Cool roof technology is having a heyday in Florida. Our sweltering summers can quickly raise energy bills sky high. As homeowners search for ways to offset these costs, and as their roofs age, cool roofing becomes a tempting offer when Floridians are due for roof replacements. But what is a cool roof, and how are you supposed to get one?
A dark color does not rule metal out. Our guide to black metal roofs in Florida explains how black metal compares with shingles in the heat.
PITCH Roofing’s founding roofers have been installing cool roofs across the state for decades. Nobody knows Florida roofing better than us — that’s why our customers are happy with the look of their roof, its durability, and the cost. Stick with us as we walk you through everything you need to know to get a cool roof in Florida.
What Is a Cool Roof?
A cool roof is exactly what it sounds like — a roofing system designed to reduce your home’s ambient temperature. These roofs accomplish this goal by reflecting UV rays away from your home and thus reducing the amount of heat they absorb. Additionally, proper insulation and ventilation of your roof will go a long way in lowering the temperature of your roof and, by extension, your home.
There are many ways that experienced roofers can reduce the amount of heat that your roof absorbs. Color is a big one; in the same way that you’ll be cooler on a summer day in a white t-shirt than a black one, a lighter-colored roof will tend to absorb less heat than a dark roof. In this way, picking the color of your shingles is much more than an aesthetic choice!
Special coatings and safety features can also influence UV reflectivity. For example, high-quality asphalt shingles come with a coating of stone granules. These granules have a special UV-reflective coating that reduces the heat they absorb. Not only does this help lower your roof’s temperature, but it also helps your shingles last longer!
When it comes to planning your cool roof, shingles aren’t the only option, however. Let’s take a look at what roofing materials you can choose from when getting a cool roof replacement in Florida!
Choosing the Right Roofing Materials
While shingles are the most popular roofing material in North America, they simply aren’t right for every home. In hurricane-prone Florida, many homeowners are looking for more durable roofs that can keep up with our summer storms. Thankfully, you don’t have to choose between having a cool roof and a strong roof.
You can get a cool roof made with shingles, but let’s take a look at your other options when it comes to cooling your home in Florida:
- Tile roofs with high solar reflectivity
- Metal roofs, especially those with specialized cool roof compositions
- Flat roofing membranes like TPO
As you can see, you have quite a few options when planning your cool roof replacement. It’s important to know what you’re paying for when getting a new roof, though. With that in mind, let’s talk about how you can expect your new cool roof to perform!
How Much Money Does a Cool Roof Save in Florida?
Florida is known for its extreme heat, and you can expect a cool roof to make a considerable difference. Much like solar roofing, Florida is the ideal location for a cool roof. Since our local climate runs so hot, and is only getting hotter, Florida homes have the most to gain by reducing their temperatures through roofing solutions.
According to a study conducted by the Lawrence Berkley National Lab Heat Island Group, a white cool roofing system reflects 80% of UV rays away from the home on a hot summer day. This resulted in home temperatures cooling by about 50 degrees Fahrenheit more than the comparison home. This comparison roof was made with grey shingles, which only reflected about 20% of the sun’s rays.
Energy bills aren’t the only way to save money with a cool roof, either. In Florida, UV rays play a significant role in damaging your roof. It can cause shingles to dry and crack, bleach concrete shingles, and even add wear and tear to metal roofing. But with a cool roofing system, more of these rays are deflected, which saves you money on roof repairs and even on early roof replacements.
With all this in mind, getting a cool roof can save you a lot of money if you’re already due for a roof replacement. However, we wouldn’t recommend tearing off your old roof if it hasn’t reached the end of its lifespan. While lower monthly energy bills are great, it would take a long time for those savings to offset the cost of a roof replacement.
But if you’re in need of a new roof to protect your home against the unpredictable Florida weather, a cool roof is a great investment. When you need a new roof, don’t settle for inexperienced roofers. Instead, choose the expert roofers at PITCH and see how easy getting a new roof can be with just a little roofing done right.
Get a Free Estimate for a Cool Roof Replacement
At PITCH Roofing, all of our jobs start with one thing: a free, no-obligation cost estimate. While this is a great way to find out how much your new roof will cost, we provide so much more than just that. Our quotes are always itemized and go through the full scope of your job. This ensures that you’re getting a complete roofing system, from your decking to your insulation to your vents — in roofing, that kind of peace of mind is everything!
To schedule your roofing quote, call us at (727) 677-4824 or schedule your estimate online. We’ll send out a friendly roofing professional to inspect and measure your roof and discuss your cool roofing options with you. They’ll then use all of this information in preparing your estimate so that you’re seeing a quote for the exact roof that you need!
PITCH’s founding roofers come with a combined 60 years of local roofing experience. As longtime Florida residents, we know just how harsh the summers can be. If you want to protect your home while saving some money, a cool roof is the perfect investment. Reach out to our friendly crew today, and let us show you why we’re Florida’s top roofing company!
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Sources
- Cool Roof Study heatisland.lbl.gov
- Lowering Energy Bills rescue-my-roof.com
PITCH Locations
Five offices across Florida.
From Seminole and Tampa Bay to Orlando, Ruskin, and Delray Beach, a PITCH crew is never far away. Every office is staffed by local roofers who know Florida weather, Florida codes, and Florida roofs. Find the office nearest you below, or load the map and explore.
