I have a light colored (natural stain) log home and am in need of a new roof. The existing roof is also light(beige) in color and is in need of replacement. I believe that a darker color, maybe even red-toned shingle would look much better on the house to offer some contrast but I concerned that darker shingles will make the house hotter inside. Our upstairs bedrooms get "very" hot this time of year (we rely on window ac's) as there is no attic with the vaulted ceilings upstairs. So, would darker shingles only exacerbate the summer heat problem or would the difference be negligible?

Thanks!

Tom

 

The darker the shingle color the less the % of reflection of the sun. Darker colors absorb more heat, especially black which absorbs all heat. Asphalt shingles do not block heat from the home. The base on which colored granules is placed is black, the cause of heat absorption by asphalt shingles. Even lighter colored asphalt shingles absorb heat, but reflection is greater than on darker colors. If energy efficiency of roofing is a major concern, asphalt shingles are the least efficient at reflecting the sun's heat.

 

Thanks but you didn't answer my question. Will the interior of the home's second story (with vaulted ceilings-no attic) be hotter with darker shingles than with lighter ones by a significant amount...say more than one full degree farenheit? I realize that every situation is different so I'm just looking for a typical/generic answer. Thanks.

 

The answer you seek is NO. You will not probably notice any difference. Put on the red shingle. Have a good day.

 

Your roof can get up to 150 degrees or higher with dark color shingles depending on location and time of year. This will affect the temperature in your home. I would recommend a radiant barrier but you do not have an attic so this option will not work. Go with the lighter color shingles. I live in Texas and if you have a black roof I have seen the temperature get up to 200 degrees.

 

If you re-roof with the exact sane roofing material that you have now, except that it is darker, then yes, the amount of solar gain will increase and the temperature inside may be slightly higher.

That said, the color of the roof is one of the least important factors contributing to inside temperature. Staying with the roof, and the space between the roof and the ceiling, the roof ventilation, the ceiling insulation and the roofing material will each have a greater impact in most cases.

First, how is your "attic" ventilated? Are there adequate openings for air to enter under the soffit or eaves; is there an adequate vent on or near the ridge for air to escape; and is there a clear and adequate path for the ventilating air to move freely from the soffit to the ridge, below the roof and above the insulation?

Second, do you have the optimal R-value of insulation installed, directly against the conditioned space? (You can use the Zip Code Insulation Program to find the optimum.) Is the insulation continuous, without any significant gaps, and is there a continuous vapor barrier between the conditioned space and the inner face of the insulation?

Third, how is your roof itself constructed? Are your shingles wood, metal, slate or composition? Is the sheathing solid, or is it "skip" sheathing (typically, 1X4s with + 3" spaces between them)?

Since you're asking this question as you are getting ready to replace your existing roof, these are not only questions you can answer, they are areas where you can make changes to increase your comfort and lower your costs, going forward.

Aside from the roof, controlling the amount of solar gain through your south-facing windows by tinting them; reglazing them with low-e panes; installing constructed shade such as awnings, porches, decks or balconies; or planting deciduous trees to control the amount of sunlight entering, by season, can do a great deal to affect the temperature inside your home. Even your choice of window treatments - shades, blinds and curtains - can have a significant impact.

There's more that can be done, but I'll leave it there to start the discussion.

You want a red roof? Sure, go for it. Unless the issues I've just raised have been well-addressed, and the improvements to them have been not only completed but coordinated in an overall design, it is likely that you can more than offset any gain the darker color will create.

 

We lived in a steep-roofed log home in SW Colorado for 5 years. No attic, upstairs loft bedroom/full bathroom ceilings consisted of exposed, solid T&G pine 4 x 6s, no insulation, and supported by heavy timber trusses. The house had a metal roof, dark green in color, while the detached log garage next to it also had a metal roof, but it was light beige in color. Goofy color differences were the choice of previous owners.

I can say this regarding the difference between light and dark roof covering--the garage attic was definitely cooler in the summer than the upper level rooms in the house (no A/C) with their darker roof color. I spent several weeks in the garage attic, adding insulation and solid flooring so we could use it for storage, and was never forced to quit early because of excessive heat build-up during the day. Conversely, I suspect the darker house roof color made it easier to keep the upper level rooms comfortable in winter, especially since the house only relied on a whole-house propane furnace for heat (and was always quite comfortable, even during cold, snowy days).

Granted, comparing metal roof performance based on color differences, to shingle roofs is probably not exactly a fair comparison because of other factors involved.

 

Yes, slightly higher; 34*F mean annually; What's the value of ventilation | March 2002 | Professional Roofing Magazine

7 year old thread.....

G