Improving material for roofing
Is your roofing energy efficient? Here are ways to improve material for roofing
Having a beautiful roof over your head is not enough. There are other considerations you must pay heed to as a homeowner, like having an energy-efficient roof. You are probable to incur unnecessary expenses in footing your energy bills if your roofing is not energy efficient. Several dynamics influence the type of material for roofing that is suitable for you. These are the aesthetic appeal you want, the type of climate in the place you reside, and the energy-efficient features you require.
Varieties of material for roofing
Material for roofing is what determines the energy efficiency of your roof. There are different types of materials for roofs such as
Shingles
, tiles, metal, bitumen, and more. Climate comes into play when determining how energy efficient a particular type of material for roofing is. Genuine energy-efficient materials for roofs bear the energy star label.
Shingles
Shake and asphalt are the two popular types of shingles on the market. Shake shingles are known to be strong and durable. They are energy efficient because they allow impressive air circulation in your house. Besides, they can hold out strong winds and have a cool visual appeal. However, they require high maintenance because they are prone to mildew and rooting when the environment turns humid.
Asphalt shingles, on the other hand, are easy to maintain and come in an array of designs with different colors. The downside of asphalt shingles is that they are easily damaged by strong winds and grow algae if you don’t regularly apply coatings.
Tiles
Residential roofs are also made of tiles. They have been in use from ancient days and are energy-efficient material for roofing from their ability to gather heat from the sun and radiate it at night into the roof interior to keep your house warm. The tiles are interlocked making them firm on the roof and impermeable when it rains. The downside to tiles is that they break easily from the impact of falling debris and other heavy objects.
Metal
This material for roofing is commonly available in the form of galvanized ( coated with zinc) corrugated iron sheets or panels. Metal is durable and easy to install on a roof. The metal panels are light and fire-resistant. What is more, metal is eco-friendly because it is recyclable.
However, replacing a single metal panel requires much effort can cause injury if not handled with care. Also, metal panels make a lot of noise when expanding during hot weather, and when there is a heavy downpour.
Bitumen roofing
Although not commonly used in residential roofing, bitumen is a good material for roofing. Initially, there were problems of inflexibility resulting in cracks. Modifications in the modern-day bitumen material for roofs have eliminated the problem to a large extent. Varieties of APP( Atactic Polypropylene) bitumen sheets are available on the market.
The modified bitumen sheets are tough and coated with a mixture of APP polymer that makes them durable and resistant to pressure. Additionally, there another type of improved bitumen sheet made from robust fiberglass incorporating rubber and asphalt. In general, bitumen roofs maintain a low temperature in your house when the weather is sultry.
How to improve your material for roofing
Having energy-efficient residential roofs goes beyond the type of material for roofing. Here are factors to consider if you look to improve the energy efficiency level of your materials for roofs:
- Material color
- Ventilation
- Insulation under the roof
- Correct roof coating
- Routine maintenance
Material color
Residential roofs have different colors. Science tells us that light colors reflect heat while dark ones absorb it. And this applies to your roof. This is something that many homeowners tend to ignore. They simply pick a color that looks attractive unmindful of environmental impacts on the material for roofing. Note that the color of your material for roofing will save you money on your energy bills if you get it right.
If you own a home in an arid area then light-colored material for roofing is suitable for you. It will reflect heat from the sun and save you the cost of cooling your house when the weather is torrid. Living in cold environments requires dark-colored residential roofing material. That keeps your house warm because the roof absorbs heat during the day and exudes it in the house. Therefore, bear in mind that the color that makes a roof energy-efficient in one region may work the opposite in another place.
Ventilation
Ventilation is another crucial factor in determining the level of energy efficiency in your material for roofing. Poor ventilation results in a hot attic during hot weather.
That means you will have to keep your AC on for longer hours to keep your house cool. And the longer you keep the AC running the more you run into high energy bills.
An energy-efficient roof should have enough inlets for air cool air from outside to enter your house. Moreover, there should be exhausts to let out hot air in the attic. Proper attic ventilation also removes moisture that may result from leaks and spills. If the moisture doesn’t dry then damage is plausible to occur in the structure. Besides damaging the attic, the moisture reduces its energy efficiency by increasing frigidity levels in your house during winter.
Insulation under the roof
Putting enough insulation attic improves the performance of material for roofing in terms of energy efficiency. Insulation helps the material prevent heat from penetrating your house. It maintains the temperature in your house regardless of the weather.
Correct roof coating
Applying roof coating improves the quality and energy efficiency of your material for roofing. The color of the material fades with time. Therefore, applying the appropriate roof coating is a great way to maintain the quality of the material. If you live in hot climatic conditions apply light coating and dark coating for cold climate.
Routine maintenance
Your roof requires regular maintenance to keep it in good shape at all times. Maintaining your roof involves taking care of the material for roofing installed on it. Cleaning the material regularly helps maintain quality.
Common mistakes in residential roofs
Many mistakes in residential roofs stem from the failure to get the right roofing expert. You can tell the level of professionalism and experience in a roofing contractor from the quality of roofs they construct. Energy efficiency is one of the top considerations you should have in mind when looking for a roofing expert for your house. The material for roofing that the roofing contractor asks you to purchase is one factor that will help you gauge their level of competence.
Here are the common roofing mistakes that reduce the energy efficiency of your roof:
- A poor balance between exhaust vents and inlets. The flow of air in your attic is determined by the rate at which the air coming in gets out. If the inlets outnumber the outlets by a wider margin then there will be poor aeration.
- Installation of ridge vents without external baffles that increase air circulation.
- Installation of different types of exhaust vents. This results in vents competing in pulling air from each other and thereby causing air stagnation in the attic.
- Installation of material for roofing in environments that render the material non-energy efficient.
Improving the quality of your material for roofing is the way to saving money in terms of energy bills. The environment in which you live is one of the key factors that inform the decision on what material for roofing is suitable for your residential roofing.