4 Tips to Keep Cool with a Tin Roof

When the weather turns hot, a tin roof can make your house feel more like an oven. Because of the way that metal absorbs the heat, it does not release it very well. This can create a lot of heat build-up in the summer. But that does not mean it has to stay that way. By following these simple steps you can turn down the heat considerably.

Keeping Cool with a Tin Roof

There are several advantages to having a tin roof. Tin roofs are much less expensive than traditional roofing. You can cover much more square footage with metal than other roofing materials.

Tin roofs are also easy to install. With some furring strips and metal screws, you can have large areas of roofing completed with just a few sheets. A tin roof is also easy to keep clean in the winter. The snow and ice will slide right off.

Trying to keep your home cool in the summer months is one of the disadvantages of a tin roof. There are several measures homeowners can take to help cool off their homes when they have a tin roof. While some of these measures are easy, there are a few that require changes to your home.

1. Add Insulation

The best way to keep your home cool is with insulation. The more insulation you have between the actual living area and the roof, the better. It will work as a barrier to keep the heat away from the home in the summer while keeping the warmth inside in the winter. If your home does get heated during the summer months, look into adding more insulation in the attic, or within the roof trusses.

Add Ridge Vents And An Attic Fan

One of the reasons that a tin roof heats up so much is that the heat has nowhere to go. A closed-in roof system is just like an oven. When the sun shines on the metal, the heat is absorbed into it.

This heat is then radiated through the wood underneath and into the attic, or directly into the home. With ridge vents and an attic fan installed, the heat can escape and a crosswind can be established to keep the heat moving out and a cooling breeze coming in.

Paint the Tin Roof

Painting your metal roof is another option for keeping your home from overheating in the summer. White paint will reflect the sun's rays away from the house. Avoid black because it absorbs heat.

Plant Some Sod

A rather unconventional way to keep your metal roof from overheating your house is to add sod to the roof. This is very common in the Southwest where the sun shines bright and hot. The sod is actually a great roof covering because of its natural insulating properties.

Sod works to keep things cooled off in the summer, but will also keep the heat enclosed during the winter. Another benefit to using sod is that its lush green color will add a dramatic, if unconventional, touch to your tin roof.