Cool roofs are roofing tiles that are designed to reflect sunlight and reduce the amount of heat a roof absorbs to an extent. They are beneficial because they reduce the amount of energy a home is using and potentially save homeowners money on their heating and cooling bills. Cool roofs are not just limited to traditional roofs; they can also be installed on an existing roof.
The process used to coat a roof is a chemical process that includes a liquid solvent and a chemical catalyst. The liquid solvent can be water, methanol, or ethylene glycol. The catalyst can be an inorganic material like silica or magnesium oxide or a natural product like limestone. The cool roof material is then sprayed onto the roof with a machine until it is completely coated.
Here are the best ways to find the best cool roofs for your property.
A solar heat gain rating is a measure of how much heat the roof is expected to reflect or absorb from the sun. A high solar heat gain rating will cause the roof to absorb more heat during the day and reflect less heat during the night. This can result in poor performance of shaded and cool roofing materials or excess insulation.
UV reflectivity is the amount of light that a surface reflects into the atmosphere. The amount of light reflected back into the atmosphere is what determines the overall ‘coolness’ of a roof. High levels of UV reflectivity indicate that a roof will be cooler than one with less light reflection.
A great traditional roofing material with exceptional UV reflective capabilities is slate. Slate uses a natural process to produce a mineral heated to high temperatures and formed into slabs. The slabs are then cut into tiles, laid down in overlapping rows, forming a thick layer of tiles that acts as a natural solar reflector, helping to keep out the heat.
Asphalt shingle's performance as a UV reflective roof is very good in that it has been shown to have a high reflectivity (reflectivity is the ability to reflect light). Asphalt shingles are made of tar and asphalt, both materials with high reflectivity.
For modern roofing materials:
Metal roofing materials are reflective because they can reflect and give back light. This can be achieved through various means, such as thin sheets of metal, metal mesh, and a thin layer of foil. These materials can also create a lot of heat that can be used to heat the roof with solar panels. Metal roofing materials are also highly durable and can be subjected to heavy winds without being damaged.
Roofing materials must be compatible with the insulation to be installed below them. If the insulation is incompatible with the roofing material, it will not work properly as it will not maintain a moisture-free environment.
Lastly, your roofing material has excellent UV reflective capabilities and a long-term roofing lifespan and performance.
You can always count on us at Turbo Roofing to install the best UV-reflective roofing materials that can protect your roof and help you save from enormous energy costs. Contact us today to learn more about everything we can do for you.