Do Energy Efficiency Roof Coatings Really Help Lower Power Bills?
Installing a new roof can be among the most expensive investments you could spend for your home or property. This is why ensuring you get the most out of this pricey investment should be on top of your mind. Among the most common questions many homeowners ask when it comes to new roof installation is whether energy-efficient roof coatings are worth the investment.
Do these so-called “energy-efficient” roof coatings really help lower your power bills? Let’s find out.
Cool Roofs
Cool roofs are roofs designed to reflect more sunlight and absorb less heat than standard roofs.
These roof types are either coated with a highly reflective type of paint, a sheet covering, or reflective tiles or shingles.
Standard roofs, even those with good insulation, can still allow heat to penetrate and warm up an attic and top floors. This then results in air conditioning systems having to work more than they should to keep the space cooler. In general, standard roofs can reach temperatures of up to 150°F or more during the summer. On the other hand, under the same conditions, a reflective roof could stay around 50°F or cooler, thus saving you money on air conditioning expenses. Check out this super-informative video by the U.S. Department of Energy to learn more about cool roofs:
Roof Color and Energy Efficiency
When it comes to making roofs energy-efficient, the idea of using light-colored roofs seems to be the usual go-to of most homeowners. Driven by the notion that a lighter roof is always better than a dark-colored roof. Though roof color indeed helps reduce heat gain into your home, it isn’t quite as simple as that.
A lighter color, specifically white, is indeed innately better in reflecting heat than darker colors. However, it’s important to note that roofing materials have a more significant impact on energy efficiency than their colors alone. So when it comes to roof installation with energy efficiency in mind, it’s best to choose the material first and then the color next.
Energy-efficient Roofing Materials
Now that we know that energy-efficient roofing materials are of more importance than the roof’s color let’s identify the most energy-efficient materials.
Metal Roofs
It’s true that metal does get very hot in the sun. But this is mainly because they are highly reflective. This means that most of that heat is being reflected away from your home.
Tile Roofs
Tile roofs made of slate, clay, or concrete are other good choices for energy efficient roofing. A lot of tile roofing materials are usually pre-treated to maximize heat reflectivity. But in cases, when they aren’t, it’s generally easy to treat with reflective coatings after they’ve been installed.
Save money on utility bills by installing an energy-efficient roof. It may be costly today, but it will save you hundreds of dollars in the long run. Good luck!