Metal roofs are often thought to be the best option for keeping a house warm, but this is not necessarily the case. While any dark-colored material, including asphalt shingles, ceramic shingles, wood, etc., will absorb heat at approximately the same rate, metal roofs have a low thermal mass, which means they reflect light and heat instead of absorbing them like asphalt shingles. This helps keep your home cooler during the summer months, increasing your home's energy efficiency. The outside of the metal roof itself will cool much faster (once the sun sets) than the current roof.
This is an important factor to consider when deciding whether or not to install a metal roof. We have designed, developed and tested three more products - Heavy Shake, Ironwood Shake and IronStone Slate - and we hope to be able to offer more metal cover options in the future. What most contributes to heat reaching the lower room is the type of construction between the ceiling and the occupied space below. Most metal roofs will be a few degrees hotter than the competition during the day and a few degrees colder at night.
According to a study conducted by the U. S. Department of Energy, in the U. S., the surface of a metal roof will remain within five degrees of the average of an asphalt shingle roof, even during the coldest climates. The color and material of the roof will certainly affect the amount of heat accumulated by the ceiling.
Dark colors will absorb more heat than light colors, regardless of whether your roof is built with asphalt shingles, natural stone, or metal panels. Metal exposed directly to the sun will certainly heat up, but whether it heats up more or less than other roofing materials has to do with color and finish. Just as various finishes influence the heat absorption of metal surfaces, so does the color of the metal. When natural disasters affect your home, you'll want a metal roof there to protect it from the worst damage. Metal roofs are a great option for homeowners looking to improve their home's energy efficiency. In conclusion, metal roofs are not necessarily better at keeping homes warm than other materials.
However, they do have some advantages that make them an attractive option for homeowners looking to improve their home's energy efficiency. They have a low thermal mass which helps keep homes cooler during summer months and they are also very durable and can withstand natural disasters better than other materials.
