As the summer reaches extreme temperatures, homeowners are increasingly concerned about keeping their homes cool without breaking the bank on energy bills. Are you paying attention to how the roofing color and material directly impact your indoor air temperature and overall comfort?
"Roofs play a crucial role in regulating the temperature inside a home by either reflecting or absorbing solar radiation," shares Stephen Riale, CARE Area Manager, GAF. "A well-designed and properly insulated roof can significantly reduce heat gain in summer and heat loss in winter, leading to improved energy efficiency and comfort for homeowners and occupants. Proper ventilation is also an essential component to regulating the temperature inside a house. Having good ventilation can help keep the attic and roof cooler, which can decrease the overall temperature in the home and lower cooling costs."
Choosing Materials That Reflect Heat
Material matters, and it's important to find a roofing contractor who understands why. "When choosing a roofing material for heat reflection, it's important to consider factors like color, material properties, and any specific cool roof technologies incorporated into the product," notes Riale. "GAF’s Timberline Cool Series reflective shingles feature specially engineered granules that reflect solar energy, reducing heat absorption, and potentially lowering cooling costs. This cooling technology minimizes a building's solar heat gain by reflecting incoming sun rays and re-emitting the absorbed energy."
He adds, "Having high-quality ventilation products can also help keep your home cool in the summer. GAF offers a diverse selection of ridge and off-ridge ventilation products for every residential roof system, including attic exhaust vents and accessories, attic intake vents, and gable wall and circular louvers." Not all roofing professionals are focused on improving attic ventilation, but if you're focused on utility costs, don't overlook ways you can reduce the impact of absorbed heat. Attic temperatures are very important.
"Lastly, it’s important to ensure the entire roofing system is protected so it functions at its highest level and is able to effectively mitigate the transfer of heat from outside to inside the house. Homeowners can apply the Deck-Armor™ Premium Breathable Roof Deck Protection from GAF that combines strength and breathability to help protect their home against wind driven rain and trapped moisture, both of which can impact the roof’s performance and ability to help regulate the temperature inside a house."
Does the color of the roof shingles materials affect the temperature in a home? If so, what colors are best?
"Yes, the color of roof shingles can affect the temperature inside a home," validates Riale. It works much like your attire during the summer — no doubt your body temperature will feel warmer in the summer sun if you're wearing a black or navy shirt. "Dark roof shingles absorb more heat making them suitable in colder climates, while lighter color shingles reflect it, which can impact temperature and energy efficiency. For optimal temperature control, lighter-colored roofs like light gray or beige are generally recommended, especially in warmer climates."
What are cool roofs?
"Cool roofing is designed to reflect more sunlight and absorb less heat compared to traditional roofing options, which in turn can reduce the amount of heat transferred into a building below and lower temperatures inside. In fact, a cool, reflective roof could stay more than 50°F cooler on a sunny day compared to a conventional roof. Because of their ability to minimize heat transfer between the exterior and interior of a house, installing a cool roof can help lower indoor temperatures and the need for air conditioning, improving comfort and reducing costs." Be sure to talk to your roofer about the potential energy savings when you install cool roof materials.
He adds, "GAF offers cool roof products like Timberline Cool Series and Timberline HDZ Reflector Series shingles that are highly reflective, reduce the absorption of heat, and have been rated by the Cool Roof Rating Council, making them ideal for energy-efficient roofing solutions."
How does metal roofing compare to traditional shingles in terms of keeping a home cool?
Metal roofing is very effective at reflecting solar radiation, which can help keep your home cooler during the summer. Many metal roofs are also designed with special reflective coatings, further reducing heat absorption. Unlike traditional shingles, which can trap heat, metal roofs allow for better airflow and aid in reduced heat retention. This can lead to lower indoor actual temperatures and reduced energy costs, making metal roofing a great option for homeowners looking to adopt an energy-efficient home.
