If you’re sitting in the AC, sipping some sweet tea, and wondering what you did wrong in life to deserve such disrespectful summertime heat, go ahead and keep reading.
In this blog, we’re going to give you some things to keep in mind when building a new home or replacing your current roof that will help keep your roof and house cooler during these summer months.
Roof Cooling Materials
If you’ve made it this far, then you’ve likely made some kind of search like “best shingles for hot roofs,” or “best roofing type for hot climates,” and frankly, we can’t blame you. The good news is you may be in good shape already, depending on what kind of shingles you have on your home.
Asphalt shingles are at the bottom of the list as far as cooling ability goes; but, that doesn’t mean they don’t or can’t help. Some manufacturers, like our partner Owens Corning, provide “cool roof” shingle options that use a special coating to reflect much more of the sun’s rays (i.e. heat) than regular asphalt shingles.
Another common yet more efficient and cool type of roof is a metal roof. They come in a variety of colors and are incredibly more reflective than shingles, which means fewer of the sun’s rays are retained in your roof decking, attic, and insulation.
Other materials available to use for roofing that reflect more of the sun’s rays than asphalt shingles are clay, tile, shale, and even concrete.
The good news is most of the roofing materials available offer some kind of a cooling option, whether it be paint or a special coating. So when the time comes, ask your contractor or roofer what options may be available in whatever style you think best for your home.
Attic Insulation and Roof Ventilation
Any qualified contractor will tell you that insulation and ventilation are two of the biggest helpers when it comes to keeping your roof and attic cooler during the sweltering summer months.
If your roof has proper ventilation, it will help move cool air in and push hot air out. This circulation of air should provide some cooling properties by keeping excess heat from building in your attic and on your roof, keeping your house a little cooler.
With the proper amount of insulation, your attic will have a thermal barrier between it and your ceiling, thus keeping the hot air from radiating through to your home.
The good news is both ventilation and insulation are tasks that can be completed anytime, so if you think your attic isn’t properly insulated or ventilated, our sister company Energypro can determine the best plan of action for you relatively quickly.
Roofing Color
If you’re looking to keep your new house or roof cooler and you’re shopping around for the “usual” shingle (20- or 30-year asphalt shingles,) you’re going to want to choose light colors. The lighter color won’t absorb as much heat as darker-colored shingles, and will likely last longer.
The same goes for metal roofs. While the metal itself will deflect much of the sun’s rays, a lighter color will only add to the benefit.
What Can I Do To Cool My Roof?
If you can cook a full steak dinner on your roof and want to change that, there are plenty of things you can do to help make your roof cooler and, ultimately, make your house more energy efficient.
It can seem really confusing because there are so many options out there, so when the time comes, keep in mind your wants and needs and rest assured there will be solutions available to help you achieve your goals.
In the end, it’s up to you. A quality, certified company like Buildpro can help you determine the best solutions for your roofing needs to drive down the heat retained by your roof to help your home become more comfortable and efficient.
If you’ve made it to the end of this post, go ahead and contact the experts at Buildpro for a free, no-obligation estimate on your next roofing project today.