The topic of "cool roofs" comes up regularly these days every time a discussion of eco-friendly and energy-efficient building arises. Here's what you need to know about cool roofs and what they mean to you as a homeowner:

1. The term "cool roofs" simply refers to roofs that are designed to reflect heat. The idea is simple - the less heat absorbed by a roof covering, the less heat will be conducted into the attic or room below, and the easier the building will be to keep comfortable on hot days. Sounds good, right?
    
2. Another imagined (but not yet proven) benefit of the cool roof idea is that buildings with cool roofs reduce the "heat island effect." This effect refers to fact that built up cities with large heat-absorbing surfaces (roofs, walls, roads, concrete, etc.) can often be hotter than nearby natural terrain (if that terrain is trees and/or grass). Extending this "heat island" phenomenon to houses isn't always appropriate, but it may be worth considering for a small number of residences in peculiar locales. 
    
3. The more relevant concern is absolutely the heat generated by a roof absorbing heat from the sun and conducting it into a home. This heat will make a home hotter and therefore more uncomfortable on hot days, and for homes with air conditioning, adding to the energy load (and costing more money). Cool roofs can reduce the heat absorbed from the sun significantly. It's not unusual for a dark roof on a hot, sunny day to reach temperatures of 160 degrees or more. If that hot material is sitting flat on a roof deck (as all asphalt shingles must), then that heat will inevitably be transferred into the building. A cool metal roof can easily be 50 degrees cooler, and the difference in the amount of heat transfer as a result can be tremendous. No question that this can have a dramatic effect on comfort and reduced air conditioning load.

With the exception of some of our natural metal roofs, almost every one of our profiles is available in a "cool" finish, thereby qualifying for the US federal tax credit. These roofing materials tend to be lighter in color, but new advances in finishes have allowed darker colors that still maintain the ability to reflect heat. Our finished steel and aluminum shingles, panels, and shakes are all available in darker Energy Star rated cool roof colors.

If you have a project that could benefit from a cool metal roof, contact us and we'll help you pick the one that best suits your application.