Are light colored roofs more energy efficient?

Category: home and garden indoor environmental quality
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When it's time to choose a roof, lighter roofs do better than darker ones. However, there is no specific color that will do best for your energy bills as good insulation is what makes all the difference in how much heat enters your building.



Beside this, what is the best color roof for energy efficiency?

Slate and Clay Tiles The lighter the color, the better the energy efficiency. As noted above, clay can shatter in hailstorms, so is better used in warm climates. Slate is a harder material and can be used in any climate.

Subsequently, question is, what is the importance of a white or light colored roof? The idea: Light-colored materials reflect heat, while dark roofs, such as those made of asphalt and tar, absorb heat, driving up air-conditioning consumption in order to offset it. So, in other words, installing a roof that is white or “reflective” helps save energy and money.

Similarly one may ask, are light or dark shingles better?

Light shingles deflect sunlight and help keep temperatures down in hotter climates, while dark shingles absorb heat and help homes stay warm in colder climates. Dark shingles also help snow and ice on your roof melt faster.

Does a white roof save energy?

White roofs keep buildings cool and reduce energy use. White roofs can reduce summer energy use by 10–40%, saving money and preventing pollution.

37 Related Question Answers Found

What is the most popular roof shingle color?

Most popular color roof shingles
  • Blue and green shingles. Perfect if you live near water.
  • Beige and gold colors. Look their best in the fall.
  • Brown and red shingles. Bring the warm glow of sunny mornings to your home.
  • Black and gray colors. Look best in winter with its early nights and star-filled skies.

Does the color of the roof matter?

In general, lighter-colored roofs reflect away heat rays from the sun, but dark-colored roofs absorb much of that heat and transfer it into the rooms below. Or course, color isn't the only aspect of your roof that affects home temperature. The roofing material also affects how reflective your roof is.

Do dark colored roof make house hotter?

In general, dark-colored roofing materials will absorb the heat and cause your attic and/or the top of your house to be warmer than a lighter colored material.

Do metal roofs make house hotter?


While it's true that a metal roof will absorb heat when directly exposed to the sun, the same is true of any roof covering material. A dark colored roof in either asphalt, ceramic, slate or any other material will absorb heat at roughly the same rate.

What color roof reflects the most heat?

A white roof or roof coating will reflect more of the sun's heat so that your attic and your house stay cooler. Flat roofs are especially good candidates, because you can't see them from ground level. Look for a material with a high solar reflectance (sometimes called albedo).

What color is best for roof?

If you choose to use a type of wood roofing, a natural color would most likely look best. Metal roofing is a bit more versatile but generally looks good with bold colors like, black, or green. Perhaps asphalt shingles are so widely used because they can work well with most home styles.

What is the coolest roofing material?

Clay tiles are a popular cool roofing material, with an SRI of over 50% and a thermal emittance of up to 86%. They are known to be extremely durable and 100% recyclable at their end-of-life use. Colors vary as well to provide a great number of options to consumers.

What color roof lasts the longest?

What Roofing Material Lasts the Longest?
  • Wood shakes and shingles: 15 to 20 years.
  • Asphalt shingles: 10 to 30 years.
  • Metal/steel: 50+ years.
  • Slate: 50+ years.
  • Tile and concrete: 50+ years.
  • Foam: 25+ years.
  • Built-Up roofs: 25-30 years.
  • Single-Ply: 30+ years.

How do I pick a roof color?


To choose the color of roofing shingles, go with a color that pairs well with the color of your house. If your house is white, gray, yellow, or blue, opt for gray or black shingles to create a stately contrast. For a red or yellow brick house, try black, brown, or gray shingles to complement the brick.

What color paint goes with a gray roof?

Gray roofs work well with: Cool stone colors – off-whites, grays, blues, gray-greens, purple. Most brick colors – reds, oranges, yellows. Trim colors that are off-white, dark gray or black (NOT beige).

Do lighter shingles last longer?

Shingles. Opinion is mixed about color affecting shingle longevity, but unanimous about the importance of good ventilation under the shingles. Lighter-colored shingles reflect more light and stay cooler in sunlight. Just about all the experts agree on the importance of proper attic ventilation for longer shingle life.

How long does a 30 year roof really last?

The truth is, a 30-year shingle will not really last 30 years. The expected service life of a 30-year product, if properly cared for, is approximately 25 years. If it's not cared for properly, that 30 year shingle will only last 12 to 15 years. That's one of the big misconceptions in the roofing marketplace.

How long does roof paint last?

How long does a new roof last in comparison with repainted roof? A new roof has a warranty of 10-15 years depending on proximity to the sea and we see them needing to be recoated after around 15 to 20 years. A painted roof will need to be recoated after 8-12 years.

Which shingle brand is best?


Asphalt Shingle Roofing: 4 of the Best Brands in the U.S.
  • GAF Marquis WeatherMax® The GAF Marquis WeatherMax shingles are one of the best reasons that three-tab shingles have remained the most popular roofing material in the country.
  • CertainTeed XT™ 25.
  • Owens Corning Supreme® AR.
  • Tamko Heritage® Vintage.

Will a new roof make my house warmer?

An energy-efficient roof not only protects you from the elements, but it also keeps your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. In colder climates, insulation materials that have a higher R-value can help trap heat inside the home and lower home heating costs.

Is a black roof hotter than gray?

Yes, a dark roof absorbs more heat from the sun; however, there are a few simple solutions that will leave you worry-free after your new black roofing installation. When you choose a darker color for your new asphalt roof, having really good insulation becomes very important.