10 Jun More Energy Facts About Aluminum Roofing
In our last blog post, we began to explore how aluminum roofs keep homes naturally cooler in hot weather. In fact, homeowners often report energy savings of 20% and even more after their Classic Metal Roof is installed.
In the previous blog post, we focused on the reflective pigments used in our coatings which reflect away radiant heat, even if the roof is dark in color. However, there are other important things that go into the energy efficiency of an aluminum roofing system installed by McCarthy Metal Roofing.
Our aluminum shingle systems have a small air space between the metal and the structure of your home. Where the panels are fastened, there is some connection between the metal and your home but, underneath most of the roofing panels is an integral dead air space. The air space is incredibly important.
The air space acts as a thermal break to stop the conduction of heat from the roof’s surface to your home’s structure. Whereas the reflective pigments we discussed previously block radiant heat transfer, the air space blocks conductive heat transfer which, actually, is the most common method of heat transfer.
If you have ever seen how the small air space between the panes of glass in a double or triple pane window blocks heat transfer, then you can understand how this concept works with an aluminum shingle roof as well. Keeping the heat out of your attic is the key to summer energy efficiency.
Classic Metal Roofing Systems, our primary product supplier, had testing done by the Florida Energy Center which proves out the value of the air space created by aluminum shingles.
In the report from their testing, look at the results from 2001. You will see how the brown aluminum shake kept the attic cooler than did the white standing seam roof. The white roof actually had greater reflectivity than the brown aluminum shingle but it did not have the air space. The air space makes a big difference, keeping the attic even cooler than the white roof!
Additional information on how you can keep your home cooler by choosing the right roofing material is available here.