If your house is over 50 years old, it probably wasn’t built with an eye toward energy efficiency. Nowadays, energy efficiency is an important aspect for most home builders and homeowners. Aside from saving you money, making your home more energy-efficient offers a lot of good things to the world around you. It prevents you from overusing your electrical systems and helps lessen your overall carbon footprint. It also regulates temperature in your spaces, making your interior cozier, which is crucial during this winter season and the upcoming spring.
As one of the largest parts of your home, your roofing system works to provide superior weather protection — but it can actually do so much more. With the right considerations, a new roof can also help keep your energy costs to a minimum. But how exactly does it make this possible? International Construction Services, Inc., the leading local contractor for metal roof installation, shares how getting rid of a worn-out roof and replacing it with a new one can improve your home’s energy efficiency levels.
- Insulation – Roof replacement often comes with an insulation upgrade in your attic. Improving the attic insulation offers an easy way to not only extend the life of your new roof, but also increase its energy efficiency. After all, the insulation serves as a thermal barrier that minimizes heat transfer between your attic and the lower parts of your home. Since the heating and cooling energy from your living spaces doesn’t escape to the attic, your HVAC units won’t need to work overtime just to regulate your interior temperature, saving you utility costs in the long run.
- Ventilation – New roofs have built-in vents that allow them to get enough air and expel unwanted heat. If the roof has no proper ventilation, warm air can build up in the attic and cause the whole structure to slowly heat up like an oven over time. These issues may eventually put a lot of strain on your home’s cooling system and make it more expensive to run. During a new roof installation, it’s important to make sure your roof is properly ventilated will help your home consume less energy and less air conditioning.
- Shingle Color – The color of the shingles also plays a crucial role in a roof’s energy efficiency. Dark roofs are usually hotter than light-colored roofs because heat tends to get trapped in their surface, much like when you wear a dark shirt under the sun. The trapped heat is then transferred to the roof deck, attic, and eventually, your interior spaces. For the best results, experts recommend installing energy-efficient shingles in colors capable of reflecting solar energy. Light-colored shingles, in particular, help make roofs more energy-efficient — reflecting heat, making your rooms comfortable, and reducing your energy bills. They also remain cooler and last longer.
Don’t let your hard-earned money escape through an old, inefficient roof. Instead, let the leading local roof replacement contractor, International Construction Services, Inc., replace it with a modern, energy-efficient system. Ready to get started? Reach out to us by calling (803) 699-5106 or by filling out our contact form. We’ll be glad to offer you a FREE project estimate.