White roof

White roofs

When it comes to roofs, color is important for various reasons. It can have a negative or a positive impact on your household, your energy efficiency, the service life of your roof, and even on the environment.
White roofs are those painted with a white coating. This white coating is solar reflective and has a very high solar reflectance index (SRI), as high as 90 %. Another important aspect is their thermal emittance ability – they emit 100 % of the absorbed heat, maintaining a stable, cooler temperature inside your house. They increase energy efficiency, reduce roof surface temperatures, reduce energy cost and utility bills and extend roof service life. So, they save money and have a positive impact on the environment.

White vs. black roofs

The most common debate is usually between black and white roofs. Here is a simple example of the main difference between these two colors, i.e. between darker and lighter shades. Everyone is familiar with the relation of the colors and the reflection of the sun. In summer, for example, it is recommendable to wear light-colored or white clothes, as opposed to black, because they reflect the heat more efficiently and keep us from getting too hot. White roofs have a similar effect. They are beneficial to both our households and the environment.

Installation process

Installing a white roof, or more precisely, applying a white roof coating, is a simple enough task, but it does take some expertise, patience, planning and thoroughness. It is important first to get the right coating for your kind of roof, so check the manufacturer’s recommendations and make sure the coating is chemically compatible.
Thoroughly clean the roof, preferably with a pressure washer, and wait for it to dry completely. Then check the roof for any wear and tear, cracks or similar damage, seal them with seal-crack compound, and, again, wait for it to dry well. Once it is dry you can start applying the first layer of white coating. It is recommended to work on smaller areas of the roof, 6 to 8 feet big. Spread the coating on the surface, not too thick or thin, and then even it out across the entire roof. Let it dry completely and then apply the second layer of coating or top coat.

Environmental impact

Where there is a lot of black or dark surfaces, objects and black roofs, temperatures tend to get high. This is especially obvious in urban areas where there are a lot of black roofs, a lot of concrete, a lot of people and little vegetation and green spaces. These areas then become hotter than their surrounding and more suburban or rural areas. All those surfaces absorb high amounts of heat and don’t reflect or emit enough or any of it. This is called the urban heat island effect and it has very negative and harmful consequences on the climate, contributing to the global warming.
White roofs help solve this problem by absorbing significantly less heat, reflecting most of it and emitting the rest, which in turn lowers the overall temperatures in the area. With lower temperatures of the area there will also be less smog because heat tends to increase its levels. So the air will be less polluted and the people healthier.

Household and energy efficiency

When it comes to benefits for your own household, white roofs can save you money. Since they do not absorb heat, it can be said that they provide good insulation. The interior of your house will heat much less which reduces the need for air conditioning. Decreased usage of air conditioning also benefits both you and the environment. It will cut your energy bills as well as energy consumption and waste, reducing your carbon footprint.

Roof warranty and prices

White roofs also have a longer lifespan and warranty and require much less maintenance and repairs. With black roofs the high amounts of absorbed heat cause more damage, such as cracking or warping. But that is not a concern when it comes to white roofs – they usually last twice as long as the black ones. And since they don’t have to be replaced often, they reduce the waste going to the landfills significantly.
When it comes to the prices, you should calculate both the material and the installation process and labor into the overall cost. The average price of a gallon of white coating is between 15 and 30 dollars, which is enough for about 100 to 150 square feet. The cost of labor can be up to 50 cents for a square foot, and apart from the application of coating, it also includes the washing and cleaning of the roof. So if your roof is 1500 square feet big, the overall cost could be around $1000.

If you decide to go with a white roof, you should be able to do it yourself, it is not a complicated task. But if you have never done any work on your roof, or you’re not sure if you would do a good job, think about hiring a professional. You can turn to us, whose team of experts will answer any of your questions and do a professional and quality work on your roof in Savannah.