Keeping your home cool in the summer can feel like an uphill battle. When it gets hot and humid, your air conditioning has to work overtime, leading to climbing energy bills. Reflective roof coatings can help. These coatings are designed to reflect the sun’s heat away from your home. This is a low-maintenance solution to help beat the heat and keep your home comfortable. This article will explore how reflective coating works and how it can benefit you.
What Are Reflective Roof Coatings?
Reflective roof coatings are applied directly to your roof’s surface to reflect infrared and ultraviolet (UV) radiation. These coatings are typically made from materials such as elastomeric, silicone, acrylic, and polyurethane.
Elastomeric coatings are flexible and resistant to cracking, providing excellent waterproofing and weather protection. Silicone coatings are highly durable, especially in extreme weather conditions, and offer excellent resistance to UV radiation. Acrylic coatings are known for their affordability and ease of application, providing good protection against UV rays and heat absorption without breaking the bank. Polyurethane coatings, while typically more expensive, are durable and provide superior protection against water and wear.
By reflecting sunlight, these coatings reduce the amount of heat that your roof absorbs, helping to keep your home cooler and more energy-efficient. Whether you live in an older home or a newly built one, reflective coating can make a significant difference in maintaining a comfortable indoor temperature. These coatings act as a protective shield against the sun, offering both energy savings and enhanced comfort.
How Reflective Roof Coatings Work
Now that you know the basics, what is the science behind these coatings? First, you want to think about how heat is usually absorbed by your roof.
When sunlight hits a roof, it’s either absorbed or reflected. Darker-colored roofs absorb more of the sun’s rays. That means more heat is transferred into your attic and living areas. In turn, that raises your indoor temperature.
However, these coatings reduce the amount of solar radiation your roof absorbs. By enhancing your roof’s reflectivity, these coatings bounce much of the sun’s energy away rather than letting it penetrate the surface.
These coatings have a high solar reflectance index (SRI), which measures how much sunlight the material reflects versus how much it absorbs. A higher SRI means less heat can penetrate your home.
For example, a traditional dark roof may absorb up to 90% of solar energy. At that rate, it can heat up quickly. On the other hand, a roof coated with a reflective finish can reflect up to 80% or more of that heat energy. With that, the coatings prevent solar energy from entering your home and increasing the interior temperatures.
Which Reflective Coating Is Right for Your Home?
There are a few things to keep in mind when choosing which reflective coating is right for your home. While some coatings work well on a variety of roof types, others are specifically designed for certain materials, such as metal and asphalt, or specific applications, like flat roofs. Selecting a coating that is compatible with your roof is essential for ensuring long-lasting performance and maximum energy savings.
For homeowners with asphalt shingle roofs, acrylic coatings are often a good choice because they provide UV protection without adding excessive weight. However, not all acrylic coatings adhere well to shingles, so it’s important to check for one specifically formulated for this roof type. If you have a metal roof, silicone coatings can be a great option because they offer excellent weather resistance and prevent rust and corrosion.
Flat roofs, such as those made from built-up roofing (BUR) or modified bitumen, benefit most from elastomeric or polyurethane coatings. Elastomeric coatings are flexible and expand and contract with temperature changes, reducing the risk of cracking. On the other hand, polyurethane coatings provide superior waterproofing, making them ideal for homes in regions that experience frequent storms or heavy snowfall. Silicone coatings are often the best choice if your roof has ponding water issues since they resist water absorption better than other types.
Contact Your Local Experts
At HT Roofing & Construction, we have been serving the residents of Lenexa, KS and the surrounding areas since 2017 with our roofing services. We install, maintain, and repair roofs. We can also help with all your reflective coating, gutter, and siding needs. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced roofers for a roof replacement consultation.
