How important is conserving energy?
Homeowners who have gone from the original Eichler roof, with its almost useless half-inch of fiberglass insulation, to a modern insulated roof are invariably amazed at the dramatic difference it makes in both blocking the summer heat and retaining precious heat through the winter. Rigid foam insulation can be added beneath any of the roofing systems listed above, and of course spray-on polyurethane foam roofs are by their very nature highly insulating. While changing to a well-insulated roof will surely reduce your heating bill to some degree every winter, if your current roof is in good shape it probably does not make economic sense to put out for a new roof just to cut down on your gas cost over the winter: it would take several decades to recoup that investment. The real benefit will be in increased comfort during the summer months. Is the original Eichler roof appearance important to you? There are those who consider white or shiny roofs an eyesore, and depending on how your house
