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Using Your Roof to Cool Your Home

During a Texas summer, attic temperatures can skyrocket as high as 120 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. The sun can also heat up your entire house as it is beating down, with heat coming through the windows and leaking in from the attic. Your first instinct might be to crank up the air conditioning, but did you know that your roof can actually be an amazing resource when it comes to keeping home temperatures enjoyable?

How Your Roof Can Keep Home Temperatures Cool

Properly ventilate the attic, if necessary.

Attic ventilation is used as protection from excess moisture and extreme temperatures for your roof’s shingles, sheathing, and insulation. If improperly ventilated, your attic could be trapping heat and making your house warm up.

Not only does poor attic ventilation raise inside temperatures (and your energy bills), but it can also destroy your roof shingles. Make sure your vents aren’t blocked by dirt, rust, or attic insulation. You’d be surprised how many roofs are insufficiently ventilated, even though the Federal Housing Administration recommends 1 square foot of ventilation for every 300 square feet of attic area. If you think your roof is in need of a new ventilation system, call a professional roofer for an inspection.

Install lighter colored shingles.

You know how you’re advised against wearing dark colors in the summer sun because you’ll get hot quicker? The same goes for your roof. Dark roofs absorb more heat, which means your house will, too. In cold climates this would be positive, but in central Texas it can make for a miserable summer. Light shingles reflect sunlight and control attic temperatures so your house stays comfortable. Don’t underestimate the potential of making the switch: Your roof color can affect the attic temperature by a full 20 to 40 degrees!

Consider installing energy-efficient roof shingles.

While they are similar to traditional shingles, solar shingles go one step further and create a barrier that protects the roof from outside elements, including the sun’s heat. It’s been estimated that solar shingles could reduce heat reaching the rooftop by as much as 38 percent while cooling the building by an additional 5 degrees on average. In addition to experiencing cooler temperatures, you can enjoy lower electricity bills since you’ll be using the sun’s rays to power your home.

If you’re in the market for a high-quality roof that will help you stay cool throughout the summer, look no further. Call Ja-Mar Roofing & Sheet Metal today at 512-441-8437 for all your Central Texas roofing solutions.