Can A Roofing Company In Los Angeles Convert Your Existing Roof To A Cool Roof?
A cool roof is a roof with a highly reflective surface that absorbs less heat than a traditional roof. A cool roof benefits homeowners by lowering energy costs and increasing indoor comfort, and it also benefits the wider community by decreasing emissions from power plants and lowering the overall air temperature. Surfaces like pavement and dark roofs are much hotter than the air on a hot summer day. The heat emitted from all the surfaces in a city creates what is known as the urban heat island effect. The state of California passed the Title 24 Energy Efficiency Building Standards, which requires that all new construction be built with cool roofs. Consequently, any roofing company in Los Angeles has experienced a much higher demand for cool roofs in recent years.
If you have an existing roof you’re thinking about converting to a cool roof, you’ll want to investigate the possibilities carefully. A cool roof is not the best choice for cold climates because a heat-absorbing roof helps a house retain warmth during a cold winter. But if you are living in a warm area, like southern California, you can consult with a Southern California roofer to find out what type of cool roofing material would work best for your home. In general, your choices for an existing roof are coating it with a cool material, recovering the surface, or tearing off the old roof and replacing it completely. If your existing roof is still in good condition, tearing it off might not be the most cost effective choice.
If converting your roof makes sense for you, your options will depend on the type of roof you have. If your roof is covered with a single-ply membrane, a Los Angeles roofing company can cover it with a UV-protective coating. If you have asphalt shingles on your roof, it’s not advisable to attempt to paint or coat them with another material. But a roofer near Los Angeles CA can replace asphalt shingles with cool shingles coated with highly reflective granules. Tile roofs are often light enough in color to qualify as cool roofs. However, a darker tile can be given a reflective coating. Metal roofs are another material that already reflect a lot of light; however, painting them white can increase their solar reflectance and thermal emittance even more. Check with a roofing specialist in Los Angeles CA for more information about cool roofs.