Cool Metal Roofing
There is a lot of talk bandied about these days regarding “cool roofing”. But what is it that makes a roof “cool”? Ray-Bans and a leather jacket? Not exactly. Here is some of the scoop on why some roofs do indeed keep homes cooler in hot weather than do other roofs.
Thermal Mass. Roofs that have a great deal of “mass” tend to collect heat during the day and continue to radiate it into the attic at night. This is a problem with various tile products as well as with standard shingles. Metal roofing, however, quickly loses any gained heat as soon as the sun goes down or behind a cloud or even when a light breeze blows. Aluminum is the best of all roofing metals in this regard.
Color. Light color roofs absorb less radiant heat.
Reflective Pigment. Many dark-colored metal roofs now have reflective pigment so that good reflectiviy is achieved even in dark colors. You no longer have to have a white roof in order to enjoy reflectivity. Classic Metal Roofing Systems has used reflective pigments in most of our colors for many years.
Integral Airspace. Formed metal roofing products such as shake, tile, and shingle facsimile products, have a built-in airspace between the metal and the roofdeck below. This airspace blocks heat transfer by conductance. This is a huge benefit over most roofing systems which involve a tight “sandwich” of various materials that takes the sun’s heat and continualluy conducts it down into the attic and living space.
Ventilation. While there is also an alternative system for non-vented attics that can work, the fact remains that for most homes, nothing replaces good attic ventilation, complete with intake and exhaust vents, for creating an energy efficient roofing system that helps to keep homes cooler in summer and also helps to avoid ice damming in winter.
There you have it … the factors that will help you choose a cool roof!
Questions or still need some guidance? Contact us today!
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September 13th, 2007 at 5:05 am
I am researching roofs and attic insulation and options. I want a closed attic, and a metal roof.
Spray foam closed attic is supposed to be better than traditional vented. You state vented is best. What facts, if any, lead you to this conclusion? Are you one who is just resistant to change?
September 13th, 2007 at 11:20 am
Thanks for the comment! That is fantastic. My statement was that I feel that for most houses going the vented method is best. What I am referring to is all of the existing houses out there. I think that doing a polyicynene foamed attic for an existing house can be a problem to do it right. Maybe I am short-sighted in my thinking on that. I just think you run into a lot of variables on existing homes that can be tough to deal with when spraying foam. You also usually have existing vents that need to be closed up. Again, maybe I am short-sighted in that thought process and I apologize if that is the case.
Most of our business as a metal roofing manufacturer is for re-roofing. We love new construction but do not get a lot of it. There are two reasons for that. One is that in any given year about 75% of all roofing is re-roofing in the residential arena. Additionally, it is easier for a homeowner to see that they need a metal roof on their home after they have had a bad experience with a conventional roof.
As for sprayed attics, I am a strong proponent of them for new construction. (Again, we just don’t see much new construction.) In fact, were I building a house, I would probably go that route.
Thank you SO MUCH for your very informed comment.
October 13th, 2009 at 10:34 am
[...] is they use no electricity in the process. Here’s why they work. In an article posted at Classic Metal Roofing Systems website, they list four energy benefits you’ll get with a metal [...]