Photo and story courtesy of the Metal Roofing Alliance.

Not all roofs are created equal, and that’s especially true when it comes to controlling extreme summertime temperatures.

With a hotter-than-ever summer predicted in many parts of the U.S. and Canada, understanding how a roof performs to keep homeowners cool while maximizing energy savings is essential. Choosing the right materials, coatings and installation methods when replacing a roof makes a major difference for increased sustainability and comfort, and it adds up to real dollars and cents: Research indicates that homeowners can save up to 40% on annual energy costs by simply selecting the right type of roof and paying attention to proper installation practices.

To comprehend how roofs can increase efficiency through shielding against the sun’s energy, it’s important to understand the different types of sunrays, which are divided into UV, Visible and Infrared. Infrared, non-visible rays make up the biggest majority, and they produce heat. UV rays (non-visible, cannot be felt, yet can cause wear and tear on building materials) and visible rays account for the rest. While even basic, unpainted metal roofs will reflect more solar radiation than asphalt roofs, by choosing the proper colors and coatings, low-glare metal roofs reflect most non-visible, infrared and UV rays — the kind that produce heat and are the most damaging. And by emitting as much as 85% of solar heat gain to help keep homes cooler, even darker color metal roofs may help lower home temperatures during sizzling summer weather.

“There is a misconception out there that metal roofs may conduct more heat or cause a shiny glare when the sun hits them, but nothing could be further from the truth,” said Renee Ramey, Metal Roofing Alliance (MRA) executive director. “A quality cool metal roof can reflect and re-emit heat caused by mostly non-visible rays while also looking great and performing beautifully.”

Many cool metal roofs are ENERGY STAR-qualified based on total solar reflectance and thermal emittance properties, a term that describes how much of a material’s absorbed energy is released and emitted back into the atmosphere (versus causing indoor temperatures to rise). The Environmental Protection Agency estimates an ENERGY STAR labeled roof can lower roof temperatures by as much as 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

Other tips to ensure a new roof will deliver extreme heat protection, maximum energy savings and long-term satisfaction:

• Pay attention to air flow and ventilation — both of which are essential in all seasons. Good eve and ridge ventilation systems help maintain consistent roof temperatures.
• Check building codes to make sure your insulation meets or exceeds standards.
• Consider other potential threats; areas that experience extreme heat also are often prone to wildfire danger. Many quality metal roof systems carry a Class A fire rating — the best in the industry for fire resistance.
• Use quality materials from a reputable manufacturer and offer solid warranties. For metal roof installers, consider becoming a member of industry-leading organizations that stand for quality, including the MRA.
• Choose the most sustainable material possible to help increase energy efficiency while reducing waste. Metal roofs save energy, can last up to three times as long as other materials and are 100% recyclable at the end of their long life.
• Direct customers to free resources such as the MRA’s Residential Metal Roofing Buyer’s Guide at www.metalroofing.com.

“Choosing the right roof has a big impact on a homeowners’ budget and bottom line,” said Ramey. “When it comes to comfort, practicality and performance all year long, quality metal roofs simply make more sense and are more sustainable.”