Techniques for making your roof more energy efficient
As sustainability continues to be a top concern for homeowners, many different parts of the home are being designed to become more energy efficient. From doors to windows and even HVAC units, more sections of the home are slowly becoming better at using less energy and preventing the loss of air from the home.
In line with this trend, roofs have not been left behind. Indeed, your roof forms a large part of the home and presents an excellent opportunity for becoming energy efficient. There are 3 main ways through which roofing specialists can make your roof to become energy efficient.
Cooling the roof
By simply changing the colour shades of your roof, roofing specialists can prevent unnecessary heat from being absorbed into the home. Lighter colours tend to reflect light and heat way from the home and reduce cooling costs during hot weather. Dark coloured shingles and asphalt tend to absorb heat and make the home hotter than desired.
To solve this challenge, add a coat of light colour to your roofing materials in order to reduce the roof's heat retention index. Lighter roofs can absorb half the heat that darker roofs tend to absorb, decreasing the solar gain of your home. The specialists can also replace your current shingles with lighter coloured versions or add sheets of light coloured PVC when dealing with flat roofs.
Insulating
Insulation is one of the best ways of making the roof energy efficient. By insulating the roof from underneath, you prevent hot air from "leaking" into the home when it is absorbed by the roofing materials. In order to properly insulate the roof, you need a material that is a poor absorber of heat or cold air. Insulation should start from the attic and into the roof itself.
There is a wide variety of insulating materials that specialists can use, ranging from home foam insulation to fiberglass and cellulose insulation. Adding a layer of these materials to the bottom surface of the roof will significantly reduce the absorption of outside air.
Re-roofing with sustainable materials
If you need to install a new roof or renovate your existing one, roofing specialists have an excellent opportunity to make it more energy efficient. By selecting the right materials to use on your roof, you can already save as much as 30% on the energy requirements of your home. The trick is to add a reflective coating to the type of roof that you choose to install.
Metal roofs are among the most energy efficient, but tile, asphalt and concrete can also reduce energy consumption by having a reflective coating applied. The specific roofing materials that you select will depend on the location of your home and the climatic conditions.