It’s understandable why most homeowners worry about keeping the heat out of their homes as the summer season begins and temperatures increase. But even if you service your HVAC system on time, seal your windows, and insulate your walls, your roof will still have the most notable impact on how cool you and your family stay this summer. This leads many homeowners to worry about the combination of metal roofs and summer heat.
Although metal has proven to be the most energy-efficient roofing material, it’s still very common among homeowners to garner misconceptions about how effective metal roofs are. They either believe the metal is too reflective or more prone to collecting heat than other common roofing materials. Homeowners can generally always benefit from learning more about their roofing systems. So we have decided to debunk some of these common myths. This should help you better understand why metal roofing isn’t as susceptible to heat as it might seem.
Metal roofs won’t heat your home in the summer
Because metal quickly warms to the touch, the common belief is that metal roofs are prone to overheating in the summer and subsequently warming up the home itself. But this is not true. Metal roofs don’t make any more of an impact on the internal temperature of a home than other types of roofing. They can even aid in keeping the house cooler in the summer.
One of the most energy-efficient roofing options for homeowners is metal roofing. It can greatly reduce the amount of energy required to cool your home. While it doesn’t absorb any of the sun’s heat as the myth suggests, metal does help keep the hot air out. This effectively lowers the amount of air conditioning required to keep your home chilly.
As you can see, if your metal roof was installed correctly, you shouldn’t have to worry about it adding extra heat to your house.
Although metal roofs won’t heat your home during the summer, they will get pretty hot. So, if you’re moving a long distance to a home with a metal roof during the summer, you have to prepare for the process well. Once you get there, you’ll have to do an initial inspection of the condition of your roof. This means that the first batch of the possessions you’re moving should include some safety equipment for an inspection like this.
How metal roofs regulate temperature
The way your metal roof impacts the temperature in your home will be determined by two factors. The type of metal roofing you use and how it is installed. You should consider the following factors to ensure that your roof will be as well-prepared as possible for the combination of metal roofs and summer heat to be optimal.
- The color of the roof – Light colors (ex., white and gray)will absorb less heat and have a lower surface temperature than dark colors (ex., black and dark gray);
- The finish and coating of the roof – The type of finish or coating used on the metal roofaffects how reflective the roof will be. Many finishes include reflective properties that keep your roof cool in the summer. The best option is to contact a professional roofer to help you choose the best coating for your roof;
- Its ventilation and insulation – Your metal roof must be fitted with plenty of insulation and sufficient Your home will be cooler if you allow air to circulateoutside your attic. And you’ll reduce the risk of mold and mildew growth. Your attic will lose less heat the better your insulation is installed, keeping your home cooler in the summer.
Metal roofs won’t reflect the sun too much
It’s very common for people to immediately think of the reflective properties of certain metals when they think about metal roofing. A common misconception among homeowners is that installing metal roofing will result in a highly shiny surface that’s unappealing to look at. As a result, many people shy away from the idea entirely. However, just like the previous issue in this article, the combination of metal roofs and summer heat does not result in this.
To help you better understand this, let’s discuss exactly how metal roofing interacts with the sun’s rays.
How do metal roofs interact with the sun?
In general, the sun’s energy is distributed into three distinct categories. Each describes a different type of light that comes from the sun.
- Infrared – Invisible rays responsible for the majority of the heat that comes from the sun;
- Visible – As the name suggests, this is the visible part of the light spectrum. Different wavelengths within this part of the spectrum give us colors;
- Ultraviolet (UV) – Invisible rays that you can’t feel. They are known to damage certain types of roofing materials, however.
Plain, unpainted metal roofing reflects more solar radiation than conventional materials. However, low-glare metal roofs are made to mainly reflect UV and infrared rays. These are invisible and responsible for the majority of heat gain and exterior damage. This type of metal roof is mostly achieved through a mix of smart choices regarding the finish, color, coating, and style of metal used.
The effects of thermal shock on metal roofs
As discussed in this article, metal roofs are generally the most durable type of roof available. However, one caveat regarding their durability comes from the interaction between metal roofs and summer heat. That issue is the effect of thermal shock on metal roofs. If you live in an area where the summer is known for bringing extremely high day temperatures, which go down rapidly at night, your metal roof might be at risk of thermal shock.
Thermal shock warps and otherwise changes the shapes of the components of your roof. This means that anywhere there is a seam or connecting point in your roof, there is a chance of gaps and leaky spots forming. Of course, if you notice them on time, you can quickly fix some of these problem spots. If you’re generally handy, experts from number1movers.ca recommend renting a storage unit near your home. You can keep some of the basic tools required for metal roof care there. Otherwise, we recommend calling professionals.
Wrapping up
It’s easy to understand why people have certain concerns about how the interaction between their metal roofs and the summer heat will go. However, after looking into it a bit further, it quickly becomes apparent that the effectiveness of metal roofs is great. And most of the biggest concerns people have about them come from common misconceptions. With the right mix of proper installation, consistent maintenance, and the correct coatings and finishes, your metal roof can end up making your home a more enjoyable place to live in during the summer.
