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Dallas
commercial roofers can provide and
install today's
leading commercial cool roofing systems. Cool
roofing systems are the key to a low
cost maintenance friendly commercial
roofing system.
Elastomeric
coatings are the wave of the future.
Let us guide you through your new
commercial roofing system solutions.
Determine what method would be best to
provide the longest roof life cycle
for your roofing needs and building
needs. Lowering over all maintenance
costs and profiting more. All this
from a roofer?
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Whats
"Not-Hot" in the commercial roofing
market today?
TAX
REBATES
http://www.energytaxincentives.org/business/commercial_buildings.php
Cool Roofs
Cool
roofs use an energy saving surfacing material
which reflects the sun’s heat away rather
than transferring the heat to the building
below. This will help reduce the cooling costs
for building that use air conditioning and for
non-a/c buildings it helps to keep the
interior cooler and more energy efficient
Many
systems are also eligible for the Texas Energy
Rebate which can help to defray the cost of
the roofing system installation making it a
very economical roofing solution.
Elastomeric
Coatings are liquid applied, fully adhered,
"rubber-like" protective membranes.
They can be applied as part of a roof or wall
system during the construction stage, in
retrofit or as a maintenance application. Both
primer and finish coats can be spray applied
to ensure quick application, consistent
appearance and a durable finish.
There
are a great many additional benefits to having
a Cool Roof installed:
-
Maintenance
costs are TAX deductible. Cover the entire
roof as maintenance because thats what a
Cool Roof is!
-
It
has low installation costs. There are no
dump fees and compared to other types of
roofing there is less labor involved so
most of the cost is for the roof membrane
material itself.
-
Unlike
the traditional “hot mop” roofing,
with Cool Roofs there is no hot asphalt or
fumes involved.
-
Cool
Roofing can be installed without tearing
off your old roof, which can expose the
inside of your building to weather damage.
-
Applying
a Cool Roof is quieter for the building
occupants since there is no heavy tar
equipment being used.
-
Easy
maintenance. Traditional roofs are covered
with gravel or some other type of granules
to protect the surface of the roof. With a
Cool Roof system the covering used is
smooth and seamless and does not require
any kind of gravel cover.
-
Lasts
longer and the roofing system can be
upgraded.
-
Cool
Roofs can be applied over BUR, Single Ply,
Modified Bitumen, gravel and metal
roofing.
-
Reduces
air conditioning costs
-
Low
installation costs with no dump fees
-
No
hot asphalt or fumes
-
Prolongs
the life of the roofing system
-
Seamless,
tough, flexible
Cool
Roofing installations have a 25+ year track
record along with UL ratings and a generous 10
year manufacturer's warranty.
What
is a Cool Roof?
A
cool roof is one that reflects the sun’s
heat and emits absorbed radiation back into
the atmosphere. The roof literally stays
cooler and reduces the amount of heat
transferred to the building below, keeping the
building a cooler and more constant
temperature. Imagine wearing a white or a
black T-shirt on a hot day. By wearing the
white T-shirt you will remain cooler than if
you wore a black T-shirt because it reflects
more sunlight and absorbs less heat. Cool
roofs like a white T-shirt, keep the internal
temperature of the building cooler.
However,
a cool roof need not be white. There are many
“cool color” products which use
darker-colored pigments that are highly
reflective in the near infrared (non-visible)
portion of the solar spectrum. With “cool
color” technologies there are roofs that
come in a wide variety of colors and still
maintain a high solar reflectance.
The
two basic characteristics that determine the
‘coolness’ of a roof are solar reflectance
(SR) and thermal emittance (TE). Both
properties are rated on a scale from 0 to 1,
where 1 is the most reflective or emissive.
The
CRRC measures these two properties for roofing
products, both for the product’s initial
values and after three years of weather
exposure. The CRRC publishes the results on
the online Rated Products Directory. The
online Directory is available to the general
public at no charge, and it allows you to
compare the rated values of various product
types and brands.
What are the
Benefits of a Cool Roof?
There
are numerous benefits in having a cool roof:
-
Increase
ecological sustainability factor, or make
your house “greener” by:
-
Reducing
your utility bills associated with air
conditioning
-
Increasing
occupant comfort and avoid installing an
air conditioner where there isn’t
already one
-
Decreasing
the size and prolong the life of your
air conditioning system
-
Lowering
roof maintenance costs and extend roof
life, avoiding re-roofing costs and
reducing solid waste
-
Assist
your home in meeting building codes
-
Mitigate
your community's Urban Heat Island Effect
-
Maintain
aesthetics with a roof that performs and
looks good
-
Receive
utility rebates (in some locations)
In
a nut shell, a cool roof can significantly
reduce your cooling energy costs and increase
your comfort level by reducing temperature
fluctuations inside your home. Average
energy savings range from 7%-15% of total
cooling costs.
When
people think about making their home more
“green” or ecologically sustainable, cool
roofing isn’t always the first thing to come
to mind. However, certain green building
programs, such as the U.S. Green Building
Council’s LEED, give credit for installing a
cool roof. So if you are trying to save
energy or make your home more
environmentally-friendly, a cool roof is one
way to achieve that goal.
What
is the right roofing material for your home or
building?
Although
the CRRC cannot recommend specific roofing
products, below is a description of some
things to consider in selecting a roofing
product for your building, including a
description of the types of roofing materials
currently rated in our program.
Slope
All
roofs essentially fall into one of two general
categories: low-slope (less than 2
inches of rise over 12 inches of run) and
steep-slope (2:12 or greater). Our
directory indicates which slope(s) a product
is intended for. In addition, we recommend
that you check with a local roofing
contractor, roof consultant or architect to
determine the most appropriate roofing product
type for your home.
Climate
In
most climate zones worldwide, cool roofs can
significantly reduce a building’s cooling
load. However, cool roofs can also increase
heating costs in winter months. This increase
is usually greatly outweighed by the cooling
energy savings achieved during summer months
because the sun is low in the sky during
winter months, the weather tends to be
overcast, and snow often covers the roof,
usually making the heat gain through the roof
negligible in all but the most northern
climate zones in the US.
In
selecting your roof, it is important to
understand your climate zone and the actual
energy your home or building will save. There
are two cool roof calculators available online
that can give good estimates of how much
energy you will save. You can find them at:
DOE
Cool Roof Calculator
http://www.ornl.gov/sci/roofs%2Bwalls/facts/CoolCalcEnergy.htm
EPA Cool Roof Calculator
http://www.roofcalc.com/RoofCalcBuildingInput.aspx
Product
Types
Below
is a list of definitions of roof product
types.
-
Foam
Roof Systems:
Foam systems can also be divided into the
field-applied and factory-applied
categories. Field-applied foam
systems are similar to field-applied
coatings, as they are sprayed on in liquid
form and harden as they set on top of the
roof. Factory-applied foam systems
are formed into rigid panels and coated
with a reflective coating. The foam
usually give the roof system additional
insulation properties.
-
Metal:
Metal roofing products can be shaped to
look like shingles, or shakes, or to fit
unique curvatures, in addition to a
typical “standing seam” configuration.
They come in a variety of textures and
colors, including some darker “cool”
colors with special additives that allow
these dark colors to achieve significantly
greater reflectance than previous versions
of the same product.
-
Roof
Coatings:
Roof coatings can be divided into two
categories: field-applied and
factory-applied. Field-applied
coatings are applied directly onto the
roof surface, either on a new roof
assembly or over an existing roof surface
(and can be applied over top of just about
anything, so long as the right coating is
selected). Factory-applied coatings are
applied at the factory prior to
distribution. Examples of
factory-applied coatings include coatings
applied to metal and glazes that are
applied to tiles.
-
Shingles,
Slate, or Tile:
All of these products types use the same
concept, where pieces fit together to form
a roof. Asphalt shingles are fairly common
for residential roofing applications,
probably because they are relatively
inexpensive and simple to install. Slate
and tile products also come in a wide
variety of colors, shapes and textures,
and, because of their heavy mass, they
have thermal properties that may yield
additional energy savings beyond their
reflectance and emittance properties.
-
Single-Ply-Thermoset
(includes EPDM, Hypalon):
Thermosets are
materials that can not be hot-air welded
because it changes their physical
characteristics. Instead, tape or a
contact cement to seal the seams.
-
Single-Ply–Thermoplastic
(includes TPO, PVC, etc.):
Single-Ply-Thermoplastic is a flexible
sheet membrane which consists of
compounded plastic polymers. When
heat is applied onto the surface, the
single ply-thermoplastic seams are melded
together making the material seamless and
effective. Most thermoplastics are
manufactured to include a reinforcement
layer (usually polyester or fiberglass)
for extra durability and strength.
There are various types of
single-ply-thermoplastic such as PVC &
TPO. PVC (polyvinyl
chloride) is a synthetic polymer prepared
from vinyl chloride. It tends to be more
expensive than TPO, but is well known for
long-term performance and is naturally
fire-retardant. TPO
(thermoplastic polyolefin) is a blend of
polymers that can contain flame-retardants
or UV absorbers.
Product
Types Currently not included in the CRRC
Rating Program:
-
Green
Roofs:
Green roofs (also known as garden roofs or
vegetated roofs) use plants as roof
covering. Though technically not highly
reflective, green roofs do provide similar
energy savings and urban heat island
mitigation benefits as cool roofs. They
also absorb water, reducing storm water
runoff. Green roofs are distinct from cool
roofs and are not rated by the CRRC.
What Kinds
of Cool Roof Products Are on the Market?
The roofing
market provides products for two distinct
segments: low-sloped roofs and steep-sloped
roofs. Low-sloped roofs are found on most
commercial and industrial buildings, as well
as warehouses and
some
residences. Steep-sloped roofs are found on
most single-family homes. Cool roof options
for low-sloped roofs include cool roof
coatings and cool
single-ply membranes. Cool roof options for
steep-sloped applications include reflective
tiles and metal roofs.
Cool
roofs save building owners money on energy
bills.
Cool Roof
Coatings
Cool roof
coatings are white liquids – the consistency
of thick paint – applied over an existing
roof structure. Coatings are designed only for
use on low-sloped roofs. They can be applied
over a traditional roof to achieve energy
savings, an extended life span, and protection
from weathering and ultraviolet (UV)
radiation. The new surface can last 10 to 20
years, depending on coating quality and the
thickness at which it is applied.
Cool roof
coatings go on with a power sprayer or roller.
Home and building owners should ensure that
the underlying roof substrate is sound before
a coating is applied, as these products are
not intended to plug leaks or otherwise
improve the structure of a roof.
Most cool
roof coatings can be described as one of the
following:
-
Elastomeric
-
Polyurethane
or
-
Acrylic.
Cool
roof coatings may be applied with a roller.
Each has been
found to retain solar reflectance
over time.
Cool roof
coatings may cost between $0.75 and $1.50 per
square foot for materials and labor.
Installation cost varies, however, depending
on the condition of the roof, size of the job,
number of roof penetrations or obstacles, and
the ease of access to the roof. For accurate
cost information on a particular project, a
professional roofing contractor should be
contacted.
Cool
Single-Ply Membranes
Single-ply
roofing is the catchall name for roofing
materials that come in pre-fabricated sheets
and are applied in a single layer to a
low-sloped roof. Single-ply roofs are a
flexible or semi-flexible roof membrane
typically constructed of rubber or plastic
materials. Single-ply roofs can be
manufactured in a bright-white color for high
solar reflectance– or albedo – and
increased energy savings.
Single-ply
roofs are durable and can cover a number of
roof structures. They are typically delivered
in rolls, and applied by heat sealing the
seams, or with caulk. Some of the newest
single-ply roof products are made with
self-cleaning and mold-resistant polymers to
maintain solar reflectance.
Since the
"single-ply" classification includes
both light- and dark-colored materials,
products that are highly reflective should be
selected for heat island reduction and energy
savings purposes. Examples of single-ply
products include:
-
EPDM
(ethylene-propylene-diene-terpolymer
membrane): a flexible elastomeric
single-ply roofing material.
-
PVC
(polyvinyl chloride): a synthetic
thermoplastic polymer prepared from vinyl
chloride. It is the most expensive of the
three, but is well known for long-term
performance.
-
TPO
(thermoplastic polyolefin): a blend of
polymers that may or may not contain
desirable additives such as
flame-retardants or UV absorbers. It can
last 30 years and is largely maintenance
free.
Single-ply
roofing costs vary considerably from $1.50 to
$3.00 per square foot, including materials,
installation, and reasonable preparation work.
Reflective
Tiles
Tiles usually
are made of clay or concrete, and the solar
reflectance of traditional tiles ranges from
10-30%. Manufacturers have begun to develop
cool tiles that contain pigments that reflect
in the infrared. Special pigments allow
roofing materials to keep their traditional
colors, such as brown, green, and terra cotta,
while reflecting away up to 70% of the sun's
energy. These products enable buyers to forego
the perceived tradeoff between energy
efficiency and the aesthetic concerns that may
arise with a bright-white roof.
The cost of
reflective tiles is around $3.00 per square
foot. They are well-known for durability and
long life, and are most often used on new
homes or on higher end reroofing projects.
Metal Roofs
Several EPA
ENERGY STAR ® labeled metal roof products are
available for residential use. These materials
have a high albedo to reflect the sun's
radiation. Unless treated metal has a low
thermal emittance
and retains the heat that it does
absorb. Manufacturers have recently developed
cool metal roofing products that use pigments
that reflect infrared radiation, further
increasing the solar reflectance of metal
roofing, keeping it cooler.
Dark-colored
metal roof applications are also available.
These options reflect solar radiation and save
energy while meeting consumers' aesthetic
demands.
Metal roofs
generally start at $2.00 per square foot, and
are known to be durable and long lived.
What Is the
Size of the Cool Roof Market?
There are few
reliable data segmenting the roofing market
into highly reflective and traditional roof
applications. What is known about the size of
the cool roof market comes from roof marketing
surveys and opinions that characterize the
demand for reflective products.
Industry
sources suggest, for instance, that 10% (by
dollar value) of the commercial roof market is
represented by highly reflective products.
Regardless of whether this figure is precise,
the existence of large-scale incentive
programs for purchasing cool roof products –
in combination with data from roof
manufacturers and contractors – indicates
that market share for commercial applications
is growing.
How Does the
Cost of Cool Roofs Compare with Traditional
Roofs?
On a
unit-area basis, reflective roofs are usually
cost-competitive with and sometimes less
expensive than traditional roofs at the time
of purchase. Of course, this depends on the
specific types of roofs under consideration,
their quality, local availability, and other
factors.
When the
life-cycle costs of cool and traditional roofs
are compared, however, cool roofs are often
less expensive. This is because, once
installed, electricity demand is reduced and
summertime savings on energy bills begin to
add up. In fact, experience has shown that,
over time, most reflective roofs pay for
themselves.
Cool roofs
can be installed on both new buildings and
older structures due for re-roofing. Because
most roofs require regular maintenance, as
well as periodic re-roofing or recoating,
opportunities to switch to cool materials and
improve roof reflectance are regularly
presented.
For more
information on cool roofs and the cool roof
market, visit EPA's ENERGY
STAR ® Roof Products Web Site.
Energy
Efficiency
There are two
things that keep a roof cool.
-
High
Reflectivity
-
High
Emissivity
Cool roof
coatings reflect 70% to 90% of the sun's
energy when newly installed. Most of the
energy is radiated away. Conventional roofing
materials have reflectivity of 5% to 25%,
meaning they absorb 75% to 95% of the sun's
energy. A typical “white” capsheet roof
only reflects 25% of the sun's energy. The
absorbed energy is transferred to the
building.
Emissivity is
the ability to radiate away absorbed heat.
Most cool roof coatings emit 90% or more. Even
though aluminum coated roofs are highly
reflective they are not considered a cool roof
because they only emit 50% to 60% of the
absorbed energy.
A
conventional roof can get up to 180º on hot
sunny summer days. A cool roof coating keeps
the roof at just 10º-15º above the air
temperature. This means a cool roof can be 80º
to 90º cooler than a conventional roof.
Even at
relatively cool temperatures there is a big
difference in how much heat is absorbed. The
chart shown below, done by Lawrence Berkeley
National Laboratory, demonstrates how
different roofing materials are affected on a
sunny day when the air temperature was only 55º.
|
Ambient
Temperature 55° F
Roofing Material
|
Degrees
F
|
|
Black
Acrylic paint
|
142°
|
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Galvanized
steel
|
138°
|
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"white"
fiberglass cap sheet
|
118°
|
|
Clay
terra cotta tile
|
112°
|
|
Red
acrylic paint
|
106°
|
|
White
acrylic paint
|
74°
|
|
Hyper
white acrylic paint
|
65°
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Cooler roof
surfaces means less heat is transferred into
the building. If you air condition a building
one will save money on cooling energy. How
much savings will depend on many factors
including roof insulation, cooling system
equipment and other variables. In the right
situation, a reflective roof can bring cooling
savings of up to 50%, with a reduction in peak
cooling demand of 10% to 15%.
Elastomeric Roof Coatings:
Elastomeric coatings have elastic
properties, and can stretch in the
summertime heat and then return to their
original shape without damage. Elastomeric
coatings include acrylic, silicone and
urethane materials.
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CONTACT
US for your free cool roof roofing estimates
Copyright 2008
LRGENERALSOLUTIONS.COM
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