Choosing the Right Roof for Your Home: Pt. II

3/7/2017

It’s no secret that the sun’s rays can cause harm to your body, but it can also cause serious problems for your home. If you live in a hot, sunny climate, protecting your roof from the sun can be a lingering issue, but recent innovations in roofing technology have helped eliminate this pestering problem.

It’s Getting Hot in Here

Scorching temperatures and sustained exposure to direct sunlight can inflict serious damage to your home, with your roof bearing the brunt of the sun’s heat. Heat and sunlight exposure not only cause your roof to degrade, but it can also wreak havoc on your utility bills, causing your air conditioner to work harder to keep your home cool. To fight heat and sunlight exposure, roofing manufacturers are producing shingles that have a solar reflective membrane that help to limit the transfer of heat from the roof to your home. Solar reflective shingles reflect more infrared radiation than traditional roofing surfaces, thus reducing the amount of heat transferred from your roof to your home, while also reflecting damaging UV rays, extending the life of your roof. The effectiveness of “cool roofs” has increased so much in recent years, that many states and local governments have begun incorporating solar reflective roofing into building codes.

Next Steps

Do you live in a hot, sunny climate? Are you interested in solar reflective shingles? Begin by doing some research. Start by looking for products that have “solar reflective” in the description and have received a rating from the Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC) and ENERGY STAR. Also, don’t forget to contact a trusted and experienced contractor as they can help guide you into choosing the perfect roof for your home.