How Does Color Affect My Roof?

The color of your roof can add a lot to your home's overall curb appeal. But that's not all it can do. You might be surprised to learn that your roof color can affect other aspects of your home comfort. Here's what you need to know about how color affects your roof and how to go about choosing the right roof color for your home. 

Roof Color Influence Your Home’s Internal Temperature

In general, light colors reflect sunlight while dark colors absorb it. This is true for clothing, and it’s true for roofing. A light roof will reflect sunlight while a dark roof absorbs it. Deflecting heat away from the home ultimately helps your home stay cooler. With a dark roof, the opposite is true — your home may feel warmer inside if you have a dark roof. 

If we lived in a cold climate, a dark roof would be helpful during the winter. Since dark colors absorb heat, a darker roof could help to heat the home during cold weather. However, since we live in Hawaii, it’s best to choose a lighter roof color, as this will benefit homeowners all year long.

Roofing Materials Also Affects Temperature

In addition to roof color, certain roofing materials may be better at deflecting sunlight than others. For instance, metal roofing tends to be the best type of roof when it comes to reflecting sunlight. It’s counterintuitive, seeing as how metal tends to get hot when placed in direct sunlight. But metal also excels at keeping things cool. The air underneath the metal will stay cool while the surface on top takes most of the heat.

Rubber roofing is a close second, especially if you choose a light color. It doesn’t hold heat and will bounce off the sunlight. Asphalt shingles also do a decent job of reflecting sunlight, especially if you choose a light color. 

Roof Color Can Help (or Harm) Your Energy Bill

Knowing that lighter roofs help you keep your home cool while darker roofs make your home feel warmer, let’s consider these effects on your home energy costs. When your home is naturally cooler, your air conditioner doesn’t have to work as hard to maintain your desired temperature. It can run less often, which means a lower energy bill for you!

When your home feels warmer because more heat is entering your home through the roof, your air conditioner will work harder to compensate. This means your AC is running more often, which means higher energy bills. Plus, running more often can shorten the overall lifespan of your HVAC system. You might have to perform additional maintenance or repairs due to excess usage.

How to Choose a Roof Color for Your Home

Roof color can help your home stay cooler, but there are a few factors that might influence your decision. First, if you have a home owner’s association, check the guidelines to see if your roof has to be a certain color and material. 

Also, proper ventilation can help warm air escape your home, regardless of the color of your roof. This is another helpful way to keep your home cooler and lower your energy costs. If you’re exploring the idea of a roof replacement, ask your roofing contractor to check for proper ventilation. If your home doesn’t have adequate ventilation, this is something we can fix while we replace your roof.

Kapili Solar Roofing is your partner in residential and commercial roof installations, repairs, inspections, and replacements. Let us help you explore roof colors and materials to find the best fit for your home!