Property owners strive to find sustainable roofing solutions to counter constantly soaring energy costs and address pressing environmental concerns.
Cool roofs are an alternative to standard roofing material offering reflective coatings to help maintain a lower surface temperature, particularly during the extreme temperatures of summer. They reflect more sunlight and absorb less heat.
When remodeling or updating a property or constructing a new home, homeowners aim for a high performing roof that provides optimal energy savings. Cool roofs check all the boxes by keeping homes cooler and energy costs to a minimum.
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The Function of a Cool Roof
Cool Roofs are a functional and eco-friendly solution for roofing materials. They are specialized to reflect solar radiation helping to lower heat absorption. Standard materials including asphalt shingles absorb a large volume of the sun’s energy increasing an attic’s temp by as much as 70F.
The cool roof’s reflective granules or light-colored coating reflects the sunlight back to keep the surface and the household cool. In densely populated areas, the urban heat island effect is reduced due to these reflective properties.
These areas are hotter because heat absorbs from the pavement, buildings, and rooftops. The roof’s solar reflectance emits sunlight away from the roof while thermal emittance ensures efficient release of absorbed het for a cooler surface.
Before investing in a cool roof, it’s important to become familiar with the material. Learn more by visiting a professional and reputable builder website in order to make a more informed decision. Consider the following facts to as a starting point.
The sun
The intensity of the sun is the causes the most damage to a roof’s surface. It can break down the protective coating leading to degradation and eventual failure. The shingles become brittle and crack over time due to exposure to this element.
It’s vital to protect the roof’s surface by adding a protective coating or shading the surface with other structures or by adding trees. Precautionary measures can not only extend the life cycle of the materials but reduce the frequency of repairs and delay the need for a replacement.
A lower temperature
The specialized coating with cool roofing material reflects the sunlight and absorbs less compared to standard materials. The coatings help keep buildings cooler in warm weather with these reflective properties. Visit – Using Cool Roofs to Reduce Heat Islands | US EPA – to learn how cool roofs help reduce heat islands.
This means a higher level of comfort for occupants, reduced energy consumption, and lower utility costs. Because the cool roof has less thermal stress, the structure can withstand extended longevity proving both economic and climate control benefits.
The energy efficiency
A home’s roof can absorb an incredible volume of heat during summer’s extreme temperatures causing the house’s interior to become warm and uncomfortable. It can lead to higher energy consumption as the cooling stem works harder to maintain the desired temperature.
This over-exertion increases utility costs. Cool roofs direct heat and sunlight away from the home, helping the homeowner to maintain their desired interior temperature. Since the cooling system is less stressful and consuming less energy, utility costs are reduced.
This specialized coating material boasts of helping to reduce energy demands by as much as 50 percent, giving homeowners a tremendous advantage. Click for details on the energy efficiency of this roofing material.
The landfill
Roof coatings are one way to reduce landfill waste. This protective layer helps ensure a higher performance and extends the structure’s lifespan. These coatings often consist of silicone, acrylic, or urethane. They are also available in an array of colors.
When correctly applied, a roof can endure an additional roughly ten years of life with lowered utility bills throughout that life cycle. These coatings give the roof visual appeal and protect it from outside elements. Because the roof receives less damage, the landfill sees less waste.
A standard roof can last as long as 30 years with adequate care and upkeep, but a roof with protective coatings will survive much longer with fewer repairs and less likelihood for a premature replacement. This means less of an environmental impact since fewer roofs will find their way to the landfill.
Less maintenance
Roofing care and upkeep can be a time and cost-intensive undertaking. Roof repairs can accumulate rapidly whether replacing missing or damaged tiles to repairing leaks. A cool roof installation can mean less maintenance over time
Heat damage is common for standard roofing materials, but with a cool roof, the sun is reflected away, and less heat is absorbed, helping to keep the surface temperature lower and extending the life of the material.
This system boasts the ability to help reduce the chance of leaks as a cooler surface temperature can prevent shingles from growing brittle and breaking. Investing in a cool roof offers homeowners considerable returns not only in substantial energy savings but less maintenance and an extended roof life.
