As a business owner, you’re no stranger to the concept of keeping your overhead costs low but did you know that the type of commercial roof on your building can drive your monthly energy bills through the roof? (No Pun Intended). It’s true! Everything from the color, material, and installation method can cause your building to heat up, lose cool air through poor insulation, and result in you paying more each month to try to keep the building comfortable.

How Heat Affects Different Commercial Roofs

When it comes to commercial roofing, there are a few roof colors and materials that are more effective at repelling energy from the sun and repelling heat as a result.

The general rule about color and heat is that dark colors will retain heat easier than light colors. If you have a black roof, it will retain more of the heat from the sun and make your building hotter as a result. This is the same principle you’ll notice when walking across an asphalt parking lot on a hot day. It may feel 10 or 20 degrees hotter than it really is.

On the other hand, if a roof is the color white it will reflect more sunlight and retain less heat. This can be a more effective method of controlling the temperature on your roof and within your building. In some cases, a white roof may be as much as 50 degrees cooler than a black roof under the same conditions (energy.gov).

Much like with the color of the roof, different materials lend themselves better to reflecting heat to ensure a cooler environment. Common commercial roof materials include built-up roofing membrane (BUR), metal roofing, modified bitumen roofing, thermoset (EPDM) roof membrane, thermoplastic (PVC & TPO) roof membrane, and “Green” roofing systems. Of these materials, Thermoset, thermoplastic, and Green roofs reflect the heat more effectively than metal roofing.

General Roofing Co. East Bay Roofing Company

Since 1924, General Roofing Company has been installing and repairing residential, commercial, and industrial roofs in the Greater East Bay Area; providing professional personal service on every roofing project completed.