Cool option: Wood shingles and shakes are naturally “cool colored” materials. Polymer shingles (also known as synthetic or composite shingles) are formed of polymer shaped to resemble asphalt shingles, wood shingles, wood shakes, slate, clay tiles, or concrete tiles.
The best roofing material for hot areas is reflective metal roofing or light-colored asphalt shingles, as they help reduce heat absorption and keep the building cooler.
Selecting the Right Roof
Some common cool roof materials include membranes, shingles, coatings, stone/rock, metal, and tile with high solar reflectance. Other cool roof strategies include ballasted roofing and green roofs . Learn more about roof types and product types from the Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC).
White does a great job reflecting sunlight while black is a great absorber. Cool roofs began as white roofs, but today there are more cool-colored roof options. These cool-colors also reflect much of the sunlight keeping your house cool.
The best roofing material for hot areas is reflective metal roofing or light-colored asphalt shingles, as they help reduce heat absorption and keep the building cooler.
Sloped roofs are a better option for hot climates because they provide enough space for upward airflow, so hot air can travel upward and escape through the roof vents.
Do Black Shingles Make A House Hotter? The obvious answer is yes, black shingles do absorb more heat than a lighter shingle. However, advancements in technology and materials are far more efficient than they once were and installing a black roof is still a completely viable option.
Cool roofs are made of highly reflective and emissive materials that remain cooler than traditional materials during peak temperatures. While green roofs often have initially higher costs than cool roofs, green roofs typically have a longer expected life.
Adding a cool roof coating to an existing roof costs $0.15 to $2.50 per square foot. Applying a cool roof membrane costs around $1.50 to $3 per square foot. Some cool roofing materials are eligible for tax savings. You can convert your roof into a cool one by adding a light or white coating.
The Relationship Between Tax Credits and a New Roof
But, to enjoy this benefit, you must install Energy Star products. The Energy Star products eligible for a tax credit include asphalt and metal roofing. To qualify for this opportunity, you must use an asphalt roof with cooling granules or a pigment-coated metal roof.
Asphalt Shingles
Asphalt shingles are one of the classic roofing materials that you see on most modern homes. They are an affordable, easy-to-install option that is also easy to repair and replace as needed. You can even choose from a basic asphalt shingle to something higher-end like 3-tab or architectural.
Metal roofing is by far one of the best choices you can make for your roof in general. They're the most energy-efficient roof for residential installations, can last more than 50 years, and require very little maintenance. Metal roofs are very reflective, which is why they get so hot to the touch.
A new roof can help affect your home's temperature by providing better insulation, which keeps your residence cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. But to be sure you need a new roof, it's best to consult a roofing professional for the inspection and specific recommendations for your house.
White roofs are prone to collecting dirt, which can diminish their reflective properties over time. Without regular maintenance and cleaning, a white roof can lose its energy-saving advantages. Dirt, debris, and pollution buildup make the roof appear dull, reducing its effectiveness in keeping the building cool.
Metal roofing is a top performer in hot climates! It's reflective, meaning it can deflect a significant portion of the sun's rays, keeping your home cooler and reducing the strain on your air conditioning system.
Cool options: Choose a concrete tile with a factory-applied light or cool-colored slurry or polymer coating. Concrete tiles can also be retrofitted with a field-applied light- or cool-colored polymer coating. Slate tiles are split from slate (metamorphic rock) and overlapped to cover the roof.
The heat absorption of black roofs can cause the deterioration of the roofing material to speed up. Especially in hot or tropical climates, the heat can cause shingles to curl up. Improper maintenance on a black roof can potentially lead to the weakening of roof materials, especially in a darker color.
Cool roof colors, typically light and reflective, offer several benefits. They can reduce energy costs, lower temperatures inside your home, and mitigate the urban heat island effect. Popular cool roof colors include white, light gray, and light beige.
Heat Absorption and Increased Cooling Costs
The heat absorbed by a black roof is transferred into the home, raising indoor temperatures. This makes air conditioning systems work harder to maintain a comfortable indoor environment, leading to higher energy consumption and increased utility bills.
When water evaporates, it absorbs heat from its surroundings, cooling the surface it comes into contact with. So, by wetting your roof, you're essentially using evaporation to lower the temperature of the roof's surface and, in turn, the interior of your home.
A reflective roof can help keep a house cooler when the hot sun beats on it, but it will not lower a home's heating bill, and may even slightly raise it. It makes sense to install a cool roof, which reflects heat but does not absorb it, only where the summers are extremely hot or humid.