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Efficiency Equals Savings

Anyone living in Arizona knows that the summers here get extremely hot! In this blog, we will explore energy-efficient roofing options.

Using your Air Conditioning in the summertime adds considerably to your electric bill every month. There are ways of saving money by using energy-efficient building materials.

We will talk specifically about choosing energy-efficient roofing materials for the next time you need to re-roof your house or on your new construction home.

What to look for when exploring efficient roofing options

There are several types of roofing materials or roof types that are commonly used in Arizona. The most common pitched roofs are tile or shingle. For flat roofs: rolled roofing systems and foam.

So what should someone look for when wanting to choose an energy-efficient roofing material? The easiest way is to look for ENERGY STAR® roofing materials.

The Energy Star logo on the roofing materials packaging indicates that the product is certified to be an energy-efficient roofing material. Energy Star determines roof materials’ energy efficiency by their solar reflectance and emittance.

For example, roofing energy-efficient shingles use granules that reduce the amount of heat that is transferred into the material while shingles that aren’t designed to be energy efficient absorb more heat.

The surface temperature difference between energy-efficient roofing materials with special granules and non-energy efficient materials can be up to 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

Another important thing to take into consideration on choosing your energy-efficient roofing material is color.

Darker colors tend to absorb the sun’s energy and transmit the heat into the building below while lighter colors tend to reflect the sun more efficiently. So it is important to not only choose the color material that you like but also choose lighter tones.

Turbine Style Shingle Roof Vent

Proper Ventilation

If your roof and attic do not have the proper ventilation then it does not matter what material you use on top of the roof. Improper ventilation will negate the benefits of the energy-efficient roofing material that is used on your roof. In fact, roofing material manufacturers will automatically void material warranties if the roof/attic is not ventilated according to code.

There are many different types of vents that are used depending on the type of roof you have. Here is a roof vent calculator tool if you are wondering how many vents you need.

This photo is used to illustrate what a shingle roof turbine vent looks like. Turbine vents help increase energy efficiency by exhausting hot air from the attic.

Tips to Improve the Energy Efficiency of your Roof

We will review different energy-saving options on the common roof types of Arizona. The roof types we will cover are tile, shingle, and flat roofs. Let’s explore the different energy-efficient roofing materials for each type of roof.

Tile Roofs

Tile roofs are excellent at being energy efficient when it comes to the airflow factor. There is a space between the tiles and the felt that helps promote airflow.

Tile roofs are durable and last a long time. The two main ways to increase the energy efficiency of your tile roof include extra ventilation and installing a reflective foam material on top of your felt. The material that is used commonly in Phoenix is called Radiant Barrier.

This will reflect the heat and prevent it from entering the attic space. While Radiant Barrier is not considered a roofing material, it is very energy efficient! Both of these options will help you save on your monthly electricity bill!

We wrote an article on the best tile underlayment in Arizona, feel free to check it out!

Shingle Roofs

Shingle roofs are very common in Arizona being that they are the most economical roof on the market. Asphalt tends to get really hot in the summer in Arizona.

However, the energy efficiency is lower than tile roofs. The best method of increasing the efficiency of your shingle roof is replacing the old worn-out shingle with the Energy Star rated shingles (which are considered energy-efficient roofing material).

Also, increased ventilation or upgraded ventilation can help as well. Automatic or active vents are a great option and can be programmed to use the fan when the temperature of the attic hits a certain threshold. High-quality vents such as ridge vents also help promote proper ventilation as well.

Flat Roofs

Flat roofs in Arizona are comprised of many different materials. The most common being asphalt. Asphalt is not an energy-efficient roofing material.

Coating your roof with Acrylic cool roof coatings is a great way to cool down your flat roof. Acrylic elastomeric roof coatings will seal, extend, and renew your flat roof. They will also drop the surface temperature of the roof up to 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

Acrylic Elastomeric roof coatings have strong reflective qualities and are strongly recommended for restoring your old roof, reducing your energy bills, and transforming your roof into being more energy-efficient.

Of These Efficient Roofing Options, What is the Best Choice Available in Arizona?

Hands-down polyurethane foam roofs are the best roofs for the hot climate of Arizona and the most energy-efficient roof available.

The system consists of two-part: 1-inch thick polyurethane foam and 1 to 2 coats of acrylic elastomeric coatings (we spoke already about how elastomeric coating is energy-efficient roofing material).

Some of our customers at Mikku and Sons have seen their electricity bill drop by 50% after getting a new Foam Roof. Foam can be installed over pre-existing flat roofs. It is a great system that excels in insulating your home and reflecting the sun. Check out our cool roof systems.

Do’s and Don’t’s

Is it time to replace the roof on your house or commercial building? If you are, there’s some do’s and don’t’s that you’ll want to remember. Having an intact roof that your property can rely on is critical, as it’s the first defense against severe storms.  The following roof replacement tips are essential when making this decision.

If you don’t know your the condition your roof is in, you can look for several different warning signs. Look to see if there are any signs of water damage or spots that are leaking. Are there any spots where it looks like its sagging? Can you detect any outside light shining through in the attic? Are there any dark spots or water trails that show?

If you come to the decision that its time to have your roof replaced,
here are the things you should not do and do during the process.

Things to NOT Do

Things To Do

It Depends on Several Things

How do you know when to repair or replace your roof? When do roof leaks become too expensive?

The lifespan of your roof depends on the materials used when its built. Usually, shingles have a life expectancy of 20-30 years (depending on the quality of the shingles you choose), while a foam roof, properly maintained, can last up to 50 years.

Of course, we have additional factors that come in to play in the Southwest. The heat, and especially the hot sun, are the main reasons for natural aging, and southern exposures usually have the most wear and tear. Wind, hail, bad drainage, tree branches, pollution and weather extremes also contribute to the aging of a roof. Of course, the easiest way to avoid having a roof replaced is to take care of the materials and fix any found damages right away.

10 Signs To Watch For

If you’re questioning whether to repair or replace your roof, here are 10 signs to watch for that might be an indication that it’s time for a roof replacement:

  1. Does the deck look like its sagging?
  2. Are there any dark spots that are noticeable?
  3. Any signs of leaking or water damage inside or under the roof?
  4. Can you see light showing through the roof?
  5. Are any roofing materials (shingles, tiles, shakes, foam, etc.) missing?
  6. Are there any damaged, cracked or torn roofing materials? If you have shingles, look for unusually large amounts of granules in the gutters.
  7. Are the flashing and seals around vents, pipes, chimneys and other penetrations in good condition?
  8. Is the drainage system working the way it should?
  9. Is there any moisture, rot or mold that’s noticeable?
  10. Do the appliances and attic space have proper ventilation?

Compare Expenses

If you answered yes to some of these, then you need to compare the expenses involved. If you figure the amount to repair the roof will be $2,500 and will last five years, when it will need to be repeated. Compare that to the cost of a new roof that will need only routine maintenance and could last up to 30 years. It might make more sense to spend the money now and save a larger amount of money later in future repair expenses.

However, be careful, you need to be aware that putting off a roof replacement can cost you more down the road. Poor maintenance routines can allow moisture to penetrate the membrane and cause damage to your insulations and roof deck. If you need to replace these along with roof materials you will have a much bigger roofing expense to deal with.

Storm Chasers

Roofing scams happen far too frequently, especially after severe storms.  When there’s a lot of damage property owners become impatient with professional roofing contractors get backed up. The most vulnerable are the elderly and handicapped who might not be able to easily assess the damage themselves. Because of this, its important to make sure to get background checks on any roofing contractor you’re dealing with.  Make sure they are legitimate licensed and insured contractors.  It is also important to check out the quality of their past work.

Roofing scams are usually initiated by a someone going door to door offering repair jobs for an unusually low quote. They may say their crew has leftover supplies from another “project” they just completed in the neighborhood, which will let them pass the savings on to the next lucky customer. This “contractor” will usually ask for a cash deposit in advance. They won’t leave bonafide contact information, credible references, and won’t even attempt to produce a business license. The work they do will be poorly completed or left unfinished.  The “roofing contractor” and his crew will leave before the property owner figures out what has happened.  This leaves the property owner with little or absolutely nothing to go on.

How to Avoid Being Taken

Look for Warning Signs

Tips for Avoiding Scammers

Beware of Pushy Contractors

Finally, remember that a scammer will usually want the work to be done immediately since they don’t want to give you any extra time to figure out who and what they are. If the representative insists on starting the project as soon as possible, be sure that you have checked the company out completely before handing over any of your hard-earned money.

Shingle Roof Flexibility

The flexibility of shingle roofing is demonstrated here in our diverse Arizona weather. Most cities in Arizona have warm and dry weather. In the major metro areas of Phoenix and Tucson, summer months bring hot, sweltering days and winter brings crisp cool air. Other areas in North Central and Northern Arizona have a mountainous climate where the summers are mild and sunny and winters have snow and cold winds.  In this article, we will be discussing the pros and cons of shingle roofs.

Here Is A List of Pros and Cons of Shingle Roofs

Pros

  1. Shingle Roofing is Very Versatile – Shingle roofs can be made of asphalt fiberglass, wood, metal, slate, or tile. In the warmer areas where properties have a lot of flat roofs, tile shingles are durable in our Arizona climate. Wood shingles look fantastic on rustic house designs while asphalt fiberglass can be used to suit just about any property design.
  2. Shingle Roofing is Less Expensive – Shingles are one of the least expensive roofing choices. Galvanized metal shingles are inexpensive and extremely durable. Synthetic slate and asphalt fiberglass shingles are more affordable than their original versions.
  3. Easy to Install and Maintain – Shingle roofs don’t require specially trained roofing contractors. Every roofer should know how to install shingle roofs as it’s one of the most popular types of roofing choices throughout the country. Consistent scheduled repairs and maintenance on your shingle roof is critical to help it last a long time and to avoid damage to the interior of your property. But, the investment and repair work needed is manageable.
  4. Fire Resistant – Excluding wood shake shingles, the other types of shingle materials are very fire resistant. Asphalt fiberglass shingles are made to be more fire-resistant than plain felt shingles.
  5. Easy Availability – Most hardware, construction supply and home improvement stores carry several types, shapes, and colors of shingles. Its affordability fueled its popularity with home construction companies, making shingle roofing materials easily available, ready for roofing installation and repair projects and jobs.

Cons

  1. Less Lifespan – Although some shingles – like metal and slate – are durable and strong enough to last 50 years, they can also be more expensive. Asphalt and wood shingles ordinarily last from 15-30 years. Tile shingles can last 30 years or longer, but the underlayment will need to be addressed about every 12-15 years.
  2. Needs Regular Repair and Maintenance – You need to have your roof inspected once or twice a year. It could be more often depending on the intensity of the storm season. Putting off the regular inspections could lead to leaks and other damages that will be much more expensive to fix down the road.
  3. Subject to Discoloring and Deforming – Shingles can bend, fade, scar, and stain due to the weather and the elements, especially during intense monsoon storms.
  4. Susceptible to Moss and Mildew – Improper roof installation, poor roof ventilation, and moisture leaks could result in damaging moss and mildew, particularly on wood and asphalt shingles. Mildew and moss growth not only look bad, they also could lead to the roof deteriorating more quickly. Not to mention the health hazards that could arise for your family if it should take hold inside the property, such as attics and walls.
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