Whenever the hottest part of the year comes, people find ways on how to keep their homes as fresh as possible, all while not spending too much on energy bills. Many homeowners might be unaware, but the roof can make a difference in maintaining a home’s temperature.
If you are having doubts, it’s true. There’s quite an amount of roofing factors that contribute to the heat – either absorbed or reflected off. However, these factors don’t change in the winter. A roof that absorbs more heat in the summer also absorbs more heat in the winter. Hence, it’s an advantage in melting snow and keeping the home warm during cold weather.
Here are four prevalent roofing factors that contribute to the temperature of a home.
Color
The color affects the heat absorption – dark colors absorb more light and trap heat in the roof that flows in the attic. On the other hand, lighter colors are reflective – they make the heat bounce off. Hence, they hold less heat than a darker roof. Based on a study, plywood under dark roofs in direct sunlight is consistently 10 to 15°F hotter than the plywood boards under light-colored roofs.Others may notice that many homeowners still go for the dark-colored roof – it’s practical in a lot of areas such as Michigan. Often, it’s more beneficial to use a darker roof in colder regions as they get much snow. Thus, the heat they absorb melt off the snow before it becomes cumbersome.
Material
A roof’s material also creates an impact on a home’s heat absorption. Asphalt reflects up to 30% of light - may it be dark or light shingles. On the other hand, the metal roof is very reflective. Hence, most light rays are reflected away – it keeps the home and attic’s temperature stable throughout the year.Asphalt and metal are the most common choices for roofing materials; however, every option has to offer regarding the rate of light and heat absorption. For someone who has a favorite roofing material for their new home, there’s no need to worry about its energy efficiency. Nowadays, most articles have a cool roof option.
Roofing Technology
Taking in less heat and reflecting more sunlight, the cool roof is a great approach to get the roofing color and material the homeowner wants while getting a better energy efficiency rate. Such roofing materials come along with “cool roof�? options; however, some alter materials using highly reflective paint or coat.Most of the time, a cool roof is at least 50°F cooler than a non-cool roof with the same color and construction. However, these materials are a bit more expensive for someone who’s after energy savings. Regardless, they ensure to keep the home cool, particularly during the summer. Moreover, they reduce air conditioning consumption and save energy money on the energy bill.
Construction
Regardless of what type of roofing material you end up with, quality roofers tell that the best way to make sure that a home maintains its coolness is through proper roof ventilation. If an attic has the correct amount of insulation and ventilation, excess heat escapes. Thus, heat coming from the roof won’t make a significant impact on the home’s overall temperature. Proper ventilation gives cooling properties to the shingles, while insulation takes care of the excess that past the attic.Eventually, choosing the roof relies on what works best for your home. If you’re looking for a roofing contractor in Sanford, Florida, we are the one to call. Universal Contracting FL has the experience and skills necessary to offer both residential and commercial roofing services of any size. Contact us today on (866) 366-2656, and we’ll help you prepare your home for the hottest season of the year.
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