The biggest mistake that 90% of American homeowners make is putting a dark colored shingle on their roof. Scientific studies reveal that different color shingles absorb and reflect different amounts of heat. White shingles will conduct less and reflect more heat, whereas black shingles will contain and absorb the most heat.
Almost every consumer knows that black socks or dark shirts will absorb more heat versus lighter colors. Since most people realize this basic concept I have trouble comprehending why 90% of the buildings in our nation have dark colored roofs. Putting a black roof on your home or building is not the smartest thing you could do.
It is common knowledge that colors affect us differently. White colors elevate us while dark colors depress us. Every morning when I get up I pull the curtains and let the light shine in. I want to be happy and feel good. When I poke my head outside to see what’s going on in the world I like to see white color roofs versus their depressing counterparts. Are these dark colored roofs contributing to the epidemic of depression in our nation?
Roof heat transfer is the process of transferring the almost 200-degree roof temperatures into your attic. Attics can reach temperatures over 140 degrees. This heat creates moisture that falls to your attic floor on your insulation. This moisture causes your insulation to become less effective and this heat then sinks into your home. Insulation slows and prevents some of the heat transfer into your home but I can assure you it never stops this heat transfer. This heat then causes you’re A/C unit to work. The hotter your roof gets, the harder and longer your air conditioning unit needs to run. The more your air-conditioning unit runs, the shorter it’s lifespan becomes. Roof heat transfer is a term every American should become aware of.
A white roof will reflect 30% of solar heat gain versus a black roof. Some people claim that a dark roof is better in colder climates. Although I am still doing research in this area, I believe they could be wrong. I haven’t found any studies yet that prove this theory.
Almost every consumer knows that black socks or dark shirts will absorb more heat versus lighter colors. Since most people realize this basic concept I have trouble comprehending why 90% of the buildings in our nation have dark colored roofs. Putting a black roof on your home or building is not the smartest thing you could do.
It is common knowledge that colors affect us differently. White colors elevate us while dark colors depress us. Every morning when I get up I pull the curtains and let the light shine in. I want to be happy and feel good. When I poke my head outside to see what’s going on in the world I like to see white color roofs versus their depressing counterparts. Are these dark colored roofs contributing to the epidemic of depression in our nation?
Roof heat transfer is the process of transferring the almost 200-degree roof temperatures into your attic. Attics can reach temperatures over 140 degrees. This heat creates moisture that falls to your attic floor on your insulation. This moisture causes your insulation to become less effective and this heat then sinks into your home. Insulation slows and prevents some of the heat transfer into your home but I can assure you it never stops this heat transfer. This heat then causes you’re A/C unit to work. The hotter your roof gets, the harder and longer your air conditioning unit needs to run. The more your air-conditioning unit runs, the shorter it’s lifespan becomes. Roof heat transfer is a term every American should become aware of.
A white roof will reflect 30% of solar heat gain versus a black roof. Some people claim that a dark roof is better in colder climates. Although I am still doing research in this area, I believe they could be wrong. I haven’t found any studies yet that prove this theory.
Comments
Kevbo
(Guest)
(Guest)
11/19/2009
Dale%2C my doctor doesn%27t think your roof-depression theory is correct%2C but I trust you. I%27m changing my roof right now. Doctor be damned%21 You%27re the man%2C Dale. You%27re the man.
The info I presented was from a scientific study from an authority on the subject. The white shingles may not make a big difference but it will offer some help and benefits. I have gotten some negative comments where people are more concerned with asthetics versus their electric bill. When their electric bill becomes more expensive then their mortgage they may think different. You can also cover your shingles with a water based primer and white elastomeric coating that contains ceramic microspheres. This will stop conductive heat from entering your home, prevent bulging landfills and you never have to roof your home again. Just reapply another coat every 10 years and it is something you can do yourself to save money. I'm going to do this on my home next year because I am far more concerned with cutting my electric bill, conserving the environment and reducing our dependence on foreign oil then I am with appearances. If you want and believe different, enjoy your dark shingles and high
Dan Johnston
(Guest)
(Guest)
10/21/2009
It's the black in the asphalt that absorbs the heat.....simple stuff. Yes I white granule may be a bit cooler than a dark one...but the BLACK in the asphalt is what makes it hot.
Christian Myers
(Guest)
(Guest)
08/26/2008
You should check your facts, all shingles reach a tempature of 183 degrees, light colored roofs justs take a little longer to get there. This info is based off of GAF/Elk Shingles & Owens Corning. You might want to check into it further, because your web-site, made a homeowner pick a color that the did not like and now they have big regrets. It also looks like to me that your stating your opinion on a feelings that colors that make you feel. Most people who get black or dark color roofs because they have light color siding, and the standards are dark siding, light colored roof, light siding dark colored roof (although dark red & blue siding look great with bleck roofs) Also you should look into studies at U of MN, they built two buildings the same, side by side and used white color shingles and black color shingles on the buildings , and found that the dark color roof reached a temp on average of 98 degrees through out the summer and the white roof average 97 degrees.
Yes there are
Jari
(Guest)
(Guest)
10/30/2007
what would you rather have a house that uses 15-20% more energy because you have to have a dark roof or when your looking at selling your house you go up and clean the roof off and show possible home buyers that they can afford the higher price your asking because each month their energy bills will be less.. I was going to sell my house, I got the possible sale price from several agents. they were all with in 2,000 dollars of each other
I spent 300.00 on an energy audit and 4,000 dollars on energy improvements that were suggested and my house was certified as an energy star home. I sold my house for $15,000 dollars more. the buyer was able to afford the larger mortgage because of the energy cost they would not occur each month..
Peter
(Guest)
(Guest)
07/05/2007
On a dark roof, I would recommend installing a radiant barrier. It will "reflect" alot of the heat you mention in your article away from the attic insulaiton. You can easily do it yourself. www.atticfoil.com
KARAN
(Guest)
(Guest)
10/18/2006
white tiles always show black streaks that are unsightly. from chimneys & plumbing vents these every growing black streaks are not attractive and are always a problem when the house is FOR SALE.
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