Are you considering getting a new roof? Have you been wondering how much a new roof might affect your electricity costs? Read through the following sections for the effects that a new roof might bring.
Color of Roofing
It is common knowledge that dark-colored clothes absorb more heat than light-colored clothes. The same principle applies to your roof. Particularly if you live in a hot climate, you should select a light-colored roofing material; this is roofing to reduce heat. If you choose a dark color, the heat will be more absorbed by the roofing material and transmitted to your attic and on down to your living space. The increased heat in your living space will cause your air conditioner to do more work to keep your living space comfortable. Thus, in hot climates, your utility bill will be higher when you install dark-colored roofing.
Radiant Barrier
When you install a new roof, it is a good opportunity to also install a radiant barrier to reflect the heat from the sun. This is usually done if you are having to replace the roof sheathing when installing a new roof. It is of note that a radiant barrier offers more cost savings when done in a hot climate. Particularly when done with the other tips offered in these sections, addition of a radiant barrier in a hot climate will give you a significantly lower electricity bill.
Ventilation
The above sections have hinted that the attic gets to be very hot during the summer in hot climates. This implies that an effective ventilation system in the attic can be very useful. The ventilation system is typically composed of intake vents along the lowest part of the roof, in the soffit. The exhaust vents are then placed near the highest part of the roof. This creates a natural ventilation cycle with air entering the intake vents, accumulating attic heat, and exhausting at the exhaust vents.
This natural process helps keep the attic from becoming excessively hot. Without such a venting/cooling system in hot climates, attic heat can warp your roof decking and shorten the life of your shingles. Also in this situation, the heat in the attic is transmitted down into the living space and causes an increased load on the air conditioning system.
Insulation
Increased Insulation in the attic can actually lengthen the life of a new roof, as the transfer of heat is moderated through the ceiling during cold times and hot times. During cold times, we are adding heat to the living space, and want to avoid transfer of that heat into the attic. During hot times, we want to prevent heat from the hot attic from being transferred to the cooler living space below the attic. Adequate insulation in the attic, whether during cold or hot times, will give you a lower electricity bill through lower heating costs and lower air conditioning costs.
New Roofing Materials
Roofing materials that were manufactured 30 years ago are comparatively obsolete. New materials can now be purchased that offer less heat transfer and greater resistance to wind and hail. A new roof can possibly save you money. Contact NXS Services to discuss options for roof replacement in your area!