Here’s How a New Roof Can Help Lower One’s Energy Bills
Upgrading the roof with new and energy-efficient materials can help you lower your energy consumption, leading to better savings on electricity bills. Durable roofing materials also deflect maximum heat and prevent internal temperatures from soaring in the summer. Further, you can consider switching to stronger roof tiles that make the installation of solar panels easier. Here is a look at how renovating your roof can help you reduce your energy costs:
Better insulation
Insulation is one of the main reasons why you should invest in a decent roof installation carried out using only the best materials. This is not a cheap repair job and can cost you a couple of thousands of dollars for the labor; the cost of materials and construction equipment is not included in this estimate. So, getting better insulation is a major undertaking, but when done properly, your newly insulated roof can actively prevent excess thermal transfer during the summer. This will translate into energy savings as you won’t have to crank up the AC and keep lowering the thermostat settings, both measures resulting in more power consumption. The insulation will also prevent any residual heat from getting trapped inside the house.
Getting the right ventilation
During your initial roof installation, the contractor may have overlooked the consequences of poor ventilation shafts built into the roof, not allowing the air to escape. So, hot air tends to rise up as it is light, and then it accumulates at the base of the roof. With a new roof repair project, you can rectify this mistake and ensure new slats are installed at intervals along the corners of the roof, allowing the air to keep circulating in and out. This is a crucial upgrade, especially if you live in a home with a full attic space, as the trapped air here will increase humidity and inflict severe damage on the columns and pillars holding the entire roof structure.
Replacing old shingles
When you install a new roof, a crucial and obvious step is to replace the extremely old shingles. Harsh weather and constant exposure to heat can make the toughest of materials crack, exposing the roofing or insulation underneath. Now, you can choose from various shingles made from asphalt, metal, wood, wood shake, clay tiles, slate tiles, concrete, composite plastic, and rubber. You can even order special solar shingles that serve the dual purpose of protecting the roof and generating electricity from an unlimited supply of sunlight during the day. Essentially, any type of material works as long as the contractor overlays the shingles to deflect heat and harsh weather.
Adding support for solar panel installation
A damaged roof cannot take on the weight of a complete solar panel array if you decide to go green. These panels need proper support and are usually hammered into the roof beams and pylons. Weak beams and broken roof support increase the risk of these tiles sagging under excess pressure. So, installing a stronger roof allows you to switch to solar power, paving the way for better energy savings. Naturally, this initial cost will be quickly covered in the future with lower energy consumption and reduced electricity bills, making the transition to solar power a great investment. Further, even smaller solar panels generate enough electricity to run most of your home and kitchen appliances simultaneously.
Changing the color of shingles
Did you know that the color of the shingles plays a crucial role in bringing down your home maintenance and energy costs? As darker materials absorb more heat compared with light-colored materials, using black or dark shades of brown to match the exterior home design can trap more heat. During a roof repair job, you can ask the contractors to swap the darker shingles for a lighter shade and overlap them more closely to avoid trapping heat. This layout will deflect most of the heat and regulate the internal temperature evenly.
Adding a radiant barrier
Another great way to achieve reduced energy consumption by having your roof renovated is getting an additional radiant barrier. These are special materials made using acrylic and other heat-reflective chemicals applied underneath the roof and over the insulation. This additional coating further deflects any residual heat that gets trapped underneath the shingles. Experts suggest using a radiant barrier for homes with attics as that is the one place that traps the most heat due to poor ventilation or insulation. Any additional layers, in fact, will encourage more energy savings as your cooling costs are significantly lowered.
Estimated costs
The cost of these energy-saving roof repairs will vary based on the type of shingles you install. Asphalt roofing is one of the cheapest options and offers some decent energy-saving opportunities at anywhere between $1.5 and $5.5 per square foot. Asphalt tiles also boast a decent shelf life of up to 50 years or more. Premium tile roofing will cost you approximately $4 to $16 per square foot, while metal shingles can cost anywhere between $5 to $14 per square foot. Metal and tile shingles are the most durable options, with an estimated shelf life of 50 to 80 years, depending on the type of installation. Solar shingles solar roof tiles are the most premium roofing materials as they come with highly sensitive photovoltaic cells that generate electricity. These tiles will cost you at least $21 to $25 per square foot. However, this can help you generate sufficient electricity from the inbuilt solar panels to power your home, ultimately saving you money in the long run. An alternative to solar panels, these shingles promise a high return on your investment and can last for up to 30 years while maintaining peak energy output.
