What Will Roofs Look Like in the Future?

If you were to go back 100 years, the roofs of today's houses would have appeared strange in some respects, yet familiar in others.  Slate has been a roofing material for generations and so too has thatch.  Developments in clay and other materials are more recent and flat roofing is a relatively new concept.  So what will the roofs of the future look like?

Green roofs

One of the biggest areas of development looks set to be the creation of green roofs.  Buildings such as Canary Wharf are already making use of the concept and doubtless as the techniques develop, it will become more accessible to homeowners and builders.

In essence, a green roof is exactly that €“ a waterproof membrane is fitted on the roof and on top of this is planted a layer of living grasses, shrubs and moss.  Because it makes use of the area already present, this idea can be used on existing buildings as well as new ones.  But what is the benefit?

Firstly, the green roof creates much-needed habitat for birds, butterflies and bugs, particularly important in built-up areas where the green spaces have vanished.  It is in effect a mini-ecosystem right on the top of the building.  It can also be adapted to any size from roof from a factory with trees and shrubs on it to a small roof of an outbuilding covered in a layer of plants like sedum.  The roof will naturally get the water and sunlight it needs to grow and in urban areas, the urban island heat effect means that plants thrive.

Not only do green roofs look great, there is another practical advantage to them €“ energy savings.  They do allow a measure of insulation in the colder months but their big hit is in the warmer months, when they are very effective at keeping buildings cool.  This is especially true of buildings with metal or concrete roofs that heat up quickly and transfer the heat to building below, meaning more power is needed to cool it.  The plants absorb a lot of the heat and even reflect some of it back, reducing the need for cooling inside the building.

And when you consider that, according to the Wildlife Trust, we in the UK actually spend more money on air condition in the summer than we do heating in the winter, green roofs could be a massive money saver for both businesses and homeowners.

Solar roofs

The sight of solar panels on the roofs of houses and businesses is something we are already used to seeing but as the technology to harness the power of the sun develops, solar paint could be future alternative.  Solar paint is actually a paste that is made of hi-tech €˜quantum dots' that are applied to a surface and make electricity from sunlight.  The dots are actually semi-conducting crystals that are mixed into a dye that makes them appear like paint.  While tests at the moment show they aren't as efficient as solar panels at the moment, there is little doubt that in the future, this paint will be a common sight.  In fact, some experts think that eventually, the entire side of a house as well as the roof could be covered in the paint to collect the energy from the sun, turning the house into a hi-tech suntrap.

Alternatively, the idea of building the roof from solar panels is another futuristic vision.  Currently, solar panels are too slim and breakable to form a roof and have to be applied on top of normal roofing materials.  But some experts are working on using normal materials such as zinc and copper and make them collect energy from the sun, effectively becoming solar panels.

You can purchase solar reflective paint from our site

EPDM roofs

For the flat roof, often the bane of a homeowner's existence with its constant maintenance, the future seems to indicate a move away from the traditional felt membrane and towards rubber coverings.  Some companies are already producing rubber roofing that can be applied to flat roofs as well as garages, outbuildings and sheds and is so simple to install that homeowners can often do it themselves.  Rubber has shown to be very durable and able to withstand the worst the elements has thrown at it. So far, rubber shingles have also been created that are lighter than normal shingles and easier to install.

Take a look at our flat roofing product comparison

Conclusion

Saving energy, being kind to the environment and being easy to work with €“ these all seem to be important features of the roofing of the future.  So who knows, in 100 years the houses could all have green roofs, with rubber covering the extensions and solar paint on the sun-facing walls!