If you have a flat commercial roof on top of your facility, you should know how to reduce roof heat in the summer. Let’s look at thermal roof temperatures and conditions on different roof types and explore how keeping your roof cool improves your building’s operations.
Temperatures on Different Roof Types
Different roof types heat up differently for two main reasons: membrane colors and materials. Lighter roof colors have higher levels of solar reflectivity. That means they reflect more visible light, UV rays, and heat off the membrane than darker colors. Dark colors absorb light and heat, causing the membrane to grow hot. However, membrane materials also absorb light and heat differently. For example, built-up roof (BUR) membranes contain layers of gravel, slag, and reinforcement fabric, and these materials often absorb more heat and light than single-ply TPO and EPDM membranes, which only have one layer. Also, one roof membrane type can come in multiple colors. Some roof membranes, such as EPDM, come in both black and white. White roof vs. black roof temperatures can vary greatly, as can temperature differences between roof materials.
Here’s how hot different flat roof types get in summer weather:
- Black Roof Membranes: 140 to 190 degrees Fahrenheit
- White Roof Membranes: 102 to 120 degrees
- Built-Up Roofs: 125 to 140 degrees
- Green Roofs: Up to 90 degrees
These roofs vary in temperature because of their colors and materials. If you want to keep your commercial building cool during the summer, choose a membrane with light colors and cool materials.
Why and How Do Green Roofs Stay So Cool?
In the list above, green roofs don’t grow nearly as hot as the other commercial roof types. How is that possible? Well, green roofs are also known as vegetative roofs or rooftop gardens. Instead of layered roof systems or single-ply membranes, green roofs are covered with plants. The plants on a green roof take in sunlight and use it for photosynthesis. Since the plants absorb the sunlight that hits the roof, the sun’s heat never reaches the roofing materials or building beneath them. If the majority of your roof surface is covered in plants, they prevent the roof from heating up during the summer by taking in sunlight and the heat that goes with it.
How Does a Cool Roof Improve Your Building’s Performance?
A cool roof reflects sunlight and heat away from your building. If your roof stays cool, your air conditioning doesn’t have to work as hard to cool the rest of your building. On the other hand, a roof that absorbs heat and light forces your air conditioning to work very hard to dispel the heat that comes in through your roof. Investing in a cool roof can reduce your cooling costs and energy bills while improving your building’s energy efficiency. If your cooling system doesn’t have to work as hard to cool the building, then it uses less energy, increasing its energy efficiency.
How Can Kirberg Help You Make Your Roof Cooler?
Kirberg can help you create a cooler roof for your building in a few different ways. We can restore your current flat roof membrane with roof coatings that keep your roof cool and extend its lifespan. If you have a new commercial building that needs a roof, we can install a white or light-colored single-ply membrane on it. And if your roof has reached the end of its lifespan, we can replace it with a cool membrane or system that meets your building’s cooling and energy efficiency requirements. Overall, we can customize our regular commercial service offerings to ensure your roof keeps your building cool.
Cool Your Commercial Flat Roof With Kirberg Company
If you think your roof could cool your building better than it currently does, reach out to us today. We use our services to develop the best solutions for our customers’ needs, and we can do that to keep your roof cool. Connect with us when you’re ready to partner with a roofing contractor that can develop a cooling solution for your roof that lasts for years to come.
