If you live in a hot climate, the steep utility bills to keep your home comfortably cool may be giving you sleepless nights. It may be worthwhile to think of getting yourself a new energy-efficient roof as you can save a lot of money over its lifespan. Some roofing materials you can consider that will keep your home cool and save you money:
Terracotta Tiles
Even though it has been
in use for thousands of years, terracotta remains a popular roofing material
even today for several reasons like eco-friendliness and energy efficiency.
Terracotta tiles, made of clay baked at high temperatures, are
weather-resistant and long-lasting. You can expect a new terracotta roof to
last you around 50 years. The curved shape of the tiles allows better
circulation of air helping to reduce the heat entering the house. It is also
highly aesthetic but heavier than many other roofing materials and is
relatively expensive.
Concrete Tiles
Instead of using
terracotta tiles that are fragile and expensive, you can use concrete tiles
that keep your home similarly cool but are comparatively less expensive.
Because of their thickness, concrete tiles take more time to heat up. The
airflow is also as good as terracotta tiles since they are available in the
same curved shape. According to Benchmark
Roofing and Restoration, the nature of
the material and the shape of the tiles allow it to reflect up to 74% of the
heat. You can buy colored concrete tiles for improved aesthetics, but
unfortunately, the material is heavy.
Metal Roofs
Metal roofs have a
reputation for being functional, cheap, and ugly. However, in recent times,
their quality and aesthetics have improved considerably. It has made them an
attractive and affordable option for energy-efficient roofing. Metal roofs are
also environmentally friendly since usually recycled metal is used to make them.
Since they reflect light significantly, they absorb less heat. However, the
secret of their ability to lower energy consumption is the dead space between
the metal sheet and the interior. Also, metal roofs cool faster at night,
making it less expensive to maintain the temperature inside the home.
Solar Panels
Perhaps the most
energy-efficient roofing option is installing solar panels on the rooftop.
These aesthetically pleasant and affordable solar panels capture the heat
instead of reflecting it and generate electricity you can use to power your
home appliances. You can also lessen the load on the air-conditioning because
the solar panels reduce the amount of heat transferred into your home. You can
buy solar panels in many sizes, and they are fast becoming affordable.
According to Forbes, they also serve to reduce local air pollution.
Conclusion
While there are quite a few energy-efficient roofing options available, you will need to choose one appropriate for your house, both in terms of its construction and the region in which it is located. Many of the options are heavy and may not be suitable for your home, while others are more expensive upfront but save you significant amount money over the long term. A roofing expert, such as a Service de couvreur, can help you navigate the different options and ensure a quality job for your roof.
