If you’re looking for a way to improve the energy efficiency of your house or building and save on utility costs, investing in a heat reflective roof coating is a smart choice. These coatings are designed to bounce back sunlight as it falls on the roof’s surface. But why do you need a coating to reflect sunlight? Is it really that helpful?
Being a flat roofing expert at Hepler Contracting, I believe it’s a rewarding decision to invest in a roof coating that reflects heat. In this blog post, I’ll explain how a heat-reflective coating can benefit property owners and managers.
Which Roof Coating Reflects Heat?
There are multiple roof coatings developed to reflect the sun’s heat and help improve energy efficiency in buildings. A coating that reflects heat is commonly referred to as a cool roof coating. These coatings are designed to reflect UV rays, and heat from the sun, away from your roof, keeping your building cooler and more energy-efficient.
These are some of the most popular coatings that are used to reflect heat.
White Roof Coatings
These coatings are made from special materials like acrylic or silicone compounds that have a high solar reflectance. This means they are better at reflecting back heat into the atmosphere compared to other materials.
Elastomeric Roof Coatings
Elastomeric roof coatings are flexible, so they can expand or contract as your roof moves with temperature fluctuations. They come in light colors like white and offer excellent solar reflectance and durability. They’re a great choice if you’re looking for long-lasting protection against the heat.
Ceramic Roof Coatings
Now, if you want a coating that provides both heat reflection and insulation, ceramic coatings are worth considering. The ceramic particles have insulating qualities, which is helpful during the winter months when you want to retain indoor warmth.
Aluminum Roof Coatings
If you have a metal roof, aluminum coatings could be a fantastic choice. They contain tiny aluminum flakes that create a highly reflective surface. This allows the coating to effectively reduce heat transfer, keeping your property much cooler than a dark-colored, or galvanized, metal.
Investing in a heat-reflective and resistant roof coating is like wearing a pair of sunglasses on a hot, sunny day. Just as glasses protect your eyes from the sun’s glare and heat, reflective coatings can shield a roof from absorbing too much heat. But that’s just one of its many benefits. Reflective coatings are generally multi-purpose and can do a lot more.
In order to choose the right roof coating, you should know all about the benefits that reflective roof coatings provide.
How Heat Reflective Roof Coatings Benefit a Property
Every reflective coating prevents heat buildup while reducing the cooling costs of a building. But to get the most out of your roof coating, choose one that comes with additional benefits like insulation capabilities and long-lasting durability. Here’s what you can expect from a good-quality reflective coating:
Keeps You Comfortable Inside
The most noticeable advantage of a reflective coating is improved levels of comfort indoors. With less heat entering your home, your living spaces will feel cooler, especially during those scorching summer months. You won’t have to rely on air conditioning as heavily, which means you can save on energy costs and enjoy a more pleasant living environment.
Extends the Roof’s Lifespan
By reducing the amount of heat absorption, a reflective coating can also extend the lifespan of your roof itself. Excessive heat can cause roofing materials to expand and contract, leading to premature deterioration. The reflective properties of the coating help keep your roof at a more stable temperature, reducing wear and tear and potentially saving you money on roof repairs or replacements down the line.
Let’s You Enjoy Eco-Friendly Incentives
Since a heat-reflective roof coating is a way to reduce power consumption, you’re contributing to a greener future. When your home requires less air conditioning, it reduces the overall energy demand, which in turn reduces carbon emissions and helps mitigate the climate crisis. This enables you to be eligible for energy-saving incentives or tax benefits provided by the state. So it’s a win-win for both your wallet and the planet!
The specific benefits and savings you’ll experience vary depending on factors like your location, roof type, and local climate conditions. That’s why it’s always helpful to consult an experienced professional. We can assess your unique situation, recommend the most suitable heat-reflective coating for your roof, and provide an accurate estimate of the potential energy savings you can expect.
If you want to learn about the best options for your roof, our team has a few recommendations that have excellent reviews and provide long-term results.
Expert Recommended Heat-Reflective Roof Coatings for Flat Roofs
When you are investing in the upgrade of your home or building, the first thing is to make sure that the coating you choose is going to take care of the roof for a very long time. You don’t want to spend time recoating and repairing the roof more often than necessary.
We’ve provided what we consider to be the two highly durable and beneficial roof coating products manufactured for decades of protection:
#1 White Elastomeric Reflective Roof Coatings by APOC
The coating is made with a blend of acrylic and silicone resins, which provides it with both flexibility and durability. This makes it a wise choice for roofs exposed to extreme weather conditions. The coating’s flexibility and durability help shield the roof from damage caused by the elements, such as hail, wind, and rain. This can extend a roof’s life by almost 20 years. It is also fire-resistant, non-toxic, and environmentally friendly, which can help to protect the roof from fire damage. APOC’s white elastomeric reflective roof coatings are also available in a variety of colors to match your home’s style.
#2 White Silicone Reflective Roof Coatings by Gaco™
This 100% silicone roof coating is also an eco-friendly, flexible, and fire-resistant option. One unique feature of this coating is that it’s self-cleaning, which means that it does not require regular cleaning to maintain its reflective properties. Further, Gaco mentions that this product may never need recoating. This can save you time and money on maintenance. Plus, you don’t have to worry about the aesthetics and unwanted buildup on the roof that can clog drains or reduce the lifespan of the coating. Lastly, you can rely on this brand as Gaco’s white silicone reflective roof coatings have an impressive warranty of 50 years on the material!
The Average Cost of Heat Reflective Roof Coatings
The cost of a roof coating varies depending on various factors, such as the square footage of the roof, application products and materials used, labor costs, and the roof’s condition. As of today, homeowners spend between $468 and $2,157 for materials and professional application for an average-sized roof, with the average cost being around $1,308. By applying a coating to an older roof you can save hundreds of dollars in repair costs.
A crucial factor to consider in regard to the price of a roof coating is that the roof is installed correctly in the first place. Any error during installation can render your investment and efforts useless, causing the coating or roof to deteriorate prematurely.
The application process for roof coatings can range from the straightforward task of using a paint roller to a highly intricate one involving multiple meticulous steps.
- Priming
- Mixing resins
- Using professional spraying equipment
- Applying multiple coats in an appropriate thickness
- Letting the coats dry
End Note
As you can see, investing in a heat reflective roof coating is a smart choice for any property owner. The benefits of these coatings far outweigh the initial cost of installation. Not only do they significantly reduce energy costs, but they also prolong the lifespan of roofing materials by preventing damage from UV rays and extreme weather conditions.
As a field expert, I highly recommend considering one of the top heat-reflective roof coatings on the market, as they have been extensively tested and proven to provide superior protection against heat absorption and damage to roofs.
Discuss Your Roof Coating Needs With the Experts
At Hepler Contracting, we have been restoring and maintaining flat roofs for decades. If you are looking for the perfect heat-reflective roof coating in Pittsburgh, you can trust our experts for reliable guidance, recommendations, and flawless applications.
Our team has extensive experience with commercial and residential roofs in Pennsylvania, and we’re happy to help you with a free consultation and quote on your project. Whether you want to coat a TPO roof or a built-up roof, you can depend on our advanced application process and skilled experts.
If you want to know more about our services or need some guidance on roof coatings, call us at (412) 694-8785. We will be happy to take you through the process and answer every question in detail that comes to your mind.