If the summer sun really turns your home into a real-life oven, then I’m sure you’ve been thinking of installing a cool roof. For those in warmer states like California, I bet you know exactly what I’m talking about. If you’re looking for a more energy-efficient roofing system, be sure read on about the cool roof advantages and disadvantages before making a decision.
The summer days can really make your home uncomfortable at times, especially if you haven’t installed the proper measurements to deal with the temperatures. What’s more, the electricity bill will also take a toll on your finances when you rely solely on air conditioning systems.
So what should you do? Well, the best option in such cases is going for the cool roofing systems. But before you go straight to purchasing the best cool roofing, read this article to fully evaluate the cool roof advantages and disadvantages. It will help you have a better understanding for what you’re paying for. Shall we get started?
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What Exactly is a Cool Roof?
If you are looking for eco-friendly roofing system, then you are bound to come across the term ‘cool roof’. And no, it’s not a roofing system that wears shades. A cool roof is a type of roofing system that’s able to reflect heat instead of absorbing it. Come to think of it, a cool roof system really makes sense. I mean, after all, why would you go out with a dark sweater that absorbs the heat in the middle of the day during your summer holiday? You probably wouldn’t. So, why should you mask your roofing system with heat-absorbing shingles?
Using heat-absorbing materials especially in hot areas will drive up the cooling cost for sure. A cool roof will help drastically reduce the cooling cost and save you tons of money on your monthly electric bill.
Cool roofs are typically made of heat-reflective materials for instances treated tiles, asphalt shingles or a roof system that’s basically painted with special pigment. The cool roofing system can easily be retrofitted into any of your existing shingles or during a roof replacement task.
As a matter of fact, most homeowners choose to go with a special coating on their existing roof systems. The paint contains UV resistant materials that essentially helps to block out the rays of the sun. That means that you will finally get some peace in your home even when it’s hot outside.
Does Cool Roof Reduce the Cooling Cost Especially in Hot Climates?
Even experts like our very own Energy roofing team acknowledge the importance of a cool roof system in areas such as California and other hot climate states. Actually, the department of energy did their research on roofs and found out that roofs can go up to 150 degrees Fahrenheit during the hot days. But when the homeowners use cool roof, the temperature of the surface reduces by up to 50 degrees. More to that, installation of cool roof systems reduced the demand for energy in Texas, Florida and California by 10 to 30%.
That said, it stands to reason that cool roof systems are the best option in hot areas but not the ideal choice for cold regions. In fact, the cool roof might actually have an opposite effect in cool areas. That’s because it will raise the cost of heating up the house during winter days.
Should I Install A Cool Roofing System On My Roof?
Hold your horses for a minute! I’m glad that the thought has actually crossed your mind but there are certain things that you still need to consider. For starters, this is not a task that you can simply DIY through it. No siree!
You will definitely need an expert to handle the whole process. Not to doubt your expertise but professional contractors have been doing this same task for years. That means they have the required experience to handle this task. If the process is done incorrectly, you will still feel the heat inside your home.
On top of that, there are other things that you should have in mind that I’m sure you never thought of:
- Slope; when installing a cool roofing system, the slope of the roof will have an impact on its effectiveness. A professional roofing contractor will easily tell you or even recommend the materials to be used in your cool roofing system depending on the type of slope.
- Climate; as I said earlier, the climate has a huge effect on the cool roofing system. If you install a cool roofing system in a cold area, then chances are it will cost you even more money. You will end up spending a lot trying to keep the house warmer during the winter.
- Projected energy savings; this is the most important part of the cool roofing installation. A professional roofing company should be able to provide you with the estimated monetary amount of saving that you will be expecting after the installation of the cool roof. That shows you the amount of money you will save when the roof is installed.
I hope you now see the importance of a professional roofing company. Now let’s head down to the different pros and cons of cool roofing. That will help you better prepare yourself.
Advantages of Cool Roof Systems
A cool roof comes with so many advantages that will prove beneficial to your home, especially during the hot summer months. To start with, a cool roof tends to be an eco-friendlier roofing approach that makes sure that you have a home that is more energy-efficient.
The same way we wear light colored clothes during warmer months to keep our bodies cooler is the same theory that we use in creating cool roofs. In that, the roofs installed are lighter colored hence they ensure your home remains cool even when the sun is angrily beaming it down.
The cool roofs are inspired by the Greeks who used this approach in the infrastructure of their buildings. Lighter colored roofs were used in an effort to keep their homes cool. That being said, here are the benefits that you will enjoy by preventing the heat build-up in your home using cool roofing.
1. Lower Bills on Air Conditioning
This might be just the most obvious benefit of using cool roofing in the infrastructure of your home. Having cool roofs will drastically reduce the costs you incur on air conditioning by a big percentage.
The fact that your roof will absorb less heat means that there will also be less heat getting into your home or the designated building. The cool roofs are also made in a such a way that they are insulated meaning that they will keep cold air in.
With such an incredible combination, you will definitely not have to worry about energy costs anymore. In fact, you will be in a position to save up to 15% of your energy costs which is quite impressive.
2. An Extended Life for your Roof
The truth of the matter is that, when your roof is exposed to much heat over a long period of time, degradation starts to occur. Especially if your roof has asphalt shingles, degradation is likely to occur even faster due to the direct sun exposure.
The good thing is that you can use cool roofs that reflect away the sun rays. This means that your roof will not have to absorb too much heat from the sun. That being the case, your roofing will last for an even longer period of time. And of course, you will not have to keep on replacing the shingles.
Unlike the traditional roofing, cool roofs also feature certain quality of materials that will need less maintenance. In that, with the cool roofs, you will not have to worry about redoing your roofing after just a few years.
3. Better Indoor Comfort
There are some spaces that can be very tight and they can get really uncomfortable during the hot months. Such spots include covered patios or even garages. In such areas, you can install the cool roofs as they will improve your comfort.
In that, you will be in a position to go about your activities hassle-free. Especially during the hot summer, the cool roofing helps in reduction of conversion of visible light into infrareds.
4. Eco-friendliness
With cool roofs, you will need less energy to keep your home in the most ideal conditions. This means that you will definitely have lower energy consumption. As we all know, less consumption of energy also leads to a lower demand on the generation of power.
Hence, this happens to be a very good way of preserving the natural resources so that they can be applied in other uses. On the same note, less generation of power means that there will be fewer gas emissions. Everything leads to protection and conservation of the environment.
5. Reduction of Roofing Wastes in Landfills
As we mentioned earlier, while using cool roofs, you will need to worry less on the maintenance. That is because the cool roofs are capable of sustaining a longer life as compared to the traditional type of roofs.
That being the case, there will be less replacement required on the roofs. Therefore, there will be a reduction in roofs waste in the landfills. This means that cool roofs facilitate better conservation of the environment.
6. The Decrease in the Heat Island Effect
Cool roofs are an energy-efficient type of roofing. Therefore, it comes in handy in reducing the heat island effect in the urban areas. These are emissions that result from excess heat that is realized from hot roofs especially in a city.
The more people embrace the use of cool roofs in a certain location, the less there will be the emission of any recurring heat. This will help to keep the overall temperature in that location lower than it would be if people used the traditional roofs.
This is something that will generate an overall positive advantage to the reduction of the area’s cooling requirements. This will help to save costs of energy in that locality as well.
Disadvantages of Cool Roof Systems
While cool roofs come with so many advantages, there is also the downside to it. Even a coin comes with two sides. Here are some of the cons of installing a cool roofing system.
1. Susceptible to Mold
Cool roofs are a great option in areas that tend to receive very high temperatures. However, if the location also has recurrent high humidity, the cool roofs are at a higher chance of getting mould growth. The cool roofs tend to be more susceptible as compared to the traditional type of roofs.
2. High Installation Cost
If you are operating at a very strict budget, replacing your traditional roof with a cool roofing system could be a little expensive. All in all, the high initial price tag can be offset by its fewer maintenance demands and high energy savings.
3. Cool Roofs Have Limited Applications
While cool roofs are a great roofing option, one small downside is that they have very limited applications. That being said, the cool roofs are only ideal for areas that receive a very high amount of sunlight.
Locations that tend to have very long and cold winter months are not suitable. That is because the cool roofs might end up cooling down too much making your stay very uncomfortable in the cooler months.
Get the Best Cool Roofing Installation Service
If you’ve finally come to the conclusion that you really need a cool roofing system after evaluating the advantages and disadvantages, then talk to us and we will get it done for you. Energy Roofing Company is a professional roofing company with 10 years’ experience in this field. Get a free estimate if you’re in the local Los Angeles areas.
More to that, we use branded roofing products, for instance, Owens Corning which can last for quite a long time. Therefore, we can provide you with the quality service that you deserve. To top it all up, our services are very affordable so you don’t have to stretch your finances. Let us help you increase the lifespan of your roof by installing the cool roofing system.
Don’t just take my word for it! You can check out the feedback we get from our clients. When it comes to cool roofing, you will have to work with the best in the business. And since cool roofing is our specialty, we can definitely offer that to you. Our company is also licensed and insured. Give us a call and we will be at your doorstep in a matter of no time.
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