White tile roofing reflects heat, keeping your house cooler in the summer.
If your attic is not adequately insulated, the high temperatures of late spring through early fall can wreak havoc on the integrity of your dark-colored roof shingles substantially increasing your cooling bills. Temperatures on a dark roof can hit 180 degrees Fahrenheit on a windless, sunny day. This heat is carried into the room directly below through the roof decking, requiring your air conditioning system to work harder to cool the living area. A newer home will have enough insulation in the rafters to slow down heat transfer, but insulation alone will not solve the problem.
What More Can You Do?
These recommendations can be implemented during the construction of a new home; however, if the home is older, more time and money will be required.
- Use a reflective roof decking.
- Install synthetic white roof tiles.
- Increase the depth of attic insulation.
What Makes White Roof Tiles More Energy Efficient Than Dark Tiles?
Asphalt shingles can gain some reflectivity by incorporating brighter colors into the mica particles that form the surface, but beneath that surface is black heat-absorbing asphalt. The more light (and therefore the more heat) is absorbed, the closer a color gets to black. Due to the lack of asphalt in their material composition, white composite synthetic roof tiles absorb less heat energy than asphalt-based roof shingles.
Why Is It Called a White Roof?
White roofs, often known as cool roofs, get their name from their capacity to deflect a large portion of the Earth’s radiant heat waves. White roof tiles, in addition to reflecting radiant heat, can keep your home cooler by releasing up to 90% of the heat they absorb. Regardless of their surface color an asphalt shingle cannot do this because their black asphalt base which absorbs heat and transfers it to the home below.
We’re Ready to Help
At Four Seasons Roofing, we know all about Seattle area roofing, including innovative products like white tile reflective materials. We’re here to show you what’s possible, and walk you through the decision making process. We want you to experience professional customer service on the phone or on our website. To experience our quality first-hand, call us today and see why Four Seasons Roofing should provide your next roof.