Some people believe that the color of their roofs really doesn’t matter when it comes to saving energy. What really matters is their HVAC systems. That’s mostly true. An efficient, well-running HVAC system can save you loads of money. But the color of your roof does matter when it comes to heating and cooling your house.
Colors That Reflect Heat
The best color to bounce heat back into the atmosphere is white. A white roof can reflect as much as 90% of the sunlight that hits it, but most people don’t want a white roof. It’s probably because back in the day, when most homes didn’t have central heating, homeowners had to prepare all year for winter. That meant a dark roof, which absorbed heat and held it. Also, roofing materials such as tar paper were usually black or dark gray. If you don’t like the idea of a white roof, other colors that reflect heat are lighter shades of gray and brown.
Colors That Absorb Heat
As white is the color that reflects the most heat, black is the color that absorbs the most heat. Other colors to choose from if you want to keep your home toasty in the winter are dark browns and dark grays. Some colors are in between when it comes to heat absorption. They include red and blue, which absorb less heat than black and dark gray but certainly more than white or Gainsboro.
How to Beat a Dark Roof
The good news is that you don’t have to worry that a darker roof is making you blast your air conditioner all day and costing you money in energy bills. Technology has allowed darker roof shingles to be almost as reflective as lighter ones. They can do this because they have granules sunk into the asphalt that reflect infrared light. This can lower the temperature of a dark roof by about 50 degrees. Keep in mind that a dark roof can measure 180 degrees Fahrenheit on a hot day.
Roof Material
Besides the color of your roof, your roofing material greatly affects your energy costs as well. Asphalt that hasn’t been enhanced by those light reflective granules tends to absorb heat, while metal roofs can be coated with reflective finishes. Tile roofs are also pretty reflective, as are slate roofs. In addition, these heavy materials are good at absorbing, storing, and releasing heat over time. This means they’ll heat up during the day, then give much of that heat back at night.
Don’t think that your roof has to be one color to save money. A variety of colors are available for your consideration. Consult your roofing contractor for more information. When you need roof replacement services in West Virginia, contact Elite Roofing.
