Given Sunrise Manor's hot, sunny climate, homeowners in this area should consider cool roofing as an essential part of building for comfort and energy efficiency. These roofs reflect more sunlight, and they absorb significantly less heat than standard roofs—something that's especially important when the sun is beating down in July and August. Sunrise Manor residents can choose from several types of roofing that meet the cool-roof criteria. While some of these choices are coatings that can be applied to existing roofs, others are completely different kinds of roofing materials. And in choosing among these good options, you should balance energy efficiency with cost; the right decision for your home might depend on some combination of budget, appearance, and the kind of roof you want in place for the long term.
A favored method in the realm of cool roofing is using materials that are reflective or light in color—these roof types, when compared to standard materials, reflected more of the sun's energy. For example, a tile roof—as much as I enjoyed installing tile roofs during my years as a residential contractor—is not only very good-looking, but also very durable. One of the reasons it doesn't get as hot as standard shingles is that the Spanish-style tile roof, with its inherent air space, does not conduct heat as well. If you're considering a roof replacement, the use of either standard S- or Spanish-style tiles would be an excellent choice in terms of reducing your energy costs. Although the tiles are not very light in color, they are not terrible either.
Besides picking the right materials, the installation process is key to achieving the benefits of a cool roof. If the roofing system is installed properly, it will perform to optimal specs in terms of solar reflectance and thermal emittance. That means it will "keep its cool" better than a non-cool roof would. This is precisely what makes working with an experienced roofing contractor—who understands the local environment and the systems used in the home—a good idea. Those who are working with experts and who have chosen to use cool roofing materials are giving a leg up to the home's thermal efficiency. They're also reducing the carbon footprint of the residence by lowering the dependence on "cooling power" (like air conditioning).
