In Central Texas, a high percentage of energy costs go to cooling your home or business. This area typically has mild winters, but summers can be scorchers. In an average year, temperatures will break the 90-degree mark more than 110 days and reach triple digits between 14 and 18 days. While you cannot control the weather, there are certain things you can do to make your roof more energy efficient.
• As you probably know, darker colors absorb more heat than lighter colors. What you might not realize is that there can be as much as 50 degrees Fahrenheit difference in the temperatures of a dark roof versus a white roof. The heat from your roof can be transferred to your attic and into your living area, making your cooling unit work harder and raising your energy bill. If you are reroofing, you might consider choose a white or tan roof instead of a charcoal or dark brown one.
• There are coatings that you can have applied to your existing roof that help reflect heat. For example, flat roofs can benefit from having white membranes applied, and there are also certain reflective paints that can be applied. However, these products are not suitable for every type of roof or roofing system.
• Proper attic insulation can help you reduce your energy costs. Most older commercial buildings and many homes have insufficient insulation to make much of a difference in energy costs. How much insulation you need depends on your construction methods as well as the type of insulation you use.
• Attic ventilation is also an important factor in the efficiency of your heating and cooling system. When you exhaust the hot air that has collected in your attic, you also allow hot air that has collected near your ceilings to be pulled into the attic and channeled outside.
If you would like to learn more about making your roof more energy efficient, contact the professionals at Alpha Roofing. We have been helping customers in Austin and Central Texas with all of their roofing needs for more than 30 years. Our crews are highly trained and committed to providing superior results at reasonable rates. Whether you need a new metal roofing system, chimney repairs, asphalt shingles installed or any other roof-related service, we can help. You can call us at (512) 777-1086 or use our online form to request your free, no-obligation quote.