Many building materials have short life spans and must be replaced periodically, contributing significantly to landfill waste.  Building with durable products reduces this environmental burden and also reduces the amount of new resources which must be used to replace the product.  The durability of materials is generally determined by a combination of a manufacturer's warranty and standard testing procedures to determine the projected lifespan of that material. 

Examples of durable roofing materials include metals, ceramic, glass and concrete composites.  These have a much longer life span than traditional asphalt shingles.  Cladding, a protective layer on the exterior of the building, is most durable when made of a water-resistant fibre cement composite.  This helps to insulate the building from water damage, increasing the longevity of the building itself.  For interiors, flooring made of polished concrete or ceramic are much more durable than traditional wood, vinyl, or carpet.  Wall finishes, including paint type, can also be chosen with durability in mind.

Consumers often compare only the intial cost of durable materials to their less-durable alternatives, neglecting the substantial cost savings to be realized in the long term due to increased longevity.  As a result, less durable materials are often selected because of their lower capital cost.  For example, the price of copper roofing shingles may be as much as ten times that of asphalt shingles.  This can act as a major deterent to potential buyers, despite the fact that their projected lifespan is several hundred years while asphalt shingles only last 20 to 40 years (1).  The life cycle costs of alternative building materials must be compared in order to truly assess the relative cost of these materials.   

Sources:
¹ The Copper Development Association, 2006.  Building Green: How Copper can LEED the Way (webpage).