Vinyl Replacement Roofing Materials

Durability

• Vinyl, also known as PVC, is a durable roofing material that can withstand storms, including hurricanes, as well as extremes in temperatures. In addition, PVC roofing materials are more fire-resistant than other roofing alternatives and remain waterproof, even in unfavorable conditions.

Curb Appeal

• The flexibility of vinyl allows it to be used in complex roof structures, including around curves and peaks, while still maintaining a watertight seal. In addition, while vinyl is available in a limited range of standard colors -- such as white, gray and beige -- and it can be pigmented to any desired shade. Vinyl also can be used to create green, or living, roofs.

Cool Roofing

• A growing trend in the building industry is the use of reflective roofing materials, which reflect the sun’s heat rather than absorb it. These roofs can lower air-conditioning costs in the summer without significantly raising heating costs in the winter. White vinyl is highly reflective, reflecting 80 percent or more of the sun’s rays, compared to between 6 and 26 percent for traditional asphalt.

Recyclability

• Europeans have been recycling vinyl roofing materials since the early 1990s. Roofs that incorporate the recycled vinyl are of the same quality as those using strictly virgin materials. Recycling in the United States began in 1999 on a limited scale.