Four Aspects to Consider When Choosing a Roofing System

We may still be in the thick of winter, but it’s never a bad time to plan ways to save energy during the hot summer months. Now, usually at this time of year, most of us are just hoping to make it to spring without losing a limb to frostbite, but with the way things are going right now, we might end up fishing out the swimwear and snorkels around the time that we’d normally be pulling out the windbreakers and light rain gear. But this warm winter might also be a harbinger for less-enjoyable things to come, like the summer cooling bill. 

Here are four important aspects to consider when choosing the first barrier between you and the rays of the sun.

1. Roof Color

White, reflective roofs, which are known as cool roofing systems, repel up to 40% more sunlight than non-white roofs, which translates into less heat energy entering the building and less cooling energy needed to mitigate it.

2. Prefabrication

Efficient roofing is not just about the finished product that goes on top of your structure. One should also take into account the manufacturing, ease of installation and the energy it takes to implement each part of the process. Prefabricated roofs can prove to be a huge benefit in this area. Prefabricated roofs eliminate a lot of room for error that can occur during the installation process. Also, because the manufacturing process is streamlined at the factory and made to specific orders, waste is eliminated, which is not just better for the purchaser but also for the environment.

3. Incentives

Government sponsored initiatives like the LEED program, provide incentives and tax write-offs for homes and business installing cool roofs. Not only will you save money on your cooling bills for the lifetime of the roof, but you will also see a nice reduction in your cost up front.

4. Sustainability

Leading roofing manufacturers, like Garland, GAF and Duro-Last Roofing, have seen the benefit of producing roofing systems that do not wreak havoc on the environment and at the same time perform just as well as conventional roofing. Such roofs are often made from recycled materials and can further be recycled once more at the end of the roof’s lifecycle.

No matter how hot it gets, one of the best ways to keep your home or business cool during the summer months is to ensure that you have an excellent energy efficient roof over your head. 

Home improvement happens to be one of John's favorite things to write about. If you'd like to find out more about Duro Last Roofing, please visit http://www.duro-last.com