Using Reflective Roofing Materials
The temperature of your roof plays an important part in a number of environmental factors within your home. If your roof collects heat without reflecting any then your home will get hot during the summer months meaning you will have to pay more for energy to keep your air conditioning running or face long sweaty days with no reprise from the searing temperatures. This extra heat can also cause a build up of moisture inside your roof and eventually cause damage to the timber structure; this damage may manifest itself in the form of cracks, warped materials and leaks. Also in winter your home will get cold and you will have to pay more for heating. There are essentially four main types of reflective roofing materials you may want to consider using for your roof.
Reflective roofing materials - metal roofs
Aluminum, brushed stainless steel and other materials are used to create the metal roof. They are usually durable and hardy giving you an extended life on your roof. Homeowners with metal roofs have reported savings of 20% on their annual energy bill. Don't forget that cooling buildings accounts for an incredible 1/6th of the energy used in the average home. The problem with metal roofs is that while they prevent the heat from being emitted in your home they actually trap it and so they do not actually reflect the heat as well as other types of reflective roofing material. If combined with a polymeric coating they become even more efficient and you could realize greater energy reduction within your home.
Reflective roofing materials - roofing tiles
When considering roofing tiles as reflective roofing materials the most important factor to consider is the color of the tiles. Anyone who has been out on a summer day wearing a black t-shirt will know that dark colors absorb heat and anything they protect gets hot very quickly. The same is also true when considering reflective roofing materials. Whether you choose ceramic or fabricated concrete you should select a light color that will do an effective job of reflecting the heat away from your home.
Reflective roofing materials - roofing membranes
Again, with roofing membranes it is important to opt for the right kind of color. Lighter is always better, and if you opt for the darker membranes that give your roof a similar appearance to that of one using slate shingles it will have very little reflective quality. You will need to pay through the nose for your air conditioning and you might also face damage to the roof itself.
Reflective roofing materials - white reflective coatings
Possibly the easiest of all the reflective roofing materials because you can have it placed over virtually any type of roof. They are designed specifically to reflect the sun's rays and the heat away from your building and do a good job of it. They do, however, attract UV rays so it is important that you select a good quality coating that not only works as reflective roofing materials but also prevents the potentially damaging UV rays from getting through and onto the surface of your roof.
September, 2004
Copyright 2005 Roofer 911.com. All Rights Reserved
by Steven Briesemeister. Reprinted courtesy of Roofer 911.com, roofing contractor serving Long Island, Queens, Brooklyn, NY and northern Virginia.