Roof Color Heat

There are few green building choices smarter than a cool roof in hot climates.

Roof color heat. I can tell you that my experience is that any metal roof is cooler than asphalt shingles. While choosing a roof color might already sound more complicated than you first imagined the good news is that there are several general rules about the types of color combinations that work well together depending on the color of your home. In very hot climates florida texas arizona however roof color definitely affects the cooling load of a house. After all darker colors absorb heat and lighter colors reflect it so the climate in your area matters when you are choosing what color shingles and type of roofing material that you plan to use.

Roof color choice also may affect shingle life in those climates. What s the impact on your pocket. How roof color reflects or absorbs heat. Use light color metal roof with overhangs to shade the walls on the south and west sides.

A dark roof color can tap heat from the sun and transmit it into your home making it warmer. There are a variety of roofing materials to choose from and some are better at reducing energy costs than others. Black and dark colored roofs. However the type of material used can cause this to vary tremendously see below 2.

In general lighter colored roofs reflect away heat rays from the sun but dark colored roofs absorb much of that heat and transfer it into the rooms below. Therefore dark roof shingles are beneficial in colder climates where winters are particularly long and summers are brief. Material and reflectiveness also make an impact on the amount of energy required to keep your home and your family cool in the summer months. Dark shingles are better suited to cool climates because the extra heat facilitates melting of snow and ice.

While roof color plays a role in heat absorption it s not the only factor. The best way to beat the heat is to not absorb it in the first place. While the best protection against heat loss and gain in your home is sufficient insulation the color of the shingles can affect attic temperatures by 40 degrees. Of course lighter colors reflect the light keeping things cooler while darker colors absorb the light and keep warmth in.

Dark colors absorb heat and light colors reflect it. The color of your roof plays a major role in helping make your home more energy efficient so taking this into consideration will help you save money on your monthly electric bill. Lighter color roofs reflect sun s heat much better than darker colors. Roof color affects your home s internal temperature.

Dark gray and black roofs best for homes that are gray yellow or blue. For instance an attic under a black colored roof can be 30 degf.