Cool Roofs: A New Trend in Roofing

What are cool roofs?

Before diving into why cool roofs are emerging as a new trend and are gaining immense popularity throughout the world, let us first tell you what cool roofs are.

Cool roofs are roofs that provide you with high solar reflectance i.e. they reflect the visible, ultraviolet, and infrared wavelengths coming from the sun. This property of reflectance keeps the insides of your house or the building cool. This kind of surface of the roofs that has this property of reflectance can also radiate absorbed or non-reflected energy.

Although these surfaces are white or usually of light colors but with the evolving technology, things are changing and dark surfaces are also being used for this purpose.

Why cool roofs are trending?

With growing awareness of sustainability and innovations in new technology, people are becoming more and more aware and informed about their environment. They want to opt for options that will cause less damage to the environment they are living in and they are continuously replacing everything with more environmentally-friendly products. For instance, if we look five-six years back we’ll see that people started replacing plastic straws with steel ones and plastic bags with recyclable bags made from clothes. Similar is the case with solar panels. To cut the bills and stop using non-recyclable sources for making electricity, people have started installing solar panels to generate electricity. 

Humans these days are continuously looking for more sustainable options, it is high time we all should think of switching towards roofs that might save us from excessive bills and also prove good for the environment.

Advantages of cool roofs:

Here we will discuss some advantages of cool roofs that may help you choose these for your future endeavors. Cool roofs can be a blessing during hot summer months. Just like we opt for light color clothes in summer to prevent ourselves from absorbing heat, the concept of a cool roof is the same. This concept is inspired by the Greeks who paint their communities and houses with a light color to prevent them from gaining heat.

  • Lower bills on air conditioning:

One of the most prominent advantages of these roofs is that since the surface of such roofs reflects the heat, you won’t be needing your air conditioners much throughout the season resulting in fewer air conditioning bills. More than 15% of your energy cost will be saved and the insides of your house or building will be quite cool. 

  • Extended life for your roof:

Continuous exposure to the sun can cause damage to your roof. Especially if you have asphalt shingles, the damage can be worse and you might have to replace the shingles after a few years. This will increase the maintenance cost of your house. To avoid this, you can use cool roofs that will keep your house cool and you won’t have to constantly call contractors. 

Cool roofs are made of such materials that ask for less maintenance and can be sustainable for a very long period. 

  • Indoor comfort:

 Your indoors can cause quite the suffocation and discomfort during hot weather. The added humidity that comes with rain can make matters much worse. Some of us don’t have air-conditioning facilities, so it’s better to switch towards cool roofs that can provide us with comfort. 

It also reduces the conversion of visible light into infra-red and you can continue your activities hassle-free.

  • Eco-friendliness:

Less heat in the house will lead you to use less power for air-conditioning which will eventually lead to less power consumption and less demand for the generation of it. When you generate less electricity, you are saving the natural resources that can be used for other purposes. Less usage of electricity will lead to fewer emissions also. So, cool roofs are an eco-friendly option which all of us should choose for. 

  • Reduction of roofing waste into landfills:

As we mentioned earlier the materials in cool roofs sustain for a longer period, which is why you do not have to worry about the maintenance. This will cause less roofing waste into the landfills. Less waste means that cool roofs help in maintaining the environment from the waste materials. 

  • The decrease in the heat island effect:

Cool roofs are energy-efficient so they help in the reduction of the heat island effect in urban areas. When more people start using cool roofs, the overall temperature of that area becomes low to a certain extent that can help in the conservation of the overall energy of that locality.

Disadvantages of cool roofs:

With so many pros, cool roofs also come with some disadvantages under certain situations. 

  • Mold growth:

Cool roofs are great for areas where there is high temperature but it has certain disadvantages in areas where there is high humidity because there is a chance of mold growth. Cool roofs are more susceptible to mold growth, so before installing them you should consult with your local contractor about it. 

  • High cost:

If you are thinking of replacing your traditional roof with a cool roof then this might prove costly for you. Even though it is a disadvantage but you‘ll not have to maintain it like a traditional roof and this will compensate for the price of it. 

  • Cool roofs have very limited applications:

Cool roofs are only suitable for areas where there is more strong sunlight. Unfortunately, they are not suitable for areas that have long and cold winters. They might over-cool the houses in such areas which might become quite uncomfortable for the residents. 

  • Increased heating requirement:

In some areas, the installation of a cool roof can increase the requirement for heat in winters. This will cause an increase in the power usage for heating the house. 

Conclusion:

In this article, we have given you a detailed overview of Cool roofs. If you live in an area where summers are longer as compared to winters then you should go for cool roofs. However, before installing them you should keep in mind the budget, weather of that area, and humidity conditions. A cool roof can prove to be beneficial both for the environment and for you if have it installed at the right place.

JEFF

Jeff is responsible for day-to-day management of a crew, on site. responsibility for all tasks related to preparing the environmental setting for making sound roofing repairs, drilling and attaching rafter ties to appropriate framing members, installing proper overhang brackets and flashing. Experts in roofing specialization on some broad categories may enlist into this position at their department’s discretion. A roofing contractor must identify the most straightforward solution to a roof problem, considering budget, R-value, insulation and safety. They must also formulate a document that presents and justifies the proposed solution. This can include checking for aggressive roof signs, noting roof shingle branding, follow-up from the previous contractor’s work and accessing the attic insulation levels.


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