Ways to Cool Down Your Roof

A cool roof can help keep your home comfortable during the hottest of days of summer. Compared to a traditional roof, the surface of a cool roof reflects more sunlight and releases more heat.

Almost every roof type can be turned into a cool roof or converted into one with the use of special coatings. In this post, one of the most trusted local roofing companies in the area, Blue Sky Roofing, talks about ways to cool down a roof.

Modified Bitumen

Modified bitumen is the most popular cool roof material for low-sloped roofs. It’s a membrane made up of plasticized or rubberized asphalt sheets, secured together with rolled reinforcing fabric and fasted to the roof deck using hot asphalt or cold adhesive. Adding a white coat over the usual black or grey surface can increase the roof’s solar reflectance.

Single-Ply Membrane 

A single-ply membrane is another widely use cool roofing material for low-sloped roofs. The membranes are vinyl sheets or pre-fabricated plastic with solar reflective coatings or materials. The roof installation involves rolling the sheets onto the roof deck and securing them using a combination of chemical adhesives, mechanical fasteners, or ballast.

The cooling properties are integrated within the material so additional coatings aren’t necessary. The most common single-ply membranes are polyvinyl chloride (PVC), thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) and ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM).

Metal Roofing

Metal roofs are naturally reflective but absorb more heat so they are better for steeper roofs. Roof coatings can improve a metal roof’s heat-releasing properties. This roofing material is one of the most cost-effective cooling solutions for steep-sloped roofs since it’s already reflective. A metal roof can help reduce urban air temperatures by up to 12 degrees, giving you savings on energy costs.

At Blue Sky Roofing, we are your leading provider of metal roof replacement. You can count on our team for efficient residential and commercial roofing services. Call us at (405) 437-2166 or fill out our online form for a free quote. We serve homeowners in Oklahoma City.