If you have a home, sooner or later you should think about installing a new roof. Roofing can be expensive, but it's also a valuable investment as it increases the value of your home, as well as the energy consumption of your family. It is important to know about roofing types and materials because they have an impact on the durability, maintenance requirements, and even energy efficiency of your roof. The following information will help you get the most out of your roofing and improve your home's efficiency:
Save Energy and with Replacements
Roofs come in a variety of forms, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Some roofs have excellent insulation ability, and good solar reflectivity and other materials trap heat and provide better insulation. Roof replacements are an opportunity to update your roof with the right materials to help you save money.
When choosing the new roofing for your home, you want to consider the type of materials to maximize efficiency. Some roofing materials, such as slate, tile, and cedar, provide excellent insulation. Other materials provide better solar reflectivity, which reduces thermal transfer through the roof. When replacing a roof, consider choosing materials with solar reflectivity. Although these materials do not increase insulation, they do help to keep heat from entering the home.
The Importance of Ventilation and Attic Insulation
Ventilation and insulation are two main components of any home's energy efficiency. They determine the efficiency of your home's heating and air conditioning systems. These two components also help to reduce moisture buildup in attics, which can cause mildew, mold, and rot.
As the attic heats up in the summer, heat rises to the sloping roof and then out through the eaves and roof vents. Inadequate ventilation prevents the heat buildup from escaping the attic, and energy is wasted.
Proper attic ventilation actually saves you money. If the attic heats up, your air conditioning system has to work harder to cool the house, causing your electric bill to go up. Proper ventilation prevents the heat buildup from escaping the attic, and energy is saved. When you update your roof, talk to the contractor about the ventilation and adding roof vents if needed.
Dealing with Structural Issues Before a Replacement
When replacing your roof, the structural problems are other issues that you might want to think about. Although you might not think of structural issues as something that affects efficiency, it can be a problem that you have to deal with.
Problems like rotting decking and leaks can reduce the efficiency of building materials and cause air leaks—leading to an increase in your heating and cooling costs. Therefore, you want to have your roofing contractor inspect the decking and roof structure for damage that needs to be repaired. Repairing the damage can help improve your home's energy efficiency to get the most out of your investment in a new roof.
A new roof is a great way way to improve home energy efficiency. Contact a roofing contractor to get the help you need installing a new roof to improve your home.
