Your roof takes a lot of heavy burdens on, from weather to extreme temperatures. Dark, absorbent materials soak up a lot of energy from the sun, which heats your house, so in the summer heat, the temperatures inside can become unbearable. Or you may run your air conditioning at all hours, eating up electricity costs. A remedy to this problem is cool roofing.
A cool roof is a roofing system that is designed to reflect more sunlight and absorb less heat than a standard designed roof. They can be made out of different materials, such as a sheet covering, a reflective type of paint, or reflective tiles or shingles.
Personal and environmental benefits of a cool roof:
- Reducing energy use and save on electric bills.
- Improving indoor comfort for spaces that are not air conditioned.
- Reduce air pollution.
- Reduce air temperatures.
- Improve health and comfort.
- Long lasting.
- Decreasing roof temperature.
It is important to consider the climate and other factors before deciding to install a cool roof, however, nearly any type of building can benefit from a cool roof. Cool roofs have greater cooling savings in hot climates. They can increase energy costs in colder climates.
In warm, moist locations, a cool roof surface can be more susceptible to algae or mold growth than hot roofs are. Because of this, there are some roof coatings that include special chemicals to prevent mold or algae growth. In cold climates, roofs can accumulate moisture through condensation. It is possible that cool roofs are more susceptible to accumulating moisture, but condensation can be avoided by if proper design techniques are used.
The types of cooling materials used are:
- Membranes – A flexible, waterproof covering that comes in a variety of shades and can replicate the look of general shingles.
- Coatings – Like thick paint, it can be sprayed or rolled onto a surface and it comes in a variety of colors.
- Shingles – There are asphalt, clay, and concrete tiles that contain special pigments to help reduce the sun’s UV rays and avoid the absorption of heat.
If you’re looking for a trained roofing specialist, call Adam Vaillancourt Roofing & Gutters at 603-673-0006 to schedule an evaluation.
