural insulators for houses during the summer, as heat is absorbed through the vegetative layer. As a result, this helps keep your home cool in warm weather. Green roofing is also extremely environmentally-friendly, as the United States Environmental Protection Agency notes that this type of roof can eliminate the presence of air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions.
Aluminum gutters
Evolving technology has made aluminum a more appealing material for homeowners interested in enhancing their gutter system’s water irrigation capabilities. Newer models of aluminum gutters feature fasteners and joints specifically designed to minimize leaking risks. Aluminum gutters can also effectively streamline water to irrigate any nearby plants or your lawn while still dispersing water away from the foundation of your house.
Gutter guards
What if you could effectively protect your gutters and home without having to put all the effort or money into installing a new gutter system? Attaching a gutter guard is the quickest and easiest way to ensure your gutters stay clog-free, making leaks or flooding the last thing on your mind. With an intricate micro mesh filtering system, LeafFilter gutter guards are designed to eliminate the presence of unwanted debris in your gutter, allowing for water to disperse safely away from the foundation of your home. Gutter guards can even help you save yourself from spending thousands of dollars in potential repair costs, ranging from roofing repairs to drywall damage from flooding. Saving time, effort and money are just a few of the reasons why gutter guards continue to be one of the more utilized trends for homeowners today.
