It’s common knowledge that the roof’s primary purpose is to protect us from the weather. But did you know that a roof’s coating, pitch, or colour can also directly impact your energy bill? Find out more about how a cool roof can benefit your home.
What Is a Cool Roof?
Cool roofs are roofs that stay cooler than traditional roofs in the sun by minimising solar absorption and maximising thermal emittance. This reduces the need to control indoor air temperatures with active systems.
The colour of roofs and their material composition can significantly influence the temperatures they reach. Temperatures can also be influenced by building design type, roof pitch, materials and structural components and application techniques. Source: DesigningBuildings
What Are the Benefits?
A cool roof can benefit a building and its occupants by:
– Reducing energy bills by decreasing air conditioning needs
– Improving indoor comfort for spaces that are not air conditioned, such as garages or covered patios
– Decreasing roof temperature, which may extend roof service life.
Beyond the building itself, cool roofs can also benefit the environment, especially when many buildings in a community have them. Cool roofs can:
– Reduce local air temperatures (sometimes referred to as the urban heat island effect)
– Lower peak electricity demand, which can help prevent power outages
– Reduce power plant emissions, including carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxides, and mercury, by reducing cooling energy use in buildings. Source: Energy
What Are the Different Types?
Cool roof paint comes in two different forms. Cementitious coatings are made up of concrete and ceramic particles dissolved in white acrylic paint. Elastomer coatings contain additional polymers to keep the coatings less brittle and more water-resistant. In fact, since cool roofs can draw humidity—in turn promoting the growth of algae and mold—it’s standard practice not to apply cementitious coatings on surfaces that haven’t been first prepped with a waterproof solution.
Should You Try It?
Not every roof makes a good candidate for these coatings, however. For instance, if you live in an area with shorter summers and colder winters, cool roof coatings could actually increase your energy bills. That’s because the reflective surfaces still offset heat in winter, when solar heat gain could provide some relief from high heating bills.
The average humidity in your location should also factor into your decision. Cool roofs can draw excess moisture, since there’s not as much heat to evaporate water away. And in areas with high humidity, homeowners may face problems with algae and mold, which can degrade your roof over time and lower its durability. Source: Modernize
Are you curious to know whether a cool roof will be a great option for your dream home? Call us, and we’ll be happy to discuss more about the best roofing for your budget and needs.
Contact:
Kerrisdale Roofing & Drains Ltd.
168 W 71st Ave, Vancouver, BC V5X 4S7
(604) 360-2114
