Have you ever considered how the color of your roof impacts your home? Surprisingly, roof color can affect the temperature of your house by anywhere from 20 to 40 degrees, causing your HVAC system to work harder to either heat or cool your home.
You may be thinking that white is the most energy-efficient roof color, as this has been a widely held belief for many years. However, recent research has found that other colors minimize the absorption of heat even better than white.
Call our team at Elite Remodeling Services today to speak with a roofing expert or read on to learn about how the color of your roof is affecting your energy bill.
Black roofs are often considered the hottest roof color, as black absorbs heat better than any other color.
If you have a black roof, your home’s temperature will likely increase by about 10 or 15 degrees on hot days purely because of its color. In Florida, black roofs are especially detrimental to your energy bill, as hot, sunny days are typical here.
However, during periods of cooler temperatures, such as summer evenings or winter days, black roofs lose heat at about the same rate as other colors. During the hottest part of these cooler days, your black roof will keep your house warm and cut down on your heating bills.
Overall, having a black roof is not a death sentence for your energy bill, but it certainly isn’t the best color option either.
White shingles have their benefits and drawbacks as well. White reflects light and heat rather than absorbs it, so on hot days, a white roof is more beneficial to keep your house cool, allowing your air conditioner to work less, saving you money.
However, on chilly days, white roofs do a poor job insulating heat, so you will have to spend more money to heat your house. The positive effects of white balance out the negative effects, so in reality, black and white roofs are not much different in terms of energy efficiency.
To get the most energy-efficiency from your roof, you want a roof with a combination of light and dark colors. Grey roofs minimize heat absorption on hot days, keeping the house relatively cool while maximizing heat on colder days.
Similarly, multi-colored roof tiles that include black and white specks also help cut down on heating and cooling costs, as the black absorbs heat, and the white reflects heat. The two colors balance out the effects of temperature on the roof, neutralizing your heating and cooling costs to better reflect the actual temperature outside.
Color is not the only element of your roof that can affect the temperature of your home. In fact, your roofing material has a more significant effect on temperature than the color does. Metal roofs reflect heat rather than absorbing it, as opposed to traditional asphalt tiles that absorb heat at a high rate.
Aside from your roof, your heating bill could also increase due to poor insulation around your ceilings and walls.
If your house is improperly insulated, outside temperatures have an easier time seeping into your home, making your HVAC system work harder to maintain your desired temperature. Make sure any cracks under doors and windows are sealed to prevent air coming in during extreme temperatures.
Contact Elite Remodeling Services today to learn which type of roof will provide the most energy-efficiency for your St. Augustine home.
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