Roof’s that are described as “cool” are the type that have been designed in a way that they reflect sunlight and absorb a lot less heat when compared to the standard roofs. The roof type that will keep your home cooler in the summer months are usually constructed from either a highly reflective sheet covering or paint, or shingles or tiles that are highly reflective. Just about any building type can benefit from this type of roof, but it is still important to consider your climate and any other factors before you decide to have one installed.
The darker or standard roof usually reach a temperature of 150 degrees Fahrenheit or higher when exposed to the sunlight in the summer months. The cool roofs exposed to the same or similar conditions usually remain at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit cooler, along with saving money and energy in the way of using less of your air conditioning.
Advantages Of A Cooler Roof
The cooler roofs typically benefit the occupants and building in the following way:
- Decrease your energy bills by reducing your air-conditioning needs.
- Improve indoor comfort in areas without air-conditioning like covered patios, attics or garages.
- Decreasing the roof temperature, which usually extends the life-span of the roof.
Roof Types That Can Contribute To A Cooler House In Summer
There are a variety of roof types to choose from, but the surfaces that are exposed to direct sunlight are the types that will determine how cool the roof is. You have the choice to install a new roof or choose the right surfaces for your existing roof. Below are some of the options available:
- Roof Coatings
The cool roof-coatings will feature a reflective specialized pigment which reflects sunlight. These coatings include a thick layer of paint that has the ability to protect the surface of the roof from UV (ultra violet) light along with chemical damages.
- Low-Sloped Roofs
If you have a low-sloped roof, the roof will feature pre-fabricated, single-ply membranes that are rolled onto your roof which are then adhered with the use of chemical adhesives, mechanical fasteners, or positioned into place with pavers, stones or gravel. To make this type of roof cooler you can coat or reformulate the black membranes so that they become reflective.
- Built-Up Roofs
These roofs feature a base-sheet along with fabric-reinforcement layers with a protective dark surface layer. To make sure this type of roof is cooler in the hotter months, the surface layer needs to be made in various ways which can include:
- Substitute gray slag or marble chips with an asphalt flood coat.
- Use factory-applied coatings or reflective mineral-granules rather than dark coatings for mineral-surfaced sheets.
- Spray Polyurethane Foam Roof
These roofs are constructed in the way of combining 2 chemicals in liquid form together, which react and then expand that results in a single solid piece which adheres to a roof. The foam is susceptible to moisture, UV and mechanical damage and are reliant on protective coatings. These roofs usually feature coating that are already reflective, which contribute to a cooler roof performance.
- Steep Sloped Roofs
- Tile Roofs
These roofs are usually made of concrete, slate or clay. The tiles are usually glazed to offer waterproofing properties or coated in order to provide a customized surface or colors. To make this type of roof cooler, there are surface treatments which can transform the tiles that have a lower solar reflectance into tiles that offer a cooler roof solution.
- Shingle Roofs
These roofs are made up of panels that overlap and made from various materials like metals, polymers, wood, asphalt, or fiberglass. If you own a shingle roof or you would like one installed, choose cool asphalt-shingles that feature specially coated-granules which will offer improved solar reflectance. Coating the existing asphalt shingles, is usually not advisable.
- Steep And Low Sloped Roofs
- Metal Roofs
These roof types come in oven-baked paint finishes or natural-metallic finishes or the granular-coated surfaces. The metals that are unpainted are already good solar-reflectors, yet poor thermal-emitters. Choosing to paint the metal surfaces will increase solar reflectance as well as thermal emittance, which will increase the coolness in your home in the summer. You can also choose to have a cool-reflective coating applied.
- Green Roofs
When deciding on a new roof installation you may want to consider the option of a green roof. The green roofs are the best choice for the urban buildings with shallow-pit or flat roofs, and usually include anything from a complete garden to a basic plant-cover. The main benefits of choosing this type of roof is manage storm water along with enjoying an open rooftop space.
However, green roofs are also able to offer insulation which lowers the requirements of cooling and heating and can contribute to lowering urban-heat effects. This type of roof is usually a costly exercise in comparison to other types of roofing options, which is why you should have your property assessed by a professional roofing contractor before deciding to install one of these roofs.
When making the decision to install or implement a cool-roof with armorservices.com, you should first decide if the costs will justify your overall energy savings. The amount of energy you can save will be dependent on a number of factors like the climate along with how well the current roof is insulated, the roof type and how efficient your cooling and heating system is.
When building a home, you have the choice during the planning phases on the roof type you should be installing. However, when it comes to converting your existing roof to contribute to a cooler environment in your home, you will usually have 3 basic options that include:
- Replace the roof
- Re-cover your roof with a waterproof surface
- Retrofit your roof with a heat-reflective specialized material
When you roof is already in a poor condition or has reached the last stages of its life-span, it is advisable to retrofit, replace or re-cover the roof.