Let Your Roof Pay You Back:
Energy-Efficient Roofing Options

Skywalker Roofing Company
Let Your Roof Pay You Back: <br>Energy-Efficient Roofing Options
March 18
By Luke Wilson | Roof Maintenance, Roofing Contractors

The Roof, The Roof, The Roof Is On FIRE!

Ok, hopefully your roof isn’t literally on fire, but if you’ve ever been on or around a roof on a sunny day, you know it can get pretty hot up there. How hot, you ask? Depending on the roofing material, an unshaded roof can easily surpass temperatures of 170°F. And while roofing materials are engineered to be able to handle some heat, sustained temperatures that high can actually shorten the life of your roof. To make matters worse, excessive heat buildup in your attic also puts extra stress on your air conditioning system, which will also inflate your power bill as well.

So, what’s a homeowner to do? Since air conditioning and heating make up the biggest percentage of energy use in a typical American home, it pays to make your roof as energy-efficient as possible! Here are a couple of things you can do to enable your roof to start paying for itself over time through improved energy savings.

Choose an Energy-Efficient Roofing Material

Let’s face it, some roofing materials are just more energy-efficient than others. Here are a few material options that are worth considering when it’s time for a new installation or roof replacement:

  • Metal Roofing – Metal roofs have seemed to explode in popularity in recent years, and for good reason. They’re durable, long-lasting, provide excellent protection from the elements, and require little maintenance. But there’s another thing to like about metal, too – it’s naturally reflective. A properly-coated metal roof can even re-emit up to 90% of absorbed solar radiation. How does that translate to your power bill? A metal roof can save you up to 40% in home energy costs!

 

  • Wood Shakes – Wood shakes (also called wood shingles) are one of the most eco-friendly choices available for roofing. Not only are they produced with a renewable resource, but wood is also a natural insulator. Cedar is a common choice, and it also boasts the ability to help control moisture and moderate your home’s humidity levels. Cedar shakes are also typically longer-lasting than normal asphalt shingles.

 

  • Slate and Clay Tiles – Slate and clay are also natural, ecologically-sound materials with some advantageous features. These tiles are waterproof, fireproof, and durable. They also offer more built-in thermal resistance and reflectivity than some other raw materials. The ability of air to move underneath the tile also helps to remove moisture and further moderate roof temperatures, which ultimately result in lower cooling costs.

 

  • Concrete Tiles – Concrete tiles are one of the more recent additions to the roofing material lineup, and they bring a nice set of positive qualities. They tend to be thicker than other tiles without needing to be as heavy. These tiles are very weather-resistant, won’t accumulate much heat, and are actually some of the longest-lasting roofing materials on the market.

 

  • Composite Roofing Like the look of wood shakes or slate tiles, but prefer the lightweight performance of a sturdy composite? DaVinci’s state-of-the-art tiles are made with virgin resins that are fortified with advanced UV stabilizers. DaVinci Cool Roof tiles are designed to be reflective and emissive, and have even earned the ENERGY STAR designation. And here’s another nice feature of DaVinci tiles – they carry a 50-year warranty!

 

  • Asphalt Shingles – Yep, you read that right. While traditional asphalt shingles are not typically known for being energy-efficient, there are now some products on the market which help prove otherwise. A lighter-colored shingle will naturally reflect more of the Sun’s radiation, but you’re no longer tied to having to choose a light color if you’re concerned about energy efficiency. For example, Owens Corning Duration Premium COOL Shingles are designed with reflective granules that reflect more solar energy, keeping your roof cooler. They’re also ENERGY STAR qualified and CRRC rated. In other words, it really is possible to have a more energy-efficient shingle roof!

 

Let Your Roof Breathe

Proper attic ventilation is critical for supporting your roof energy savings strategy. Why does your roof need to “breathe”? Well-designed ventilation allows air to circulate through your attic space. You should have the right amount of intake vents for fresh air to enter, as well a balanced amount of exhaust vents for roof-heated air to exit. This combination will help to maximize your roof’s energy efficiency, and can also help to extend the life of your roofing materials.

Insulate, Insulate, Insulate

Of course you know that you need to insulate your attic, but you don’t want to forget about insulating your roof, too. And even if you already have some insulation in place, it honestly may not be enough. What type of insulation do you need, and how much? The answer to that will depend somewhat on what type of house you live in, and the specific nature of your local climate. If you really want to make your home as energy-efficient as possible, have a local, licensed insulation professional come out and do an assessment for you. The pros at Skywalker Roofing are more than happy to schedule a free inspection and consultation anywhere within their service areas of NC and VA!

Ready to Ramp Up Your Roof’s Energy Efficiency? Call Skywalker Roofing!

As important as it is to choose the right roofing materials, roof ventilation, and insulation, the most important key to promoting the energy efficiency and longevity of your residential or commercial roof is to have everything properly installed in the first place! If you’re looking for a top-quality, manufacturer-authorized, highly-rated local roofing company, look no farther than Skywalker Roofing!

We’re proud to serve the NC Piedmont Triad, Triangle, Charlotte Metro, and Roanoke, VA areas, and we’re honored to be one of the highest-rated roofing providers in NC and VA. But don’t just take our word for it – take a minute and check out some of our customer reviews on Guild Quality.

Give us a call today, and experience the Skywalker difference for yourself!

Luke Wilson

Luke Wilson

Owner - Skywalker Roofing

Luke Wilson started working on roofs with his dad when he was a teenager, and eventually launched Skywalker Roofing in 2003. Skywalker operates in 5 locations across NC & VA, and now includes windows, siding, and other exterior services. Luke also hosts the popular Roofing Mythbusters series on YouTube.

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