Regardless of the different types and styles of roofing materials available today, more and more homeowners and roofing and siding contractors are beginning to prefer energy-efficient roofing systems and materials mainly because of the fact that such roofs enable them to reduce the use of household energy, thus helping reduce energy costs to a great extent. Similar to the well-known fact that wearing light-colored clothes during a hot summer day will help keep us cool, the solar reflective surfaces of cool roofs have the ability to significantly lower roof temperatures.
If you are in the process of building your new home or looking to renovate your existing home (including replacing the roof), consider cool roofs as an energy-efficient alternative. This page contains all the information you will need regarding the cost and maintenance requirements of cool roofs, from expert Greentree roofing and siding contractors.
The Cost of Cool Roofs
According to expert Greentree roofing and siding contractors, the cost of cool roofs should be determined by taking their entire lifecycle into account. The lifecycle of a roof includes factors such as the upfront costs, other general expenses incurred during the lifetime of the roof, and any savings you get back during that period. Other factors to take into account include common maintenance requirements such as regular inspections, repairs, etc., and roof removal and replacement costs.
When it comes to upfront costs, the costs of materials and labor will be the highest. The exact cost will vary based on factors such as the location of the building, the required installation method, the complexity of the process, and the type and size of the cool roofing material. If yours is a new building and cool roofs will be your new roofing system, the costs associated with it will usually be more or less similar to, or sometimes a little bit more expensive than, the usual non-cool roofing systems that are available. If you choose a colored cool roof, your upfront costs will be higher because such roofs need to be coated with special reflective pigments. And, since manufacturers need to conduct thorough research before developing, testing, and delivering cool roof products, prices will increase accordingly. However, the cost of labor associated with installing cool roofs is almost exactly the same as that of traditional roofs.
On the other hand, if your existing roof is in good condition but you want it converted into a cool roof, the costs incurred will be much higher. This also includes simply coating your old non-cool roof to make it a cool roof. Greentree roofing and siding contractors recommend that traditional roofs should be coated at regular intervals to extend their lifespan. If you are planning to do this anytime soon, you can have your roofing and siding contractor use cool coating instead of a dark one. But keep in mind that the cost of the cool coating will depend on the current condition and type of your roof’s surface. For instance, some roof surfaces may require more than one coating to attain the desired look, and this will certainly cost you more.
Cool Roof Maintenance
The maintenance requirements of cool roofs are also similar to that of traditional or non-cool roofs. Dirty cool roofs have a reduced ability to reflect sunlight; therefore, periodic cleaning of your cool roof and maintaining its cleanliness at all times is absolutely crucial. If you will be cleaning the cool roof on your own, be sure to follow every detail of the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions, because employing methods like power washing can damage the roof and make your investment completely worthless. Better yet, hire a professional Greentree roofing and siding contractor to clean your cool roof.
If your house is located in an area where the surroundings are always moist, expect the growth of mold or algae on your cool roof. While this is not considered a serious issue by most Greentree roofing and siding contractors, algae or mold growth can bring down the roof’s ability to reflect heat and also make it look bad. Ask your roofing and siding contractor to apply a special coating that prevents such growth on the roof; this will save you trouble for a few years. Additionally, similar to traditional roofing systems, cool roofs are also prone to moisture infiltration, so follow the usual maintenance procedures to prevent this from happening.