Roofs are amongst the greatest culprits of heat transfer in your home. Dark-coloured roofs retain much of the sun's heat, which is then radiated into your home. If this happens during the summer, you may end up spending more energy on air conditioning. Reflective roof paints are the latest invention in the roofing industry, which can help reduce energy waste due to increased cooling needs during the hot weather. They can keep your home cool without overworking your air conditioning unit. Read on to find out more about these paints.

What are reflective roof paints?

Reflective roof paints or coatings are specially made to reflect the sun's heat instead of absorbing it like most roofing paints and materials do. They have the following two properties:

• They are highly reflective to reflect away the energy from the sun.
• They have high emissivity to disperse away any energy that is absorbed.

Note that reflective roof paints are not the same as the conventional white paint. While standard white paint can also reflect the sun's energy from the roof, it is not as effective as reflective roof paints in reflecting and dispersing the sun's radiation.

Why reflective roof paints?

Before the introduction of reflective roof paints, people relied on white paints to reduce solar gain on their roofs. White paint limited homeowners who preferred roofs with a different colour coating. Reflective roof paints allow you to maintain the preferred colour of your roof while enjoying the benefits of a cooler home during the hot weather. You do not have to compromise aesthetics for energy efficiency.

Reflective roof paints make your roof last longer in the following ways:

• They reflect away the UV rays of the sun, which are destructive to conventional roofing materials and make them age or wear faster.
• They prevent the constant expansion and contraction of roofing materials as they heat up during the day and cool down at night. The heating and cooling cause roofing materials to undergo thermal fatigue and wear quickly.
• They inhibit the growth of fungi on your roof.

What is the cost of reflective roof paints?

Reflective roof paints are costlier than standard paints. However, they do not require special procedures before application. You just need to have your roof cleaned and dry before painting. Also, these paints are self-priming; therefore, you will not need to invest in a primer. They can also be used on new and old roofing materials. For an old roof, ensure that any leaks or damages are repaired.

Reflective roof paints can increase the energy efficiency of your home during the summer and prolong the life of your roofing system. Ensure that the painting job is carried out by professional roof painters for the best outcome.