On a sizzling summer day, most people stay indoors and crank up the air conditioning to remain cool. Unfortunately, this also cranks up their energy bills, not to mention the amount of harmful chemicals released into the atmosphere. Many people don’t realize there is an easier, cheaper, and more environmentally friendly way to keep their homes cool; they can invest in a cool roof for their Columbus roofing system!

A cool roof is a roof with a whole lot of swagger, right? Well, not quite, although they do come in many aesthetically pleasing options. A cool roof is actually a roof that reflects the sun’s heat and emits absorbed radiation back into the atmosphere. This keeps the roof cooler and reduces the amount of heat transferred to the house or building below, which will keep the internal temperature cooler.

The Benefits of a Cool Roof for Your Columbus Roofing System

There are many benefits of having a cool roof for your Columbus roofing system. First, it can significantly reduce your cooling energy costs, resulting in average energy savings ranging from 7 to 15 percent of total cooling costs. A cool roof also makes your house more environmentally friendly by lessening your dependence on air conditioning and mitigating your community’s Urban Heat Island Effect. Some states, including Ohio, even offer a “Cool Roof Loan Program,” as well as utility rebates for installing a cool roof. Additionally, a cool roof can lower your roof maintenance costs and extend the life of your Columbus roofing system. Lastly, you can choose from many different colors and maintain the aesthetics of your home.

Types of Cool Roofs for Your Columbus Roofing System

You can choose from myriad of roof product types for your cool roof.

• Build-up Roofing (BUR): Includes asphalt and coal tar pitch. BUR consists of built-up layers of coated asphalt and insulation applied on site, and it can be covered with a capsheet or other surfacing material.

• Foam Roof Systems: Sprayed on in liquid form and harden as they set on top of the roof. Foam systems are formed into rigid panels and covered with a reflective coating.

• Metal roofing products: Can be shaped to look like shingles, or shakes, or to fit unique curvatures. They come in many different textures and colors, including some darker “cool” colors.

• Modified Bitumen: Modified bitumen is asphalt or tar modified with plastic, layered with reinforcing materials and topped with a surfacing material.

• Roof Coatings: Can be divided into two categories: field-applied and factory-applied. Field-applied coatings are added directly onto the roof surface, either on a new roof assembly or over an existing roof surface. Factory-applied coatings are added at the factory before distribution.

• Shingles, Slate, or Tile: All of these products include pieces that fit together to form a roof. Asphalt shingles are relatively inexpensive and simple to install. Slate and tile products come in a wide variety of colors, shapes, and textures, and, due to their heavy mass, they have thermal properties that may yield additional energy savings beyond their ability to reflect sunlight and lessen the emission of harmful chemicals.

• Single-Ply: Single-ply roofing is a pre-fabricated sheet of rubber polymers, which is laid down in a single layer over a low or steep-sloped roof. There are two main types of single-ply materials. One type is Single-Ply Thermoset, which must be sealed using tape or cement instead of hot-air welding, which changes the physical characteristics of the material. The other type is Single-Ply Thermoplastic, which is a flexible sheet membrane consisting of compounded plastic polymers. When heat is applied onto the surface, the seams are melded together making the material seamless and effective. Most thermoplastics are manufactured to include a reinforcement layer for extra durability and strength.

How to Choose Cool Roofing Materials for Your Columbus Roofing System

There are a few things that should be taken into account when selecting a cool roofing product for your Columbus roofing system. One thing to consider is the slope of your roof. Certain products work better on low-sloped roofs, while others work best on steep-slopes. Another thing to consider is the climate zone you are located in. While cool roofs can greatly reduce a home’s cooling load, it can also increase heating costs in winter months. This increase is usually largely outweighed by the cooling energy savings achieved in the summer months, but you’ll want to understand your climate zone and the actual energy your home will save before investing in a cool roof for your Columbus roofing system. To get a good estimate of how much energy your home would save, you can use an online roof calculator such as the EPA Cool Roof Calculator.

Need Help Selecting a Cool Roofing Product? Contact a Local Columbus Roofing Contractor.

It is best to meet with a local Columbus roofing contractor, roof consultant, or architect to help you determine the most appropriate and beneficial roofing product type for your Columbus roofing system. The sooner you do this, the sooner you can start reaping the many benefits that come with installing a cool roof!

ABLE ROOFING Columbus is the largest residential and commercial roofing company in Central Ohio. Our Columbus roofing contractors are highly skilled in roof repair, roof replacement, re-roofing, roof installation, roof inspection, preventive roof maintenance, roof restoration, roof leak repairs, and more. Call us at 1-614-444-ROOF to schedule a free estimate or click to learn more about Columbus roofing.