Options and benefits of sustainable roofing

The impact that roofs have on energy can be significant. In winter, insufficient or damaged roof insulation allows heat to readily escape. In summer, heat gained through the roof increases not only the cooling load, but also the peak cooling load and peak electrical demand.

A flat or low-slope roof gives maximum exposure to the sun’s rays when the building’s cooling loads and costs are the highest. Most flat and low-slope roof materials are dark, absorbing solar energy and the infrared portion of sunlight. Roof temperatures from noon to late afternoon are often 60-100F higher than the ambient temperature. While some heat is radiated back to the atmosphere, much is conducted to the conditioned space below.

Sustainable Roofing Principles
The concept of sustainability is changing how facility executives look at roofing. Roofs designed with sustainability in mind go beyond cost considerations, incorporating energy efficiency, the impact that the roof will have on the environment, and maintenance and renewal requirements over the life of the building.

Energy savings are one of the most attractive features of sustainable roofing. By limiting the heat loss from the building during the heating season and by reducing the heat gain during the air-conditioning season, facility executives can reduce energy use and the environmental impact from energy use.

The roof has another impact on the environment: waste products. All roofs have a finite service life and at the end of their service life. They have to be removed, replaced, recovered or renewed. A sustainable approach minimizes the waste produced from the roof over the life of the building by minimizing the number of times that the entire roof must be fully removed from the building. Instead of requiring removal and replacement, the roof is built from materials that can be recoated or renewed.

Reflective Roof Surfaces
One of the most cost-effective steps to improve the energy efficiency of the roof is to apply a reflective coating like those from Conklin to the roof surface. An uncoated, black roof absorbs 70-80% of solar energy. When a white or light-colored coating is applied, the solar absorption rate decreases to 20-30%. Surface temperatures will be only 15-20F higher than the ambient temperature, far less than the 60-100F temperature rise found with uncoated roofs.

On average, reflective coatings reduce heat gain through the roof by 50% for buildings in warm climates. Because most air conditioning systems are electrically driven, the reduction in cooling load cuts demand for electricity when the building is setting its peak use; peak reduction is typically 10-15%.

Reflective coatings do not boost winter heating costs significantly.The heat loss through the roof small relative to the heat gain. For example, when it is 30F outside and 70F inside, the temperature differential is only 40 degrees — probably less because the sun will heat up even a reflective surface somewhat. During summer, the temperature differential is 70F or more. The cost of air conditioning energy is also higher than the cost of heating energy. Finally, in winter, flat roofs in cold climates may well be covered with snow, which reflects solar energy.

Reflective roof coatings can also extend roof life. Ultraviolet light from the sun breaks down roofing materials, causing them to weaken or become brittle. Reflective roof coatings shield roofing materials from ultraviolet light. High surface temperatures accelerate the breakdown of roofing materials by increasing the rate at which chemical reactions take place, reactions that weaken materials or reduce their flexibility.

Uncoated roofs are also subjected to wide temperature swings during the day. Reflective coatings greatly decrease the thermal stress generated by temperature swings, which can lead to early component failures.

Reflective roofs also help to reduce urban heat islands, which occur when a concentration of dark surfaces (e.g., roofs and asphalt pavement) absorb enough solar radiation to elevate the surrounding temperature by several degrees. These higher local temperatures increase cooling loads and energy use.

Reflective coatings must be matched to the type of roof installed, as not all coatings are compatible with all roofing materials. While coatings are durable, they do wear and their reflectivity decreases with age. Most must be reapplied every 5-10 years to maintain reflectivity and protective properties.

When considering reflective coatings, look for one that carries the Energy Star® label. These products have been certified to reflect at least 65% of the solar radiation that strikes the roof, without reducing the quality or the performance of the roof. Some products that carry the certification have reflectivities as high as 85%.

NOTE: Roof insulation and green roofs are other forms of sustainable roofing systems, which we will discuss in future blog posts.


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Roof coatings provide a faster Return on Investment (ROI)

Roof coatings like those from Conklin contribute to the bottom-line by producing a Return on Investment (ROI) in just a few years.

A cool roofing installer can apply roof coatings without delay and doesn't need to tear-off your existing roof system. Coatings extend the life of the roof for most buildings and roof systems - regardless of age or the amount of insulation already in place.

Even on a well-insulated roofing system, coatings can extend the roof performance life and provide additional energy savings. A roof coating is complementary to insulation, ultimately lowering roof temperatures and extending the life.

Now is the time look at roof coatings in a new light. They can create the immediate savings you are searching for, and they can contribute to a more energy-efficient, sustainable nation and future economic prosperity.


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Cooling the Planet with Cool Roofs

Cool roofs (like those from Conklin) and other reflective surfaces could help mitigate global warming by physically cooling the planet. Increasing the reflectivity of roofs and pavements in all North American cities with populations greater than 1 million would achieve a one-time offset of 57 gigatons of carbon dioxide emissions — double the worldwide carbon dioxide emissions total of 2006.

"Cool roofs are one of the quickest and lowest cost ways we can reduce our global carbon emissions and begin the hard work of slowing climate change," says U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu.

The advantage of reflective surfaces as a method of physically cooling the planet is that it's actually a double-barreled attack. By reducing the temperature in urban areas, less air conditioning energy is used, and therefore fewer carbon dioxide emissions are produced. In addition, because cool surfaces reflect the sun's energy back to space, the actual temperature of the planet is lowered.

A Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory study found that raising the Earth's average reflectance by 0.3% would result in an average temperature decrease of 0.01 degrees Celsius. That may sound like a modest temperature change, but it's also a relatively modest reflectance change. And, as Andre O. Desjarlais says, "every little bit helps."

The Cool Roofs Roadmap lays out plans to work with India and China on research to try to determine how cool surfaces can not only cool the planet, but also reduce pollution.

"If we do the research, and if the research shows what we suspect in terms of urban heat island mitigation and global cooling, policy can be based on this research," says P. Marc LaFrance.

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Cool Roofs are Good for the Environment

Energy savings are not the only reason to opt for a cool roof like those offered by Conklin. Researchers who pioneered the technology in the 1970's were motivated primarily not by the cost savings that cool roofs bring for building owners, but by the significant environmental benefits they offer for cities that widely use them.

Art Rosenfeld (Commissioner of the California Energy Commission) pioneered the study of urban heat islands — a phenomenon in which the air temperature in and around urban areas is raised by 6 to 8 degrees Fahrenheit primarily as a result of the prevalence of heat-retaining surfaces like dark roofs and asphalt streets. Because of their high emissivity and their ability to maintain low surface temperature, cool roofs have a well-documented ability to combat the urban heat island effect.

Urban heat islands are associated with increased pollution and cooling costs, negative health effects, and even decreased workplace productivity because of the impact of poor air quality. “Ozone — call it smog — is extremely temperature dependent,” says Rosenfeld. “In Los Angeles, when the average daily temperature is 72 or below, there is ozone in the air but there are no smog episodes. When it goes up to 92 degrees, you have 100 percent likelihood of smog episodes. When you have an urban heat island, you are artificially increasing that temperature through manmade means, and the negative results for the environment and for public health are significant.”

While the urban heat island effect is most severe in warm climates, it is not just building owners in Los Angeles, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Albuquerque, Houston, and Dallas who should be concerned about it.

“Cities in the north as well as in the south of the country are affected by this phenomenon,” says Rosenfeld. “Believe it or not, the city of Toronto is an urban heat island.”

The environmental benefits of cool roofs are prompting municipal and state agencies across the nation to consider mandating their use as a matter of policy. California blazed the trail of incorporating cool roofs into building code. Following a 1999 analysis that revealed the potential energy savings afforded by cool roofs, Title 24 introduced credits for facilities that opted for cool roofs. Starting in October 2005, California began requiring the use of cool roofs in certain applications. Cities as far north as Chicago have since followed suit.

To learn more about the environmental and other benefits of cool roofing, ask a professional roofing contractor in your area who is an expert in cool roofing.

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Cool Roofing Not Specific to a Single System

Ask any expert to define "cool roof", and his or her explanation will likely include the words “reflectivity” and “emissivity.”

What is a Cool Roof?

Any roof that can boast strong performance in those two areas (the ability to reflect sunlight off a facility’s rooftop while minimizing roof temperature) is a good candidate for the designation of "cool roof".

A cool roof is any roofing system that can deliver high solar reflectance (the ability to reflect the visible, infrared and ultraviolet wavelengths of the sun, reducing heat transfer to the building) and high thermal emittance (the ability to radiate absorbed, or non-reflected solar energy), helping to improve the energy efficiency of the building and mitigating the urban heat island effect.  Most cool roofs are white or other light colors.

The term cool roof can also refer to a geo engineering technique to address global warming through solar radiation management, provided that the materials used not only reflect solar energy, but also emit infra-red radiation (thereby cooling the planet).

Cool Roof Options

The sky is the limit when it comes to choices of systems that qualify as a cool roof - the idea that opting for a "cool roof" limits you to a specific type of product is a common misunderstanding. You can get a cool roof in almost any material you might be considering. For example, Conklin offers cool roofing solutions for fabric reinforced, metal, foam, EPDM, and single-ply systems.

For more information on cool roofing options, please contact a professional roofing contractor in your area that specializes in cool roofing.

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Cool Roofs are Affordable and Long-Lasting

The initial cost of a cool roof varies with the type of product specified. For a membrane that is naturally light-colored such as TPO or PVC, there would be no additional cost. But if a membrane is added to make a dark-colored roof reflective, the cost would be higher because it would need to be coated with a reflective roof coating like the ones from Conklin. You may also be eligible to take advantage of one of the rebate or incentive programs that are in place in some areas to encourage the use of cool roofs.

There is a lot of support from utility companies for the increased use of cool roofs, because they are an effective way to decrease peak demand. Offering incentives is a lot cheaper for the utility companies than building a new plant to accommodate everyone’s peak usage.

Emerging evidence points to the possibility that cool roofs actually last longer than standard roofs. Because a cool roof doesn’t heat up as much, it doesn’t go through as much expansion and contraction, which means less wear and tear. RoofPal has data to support the existance of thermal shock, which is caused by rapid and ranging temperatures of the roof surface. Cool roofs do not experience nearly as much thermal shock, which could lead to a 20 percent longer roof life - another savings benefit.

If a roof is well insulated, the effect of a cool roof on energy consumption is reduced because heat from the roof does not penetrate the facility as easily. Insulation does not affect thermal shock or roof life though. There is a “winter penalty” that results when a cool roof reflects solar heat that could reduce heating costs by warming a home or building during winter months, but experts say this penalty is small — perhaps a difference of only about 5 percent.

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Bill Clinton, Roof Coatings and Turning the World Off for a Year

This was a very hot summer, but did you know that many Americans unknowingly contributed to those soaring temperatures because of the black tar roofing systems they had installed which absorbs and traps an enormous amount of heat during the summer months. But there is an easy fix to the black roofs problem: paint the black roofs white with reflective coatings like those from Conklin.

Painting black tar roofs with a white solar-reflective coating is a low cost, quick and tangible way to reduce the risk of power grid ‘brown-outs’, save millions of dollars in energy costs and curb climate change. The statistics are as simple as they are staggering: a roof covered with solar-reflective white paint reflects up to 90% of sunlight as opposed to the 20% reflected by a traditional black roof. On a 90°F day, a black roof can be up to 180°F. That heat has a major impact on interior building temperature, potentially heating your room to between 115 – 125°F. A white roof stays a cool 100°F. Plus the inside of the building stays cooler than the air outdoors, around 80°F in this example, reducing cooling costs. RoofPal conducts cool roofing studies and has data available that backs this up upon request.

White roofs also reduce the “urban heat island” effect in which temperatures rise in dense urban areas because of the proliferation of heat-radiating, black tar surfaces. For example, the Urban Heat Island effect causes New York City to be about 5 degrees warmer than surrounding suburbs and accounts for 5 to 10 percent of summer electricity use.

In New York City alone, 12% of all surfaces are rooftops. It’s estimated that implementing a white roof program in 11 metropolitan cities could save the United States 7 gigawatts in energy usage. That’s the equivalent of turning off 14 power plants, and a cost savings of $750 million per year.

Recently, former President Bill Clinton wrote in Newsweek that “Every black roof in New York should be white; every roof in Chicago should be white; every roof in Little Rock should be white. Every flat tar-surface roof anywhere! In most of these places you could recover the cost of the paint and the labor in a week.” The former president regularly touts the white roofs as one of those win-win scenarios that could also help create jobs and stimulate the economy.

The folks at White Roof Project agree. Last year, a progressive group of young people got together to found the project and get it going at the grassroots level. When 150 volunteers showed up to coat the historic Bowery Mission in New York City (their first project) it was a watershed moment. Volunteers saw that all it takes is a paint roller, some solar-reflective white coating and a little hard work to start curbing climate change. Since then they’ve been educating and activating folks around the white roof movement that Bill Clinton has called on someone to build. This year, White Roof Project will triple the amount of roofing it coated last year and is also launching a campaign to educate more homeowners and organizations about the benefits of white rooftops.

If we were to coat 5% of rooftops per year worldwide, we would be finished by 2032. This would save the U.S. 24 billion metric tons in CO2. That happens to be exactly how much the world as a whole emitted in 2010. So in essence, that would be like turning the world off for an entire year — while also saving some money on the energy bills while doing it.

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Economic Stimulus? Lighter Roofs Could Enable $1B Annual Savings and Produce More Jobs

Similar to how ice and snow reflects UV rays instead of absorbing the heat like oceans do, cities are now giving white roofs a second look as a way to cool cities and fight climate change. The Los Angeles Times reported that the Climate Change Research Conference advised that if buildings and road surfaces in 100 of the largest cities in the U.S. were covered with lighter and heat-reflective surfaces similar to those from Conklin the savings could be massive, as roofs account for 25% and pavement accounts for 35% of surface area in cities.

Some states are more progressive than others. California, for example, has required white roofs on commercial buildings since 2005, and since 2009 that all new and retrofitted residential and commercial buildings with both flat and sloped roofs have to install heat-reflecting roofing. Painting flat roofs white is fairly easy, but sloped roofs are more difficult which is why they will be allowed to just install "lighter" roof surfaces. Lighter or metal roofs also help to lower electricity costs by reducing cooling needs.

Authors of a recent study published in the journal Climatic Change say that cooling a city will also reduce smog and offset carbon emissions. Lighter roofs themselves do not directly emit fewer emissions, but they do directly affect other things which emit carbon like the energy needed to cool a building or home under that dark roof.

Geo-engineering (meaning "the artificial manipulation of the environments of the Earth as a means of counteracting global warming) could enable net energy savings of more than $1,000,000,000 in the United States each and every year. And choosing to install these coatings will mean more jobs by the professional roofing contractors who employ the skilled installation technicians.

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Roof Coatings Protect and Reflect

There never seems to be enough money for needed roof improvements and maintenance despite the fact that a comprehensive maintenance program is perhaps the best way to protect a roof. When it comes to adequate maintenance, roofing tends to be one of the most overlooked areas because it is out of sight and out of mind. Unless there are water spots on the ceiling tiles or water dropping on somone's head, roofs just go unnoticed.

That should not be the case. More than any other part of a building, the roof protects an organization’s assets. And if the capital budget needs to be protected, roof coatings can help extend the life of a roof, allowing building owners and facility managers to defer the capital costs of re-roofing (and the expensive business disruption re-roofing can cause).

Even for roofs with years of service life remaining, coatings can help protect the original roof from further ultraviolet (UV) and infrared heat degradation. The heat shock that accompanies massiv swings in temperatures has a debilitating effect on watertight seals, flashings, rubber roofing and asphalt. Coatings that reflect the sun’s UV rays and infrared radiation reduce absorbed heat and prolong roof life.

Coatings that reflect heat can also help protect against the other kind of shock — opening the monthly energy bill. Particularly for flat- or low-sloped buildings with air-conditioning ducts that run through the plenum, roof coatings can substantially reduce summer cooling costs (even more true if the plenum space is uninsulated). Cool roofing studies conducted by RoofPal.com demonstrate that cool roofs (those that reflect the sun’s rays) can reduce energy costs for large buildings with moderate insulation by 10-20%.

To use roof coatings successfully, it is critical that building owners and facility managers understand the situations best suited for coating applications. Two situations are common reasons to apply a roof coating:

1. To maximize roof life and minimize energy bills with a roof that reflects harmful ultraviolet light and infrared rays.
2. To make a mid-life roof watertight and maintainable.

Other, less common situations might warrant the use of coatings as well:

• Reflective coatings applied when the roof was installed require periodic re-coating to restore the reflective properties and prolong the life of the roof.
• Coatings also can serve cosmetic purposes. For facilities with roofs exposed to common view beneath a highway overpass, or next to high-rise structures, for example — coatings can improve roof aesthetics.
• Certain coatings also can retard flame spread. These UL-listed coatings are typically specified with the roof installation, though they can be applied later.

Roof coatings aren't always the answer

For all they are capable of, coatings should not be viewed as a cure-all for roof issues. If the roof is not structurally sound, it has to be replaced. You can not just coat a roof and expect miracles.

Coatings are versatile, but they are not appropriate in every instance. In some cases, roofs are significantly deteriorated and the only viable and cost-effective option is a comprehensive tear-off and re-roof.

Do not think of a coating as something that will solve all your roofing problems. If you have a roof leak, you need to fix it before you apply a coating. A coating will probably stop the leak, but that fix won’t last as long as if you fix the leak and then apply the coating.

Overall, roof coatings are a great option in the right situation. The best advice is to contact a professional roofing contractor who specializes in roof coatings to find out if your roof is a candidate.

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A Conklin white roof is the smartest way to stay in the black

Recoup your costs

A great return on investment is another important reason to choose Conklin’s Single-Ply Coating System. Many satisfied customers discover that a Conklin roof pays for itself during the warranty period in lower air conditioning costs. Federal tax rebates, tax credits and deductions may also offset your investment. In many cases, the government considers recoating a procedure that can be deducted as a maintenance cost. Check with your local utility company, tax advisor, and www.energystar.gov for additional details.

Look forward to years of trouble-free protection, low maintenance

Conklin Roofing Systems provide leak-free protection and exceptional energy savings for years, often exceeding the warranty period. They maintain maximum reflectivity and energy savings because their surfaces are resistant to dirt and discoloration. Annual or bi-annual cleaning is all that’s needed to keep them white.

Eliminate future roof tear-offs

Years from now, when it’s time to renew the superior protection of your Conklin roof, a simple recoat will do the job. In most cases, multiple recoats can be done for the entire life of your roof, saving you the expense of a new roof. With your recoat, our material warranty may also be extended several years. Your Conklin Roofing Contractor will inspect your roof and advise you of the best way to restore the protective envelope of your building.

Enjoy peace of mind with our Warranty Program

Conklin’s optional warranty program includes a non-pro-rated material warranty.

Learn more about Conklin Roofing Systems by contacting a Conklin Contractor for a roof inspection and a quote.

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Roofing: Recover or Replace? (Part 4 - Recovering Roofs)

Recovering Roofs
The installation of a new roofing system over an existing roof (if viable) is an alternative approach to roof replacement. The major advantage to this approach known as recovering is the cost savings associated with not having to remove and dispose of the existing roof membrane. This can be acheived with a variety of materials including cool roof coatings like those from Conklin. Another advantage is the reduction of materials sent to landfills because labor, disposal and trucking costs are high and are climbing faster than material costs.

There is also an opportunity to improve the thermal performance of the roof system because most recovers include the installation of a thin section of insulation or other material to separate the new roof membrane from the existing roof membrane. A final advantage that recover has over replacement is that the existing membrane stays in place, protecting the interior from water damage while the new roof is being installed.

As with repairs, an issue that must be addressed prior to any recover is determining whether moisture is present under the existing system. Trapping water within an existing roof assembly is a problem that often occurs with improperly executed recover projects.

If moisture is present under the existing system, additional investigation is warranted. If the subsurface moisture is extensive — 30 to 35 percent or more of the entire roof area — it may be more practical and cost effective to remove the entire roof system and replace it rather than attempting a recover.

There are many devices and methods used to detect and quantify subsurface moisture. These include nuclear backscatter, infrared imaging and capacitance meters. There are advantages and disadvantages of each system, and these should be explored.

Another factor influencing whether or not a recover project is feasible is establishing how many roof systems or layers are currently in place, which requires making inspection openings. Most modern building codes allow a maximum of two non-ballasted roof systems on a structure, mostly due to the weight associated with the roofing materials. Other code-related issues are wind up-lift and fire resistance, which the building’s insurance carrier may also influence through specific requirements. The length of the warranty required for the new roof also needs to be considered, because many roofing manufacturers will limit the duration for the warranty available on recover projects.

Tomorrow we wrap-up this series with a discussion on replacing roofs. Please check back and feel free to leave us a comment.

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Cool Roofing at The Ohio State University?

The sheer size and power of The Ohio State University is certainly something to brag about. However, one thing people are not bragging about is the amount of money spent on the energy used to maintain temperatures throughout campus buildings.
As everyone scrambles to find ways to reach carbon neutrality, they may be forgetting to simply look up. By using the U.S. Department of Energy Roof Calculator, converting the University’s roofing to “cool roofing” would not only save $60,000 annually, but also over 1.5 million pounds of carbon each year.

What exactly is cool roofing? It is a type of roofing that increases the amount of sunlight reflected, allowing the roof and building to stay cooler. It comes in various colors but the most iconic, popular and effective is white.

Costing the same or less as normal roofing and having similar life spans, there is no reason not to use this roofing technology. By reflecting more sunlight, the campus roofing saves money, energy and carbon by lowering air conditioning bills.

The University could install a cool roofing system like those from Conklin on Kottman Hall (which desperately needs a new roof) as a trial run and case study. Once the savings are realized, the University could then make a commitment to use cool roofing when replacing future roofs. There is no better place on campus to be a leader in sustainability than Kottman Hall, as it is the home of the School of Environment and Natural Resources.

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Coatings as Heat Control

Roof coatings like those from Conklin have become a commonly used material to reduce heat exposure and the subsequent hardening of the vital asphalt waterproofing component of built-up roof systems. The two most commonly used types of roof coatings are aluminum and acrylic elastomers.

The ideal time to use coatings is at installation. Application at this point will immediately retard the aging process and significantly extend roof life. But managers also can specify coatings for preventive maintenance purposes, applying them on previously installed roofs to extend performance life. The important point here is understanding that no coating will make a bad roof good again.

Generally, roofs more than 15 years old that have not been maintained properly with coatings are not good candidates for preventive maintenance-type coatings. At some point, a roof system is so weathered or brittle that it is not cost-effective to apply a coating. Managers might want to schedule a technician to perform a core analysis of the roof membrane to determine the suitability of the roof’s condition to accept coatings.

Base flashings are an ideal place to use coatings. About 90 percent of all roof leaks occur at flashings, and they tend to degrade even faster then the roof’s field. This degradation occurs because the vertical surface of the flashing receives intensive ultraviolet exposure, and the flashing membrane tends to be made of fewer materials than the roof field, due to weight considerations related to the walls.

Aluminum coatings help reflect the sun’s rays. In effect, they keep the roof’s surface cooler and slow down the hardening of the asphalt. One disadvantage of aluminum coatings is that the aluminum particles that produce its reflectivity eventually break down and erode, producing a dulling action of the aluminum, thus reducing the coating’s reflectivity.

Also, the low elasticity nature of aluminum coatings does not prevent alligatoring of the coating, along with the alligatoring of the asphalt. Because of this dulling action, the roof needs to be recoated periodically — every two to four years — to revitalize the initial reflectivity properties.

Initially, an aluminum coating might be less expensive than an elastomeric coating, but it needs to be reapplied more often than the elastomeric product, so it might end up costing more in the long run.

Acrylic elastomeric coatings are single-component co-polymers or tar-polymers of acrylic monomers. Most are water-based — acrylic latex — coatings, which makes them easier to apply and clean up. Manufacturers can tint these coatings to produce various colors, but the most commonly used color is white because of its superior cooling effect on the roof.

Elastomeric coatings do not experience the particle breakdown that aluminum coatings do. As a result, they maintain their reflectivity and emissivity as long as they are on the roof. They do degrade over time and lose thickness, so managers might need to schedule recoating every 7-10 years.

Finally, managers should carefully and thoroughly scrutinize the manufacturer’s reputation prior to using their coatings. And any coatings used should be compatible with and accepted by the roofing membrane manufacturer to which it is being applied.

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Finding The ‘Right’ Roof Coating

When specifying a roof coating like those from Conklin to protect a roof membrane, you should how the coating measures up to a series of criteria. The coating:

• must be compatible with the roofing materials to which it is applied
• 

  should be reflective and non-heat absorbing
• should be fire-resistant and meet code requirements
• should maintain its properties for at least five years without the need for re-coating
• should have elastomeric properties to withstand normal roof movement
• should be able to withstand normal foot traffic
• should be able to resist water entry

Also, the existing roof must have adequate slope to prevent prolonged ponding on the coating. Perhaps most importantly, you should make sure that your goal in applying the roof coating is not to try making a bad roof good.

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How long should my roof last?

One of the most commonly asked questions in the roofing industry is “How long should the roof last?”

Although roofs fail prematurely due to unexpected external forces like including earthquakes, hail, hurricanes, tornados, and foot-traffic abuse, a primary reason for premature failure is regular and prolonged exposure to sun and wind.

All exterior-grade construction materials need to provide a means of fighting off sun and wind’s oxidizing effects, which result in aging. Roofing materials are in a league of their own in this regard, especially because their location makes them especially vulnerable. The roof is fully exposed to the sun’s rays and is elevated enough to allow wind to blow across it freely.

Exterior materials subjected to the deteriorating effects of aging and weather tend to diminish in performance. When materials are subjected to the roofing environment, deterioration from exposure and biological effects accelerates. The pressure on roofing materials to react or degrade is several times that of materials on the interior of the building.

In a growing number of institutional and commercial facilities, maintenance and engineering managers are specifying roof coatings like those from Conklin to protect roofing systems and, in turn, a facility’s interior operations and components. Many managers also are more closely investigating the role light-colored and reflective coatings play in holding down buildings’ cooling loads.

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Cool Roofing, UPS and Energy Secretary Steven Chu

If you’re not friends with Steven Chu on Facebook, you missed the Energy Secretary’s recent post about a white-topped UPS truck spotted in the nation’s capital. “An encouraging sight drove past my office last week—a UPS delivery truck sporting a white roof,” Chu wrote. “If UPS can set aside its trademark brown color scheme for the sake of a cooler cargo area, hopefully more businesses and consumers will begin to ask themselves: ‘What can white roofs do for you?’”

The answer to that question is that a white, or "cool" roof could potentially lower the surface temperature of your roof by up to 100°F. That's according to the California Energy Commission, which estimates that cool roofs can trim cooling costs by 20 percent on average in the state.

Cool roofs work by reflecting sunlight. Painting the roof white is one approach. Installing light-toned asphalt shingles or clay tiles with a reflective coating like those from Conklin can also redirect the sun’s energy. But cool roofs aren’t for everyone. Those in hot, sunny climate where air conditioning is used a lot will reap the biggest benefits. In other regions, a cool roof could end up increasing heating costs in the winter, so you should use the Department of Energy’s cool-roof calculator to see how much energy you’ll save.

Please also see the June 2011 consumerreports.org article by Daniel DiClerico titled "Secretary Chu makes a friendly plea for cool roofs"

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Tired of labor problems and low profit margins? Make more $$ spraying coatings with Conklin Roofing Systems! Patton Services | (309) 303-3128 | rpatton55@comcast.net | http://www.whiteroofingsystems.com

Sustainable Roofing Options and Benefits

The impact that roofs have on energy is often overlooked, the impact of which can be significant. In winter, insufficient or damaged roof insulation allows heat to readily escape. In summer, heat gained through the roof increases not only the cooling load, but also the peak cooling load and — for buildings where the primary cooling system is electrically driven — the peak electrical demand. A flat or low-slope roof gives maximum exposure to the sun’s rays when the building’s cooling loads and costs are the highest.

Most flat and low-slope roof materials are black. These materials readily absorb solar energy, including the infrared portion of sunlight. Roof temperatures from noon to late afternoon are often 60 to 100 F higher than the ambient temperature. While some heat is radiated back to the atmosphere, much is conducted to the conditioned space below.


The impact the roof has on energy use depends on the climate, the orientation of the roof, the thickness and quality of insulation, the reflectivity of the roof’s surface, and how well the roof has been maintained.


Good roof maintenance should be a given. Leaks can allow water to penetrate the surface and saturate the insulation, destroying its thermal resistance. Wet insulation is almost the equivalent of no insulation. Wet insulation also accelerates the deterioration of other roofing components. It is essential for both energy efficiency and the integrity of the roof that roofs be properly maintained.


Sustainable Principles
Just as the growing use of life-cycle costing has changed how building system and component options are evaluated, the concept of sustainability is changing how facility executives look at roofing. Roofs designed with sustainability in mind go beyond first cost considerations and incorporate three other key factors: energy efficiency, the impact that the roof will have on the environment, and maintenance and renewal requirements over the life of the building.


One of the most attractive features of a sustainable approach is energy savings. By limiting the heat loss from the building during the heating season and by reducing the heat gain during the air-conditioning season, facility executives can reduce energy use and the environmental impact from energy use. Although a sustainable roof is more expensive than conventional roofs, energy savings recover those costs in a relatively short time, typically three to five years.


In addition to energy, the roof has another impact on the environment: waste products. All roofs have a finite service life. At the end of their service life, they have to be removed, replaced, recovered or renewed. A sustainable approach minimizes the waste produced from the roof over the life of the building by minimizing the number of times that the entire roof must be fully removed from the building. Instead of requiring removal and replacement, the roof is built from materials that can be recoated or renewed.


Reflective Surfaces
One of the most cost-effective steps to improve the energy efficiency of the roof is to apply a reflective coating like those from Conklin to the roof’s surface. An uncoated, black roof absorbs between 70 and 80 percent of the solar energy that strikes it. When a white or light-colored coating is applied, the solar absorption rate decreases to 20 to 30 percent. Surface temperatures will be only 15 to 20 F higher than the ambient temperature, far less than the 60 to 100 F temperature rise found with uncoated roofs.

On average, reflective coatings reduce heat gain through the roof by 50 percent for buildings in warm climates. Because most air conditioning systems are electrically driven, the reduction in cooling load cuts demand for electricity when the building is setting its peak use; peak reduction is typically between 10 and 15 percent.


Moreover, reflective coatings don’t boost winter heating costs significantly. One reason is that the heat loss through the roof is often small relative to the heat gain. For example, when it is 30 F outside and 70 F inside, the temperature differential is only 40 degrees — probably less because the sun will heat up even a reflective surface somewhat. During summer, the temperature differential is 70 F or more. The cost of air conditioning energy is also higher than the cost of heating energy. Finally, in winter, flat roofs in cold climates may well be covered with snow, which reflects solar energy.


Reflective roof coatings can also extend roof life. Ultraviolet light from the sun breaks down roofing materials, causing them to weaken or become brittle. Reflective roof coatings shield roofing materials from ultraviolet light.


High surface temperatures also accelerate the breakdown of roofing materials by increasing the rate at which chemical reactions take place, reactions that weaken materials or reduce their flexibility.

Uncoated roofs are also subjected to wide temperature swings during the day. Reflective coatings greatly decrease the thermal stress generated by temperature swings, which can lead to early component failures.


Reflective roofs can also help to reduce an environmental impact that all dark-surfaced roofs contribute to: urban heat islands. Urban heat islands occur when a concentration of dark surfaces, such as roofs and asphalt pavement, absorb enough solar radiation to elevate the surrounding temperature by several degrees. These higher local temperatures increase cooling loads and energy use.


Reflective coatings must be matched to the type of roof installed, as not all coatings are compatible with all roofing materials. Most coatings can be applied for less than $1 per square foot. While coatings are durable, they do wear and their reflectivity decreases with age. Most must be reapplied every 5 to 6 years to maintain reflectivity and protective properties.


When considering reflective coatings, look for one that carries the Energy Star® label. These products have been certified to reflect at least 65 percent of the solar radiation that strikes the roof, without reducing the quality or the performance of the roof. Some products that carry the certification have reflectivities as high as 85 percent.


Roof Insulation
Depending on the type of roof and the structure on which it is installed, a range of roofing insulation products can be used, including fiberboard, fiberglass, perlite, cellular glass, corkboard, polyurethane and polystyrene. Most come in flat boards ranging from 1 to 4 inches thick. Boards are available with a built-in taper of 1&Mac218;8 to 1&Mac218;4 inch per foot for roofs where the insulation is used to increase slope for roof drainage. Not all insulation types are compatible with all membranes.


The most obvious function of insulation is to limit heat transfer to or from the building interior through the roof. However, more insulation is not always better. While additional insulation may decrease the rate of heat transfer into or out of the building through the roof, it can also stress the roof membrane by increasing thermal shock. Thermal shock occurs when large and rapid swings in temperature cause the membrane to move relative to the roof’s deck. The thicker the roof insulation, the greater the potential for thermal shock. If the membrane moves relative to the roof deck, failed flashings, splits in the membrane seams and cracks around roof penetrations could occur. Therefore, it is essential that manufacturer’s guidelines be followed when determining type and thickness of roof insulation.


Green Roofs
One type of roof that, while not new, is receiving considerable attention is the so-called green roof, a system that includes vegetation as part of the roof. The vegetation is planted in a layer of dirt or an artificial growing medium as the top layer of the roofing system. The bottom layers consist of a conventional roof applied to the roof deck. Between the two layers is a drainage system to carry away excess water and a filter system to prevent the growing medium from entering and clogging the drainage system.


The green roof offers several advantages. The vegetation and growing medium shield the other roofing components from ultraviolet rays. The green roof also adds another layer of insulation between the building and the outside air. Solar heat gain is nearly eliminated. Evaporation of water from the growing medium and the loss of water from the leaves of the plants provides evaporative cooling for the building. Major temperature swings in the roofing membrane are practically eliminated. Like reflective roofs, green roofs help reduce the urban heat island effect.

The roofs can also help control storm-water runoff by temporarily storing and then slowly releasing rainwater. One concern with green roofs is the difficulty of finding leaks.


Before a green roof can be installed, the building’s roof structure must be studied to determine that it can carry the additional weight of the growing medium and retained water. Vegetation must be carefully selected based on the local climate, including range of temperatures, rainfall, wind conditions and sun exposure. It is very important to have someone with a good deal of experience with green roofs design the roof and oversee the installation.


What is the net economic effect of a sustainable approach to roofing? Facility executives have found that their cooling loads decrease, some by as much as 40 percent, without a significant increase in winter heating loads. By lowering the temperature of the roof’s surface, roofing materials have an extended service life. Reduced thermal stresses on components cuts maintenance requirements and extends the service life of the roof. The additional first cost of a sustainably designed roof is typically recovered in three to five years.

Please also see the August 2003 facilitiesnet.com article by James Piper titled "Roofing, Energy and the Environment"

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