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Posted over 7 years ago

How to Green Your Green #7 - Roofs, Insulation and Siding

November 24, 2016

How to Green your Green? #7

Roofing, Insulation and Siding

Making your property “green” can help you make more money when you rent and when you sell. When I first joined Bigger Pockets, I indicated that I would like to bring sustainable principles to my rental properties. Some Bigger Pockets members saw it as a good idea.

From an environmental standpoint, a light colored roof is preferable over a dark roof because of Albido (the ability of a surface to reflect heat away from the surface). Light colored roofs reflect more heat than dark colored roofs and therefore do not add as much heat gain to the attic or the area below the roof.

Another factor is Heat Island Effect which happens when large surfaces, like asphalt parking lots, raise the ambient temperature around it because the sun is beating directly on the surface without some kind of relief. That is why planting trees on median strips and having covered parking is a big help.

And, of course, now there are more solar installations which can use the sun to your advantage. You have to be careful with light color roofs as many HOA’s want dark roofs for a consistent appearance.

Insulation varies according to where you live, climate factors, what you are insulating. Roofs and walls should be well insulated, but the most important thing to remember is to stuff insulation around window and door framing. Cold weather is stupid and will get in anywhere it can. Talk with a local building supplier or roofing company about R values.

Siding – stay away from vinyl siding. It’s cheap for a reason and the way it is manufactured is terrible for the environment. If you have to re-side your property, go with a biodegradable, composite siding (Hardiplank, etc.). Yes, it is more expensive, but will save you on lifecycle costs as you go and probably bring more money at the time of re-selling.

These composite materials are attractive, look like wood siding and can be ordered pre-finished.

THIS ENDS MY SERIES ON GREENING YOUR GREEN.

Best of luck to all of you. I hope all of us make a tidy fortune in rental Real Estate. I can almost guarantee that all of you will be out of business in three years if your only concern is making money. It is alluring, but if you want to be in the Real Estate business you have a responsibility beyond yourself and that is to provide the best product at the best price that your community will bear. Your community will give back in inverse proportion to what you provide and your goal should always be to strive for better.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



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