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San Diego cool roof benefits

An Economical and Environmentally Friendly Option!

Traditional roofing materials absorb heat and allow the higher temperatures to seep into the building or living space beneath. Cool roofs have been designed to absorb less heat by reflecting the sunlight away from the structure and back into the atmosphere. The process is becoming more popular in San Diego and can be accomplished through specially developed sheet coverings, reflective paints, cool tiles and shingles. Virtually every type of building in warmer regions will benefit from this roofing technology provided by Roofing Specialists of San Diego.

San Diego cool roof installation and coatings

How Cool Roofs Work in San Diego County

In much the same way that San Diego residents wear light colored clothing to keep cool on the hot summer days, cool roofing uses the principles of solar reflectance and thermal emittance to maintain lower roof temperatures.

Solar reflectance refers to how the lighter colors are able to reflect rather than absorb the hot sun rays during the day. Thermal emittance refers to the rate with which a roofing material can release heat back into the atmosphere. While standard dark roof temperatures can reach 150°F or more during the summer, cool roofing which reflects this heat can be a vital way to protect the inside building temperature, greatly reducing cooling costs.

Features of Cool Roofing

The presence of a cool roof provides many benefits to San Diego homeowners, commercial building owners and occupants, including:
Reduced utility bills due to decreased need for central air conditioning
Improved comfort, stable temperatures in spaces without air conditioning
Extended exterior roof lifespan due to decreased temperature and less exposure to harmful sun rays

There are several communal benefits when many buildings have reflective surfaces. Collectively they service the surrounding community when cool roofs:

  • Reduce overall air temperatures in dense areas (urban heat island effect)
  • Reduce peak electricity demand, which can prevent unexpected power outages
  • Reduce harmful emissions, including carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxide and mercury
  • Turn Your Existing Structure Into a Cool Roof

Our San Diego climate is important because cool roofs are especially effective in warm, sunny temperatures.

Although there are many different combinations of roofing systems, one simple rule applies, the surface that is exposed to the most sun rays will regulate its overall temperature. Both new and existing structures can be made energy efficient through a number of different processes.

Cool roof coatings applied by Roofing Specialist of San Diego are either white or are specially colored pigments that reflect sunlight. Coatings are thick paint-like substances applied by spray or brush to most roof types. They protect the surface from ultraviolet light and chemical damage. Some coatings also offer moisture protection and restorative properties.

Transforming existing roofs into cool roofs may include coating the existing surface with a reflective waterproof material. If the existing roof is in need of serious roof repair, it may be either retrofitted or completely replaced. The cool roofing installation options that Roofing Specialists of San Diego provide include a wide variety of reflective materials for any type of roof.

Whether installing on new homes or when replacing existing worn roofs, the cost is not much higher than traditional roofing choices. In addition, cool roofing options have longer lifespans than their non-cool counterparts.

Cool roof options offer a way for individuals to reduce their carbon footprint by reducing the number of greenhouse gases released into the air. These environmentally friendly materials also save money on air-conditioning costs and improve air quality. When enough are installed or replaced on a local scale, they can also lower temperatures across whole urban communities. Cool roofing in San Diego not only makes sense but it saves money and helps the environment as well.

If you would like more information on these or would like to have us out for an estimate, please fill out our contact form.

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Environmentally Friendly Roof Shingle Recycling

Roofing Recycling: Where Does My Old Roof Go?

Living in a very environmentally conscious world causes people to consider how their lifestyle is affecting the atmosphere. The awareness of how our daily activities impact the environment is the first step to making a positive influence. This applies to how an individual can reduce their carbon footprint as well as which household items can be recycled instead of trashed. Roofing material recycling is a great tool that when implemented can greatly decrease the amount of landfills locally, across the country and around the world. Recently the concern has become what happens during the recycling process, especially for unusual items such as housing and construction materials. People wonder what to do with old roof shingles and other byproducts of home improvements and renovations.

Recycling Roofing Shingles

Virtually every type of roofing material can be recycled or repurposed in some way. Obviously, metal and tin roofing can be sold as scrap metal or dropped off at a local recycling center. Metal framing and other roofing construction debris can be altered and reused as nearly anything from street signs to cans to more building materials.

Roof shingle disposal can actually be a two-fold project. For example, asphalt shingle recycling programs offer homeowners a way to transform their old roof into new features that enhance the existing landscaping. They may be rearranged as sidewalk pavers, retaining walls and other creative centerpieces scattered throughout the property. The second part of the recycling project is that the new structure can be made of eco friendly roofing instead of the standard asphalt shingles that were recently discarded.

Impact of Recycling

Overall, there are many benefits to recycling whenever possible. Reducing the amount of waste is probably the top priority for most people and that is an admirable reason to recycle. Environmentalists and green building experts also note that for every building material that can be recycled and reused, less natural resources have to be harvested for future projects. To encourage this practice, many companies offer incentives for individuals or contractors who recycle roofing material and other construction byproducts. As a result of this benefit, some contractors will even waive the disposal fee to homeowners to remove trash and other materials from the property at the completion of a project. Likewise, homeowners may qualify for tax incentives for using eco friendly roofing or participating in an asphalt shingle recycle event.

A Personal Choice

Despite the obvious benefits, not everyone chooses to recycle on a daily basis or for large renovation projects. The reasons may vary but are usually rooted in some degree of uncertainty. People usually have questions about materials that are recyclable as well as when, where and how to recycle items. They may ask themselves, “Can you recycle asphalt shingles?” or may have concerns about safely removing potentially dangerous materials, “Is there asbestos in asphalt shingles?” More practically, homeowners may simply want to know, “Where can I recycle my old roofing?”

A certified building professional can answer these and any other questions that homeowners may have about roof recycling. Local recycling facilities are usually available to accept donations or weigh materials to be sold for recycling purposes. Homeowners armed with the proper information find that the recycling process becomes easy and rewarding.

Contact Roofing Specialists of San Diego for more information on how we can help.

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