What Makes an Energy-Efficient Roof?

With energy costs surging and no end to the rise in sight, it’s becoming more important now than ever for homeowners to really focus on making their home more energy-efficient. Not doing so will lead to energy costs flying wildly out of control, and that’s something nobody wants to deal with as the cost of living continues to climb. Believe it or not, one of the biggest influences over your home’s energy efficiency is one you more than likely don’t even think about: your roof.

By putting in some extra effort, you can make your roof more energy-efficient, and your entire home will benefit from it. On our blog, we’ll go over three different qualities of an energy-efficient roof so you can make the changes and adjustments to your home which will increase your efficiency and keep more money in your pocket where it belongs.

Well-Insulated

The first quality of a good, energy-efficient roof is that it’s well insulated from the rest of your home. Attic insulation plays a huge role in not only your energy-efficiency but your overall health of your roof. Spray foam and blown-in insulation are both very popular choices because they’re easy to install and remarkably effective.

It’s worth taking a closer look at your existing attic insulation in order to make sure that there are no missing or inadequately-insulated spots. These spots are usually a source of air leaks, which create unwanted areas where heat can get into your home during summer or escape during winter. Air leaks into your attic are not only one of the single biggest energy-sucking flaws in your home, but they could also contribute to poor roof health in many ways.

Well-Ventilated

A well-ventilated roof is also a healthy roof, particularly during the heat of an Arizona summer. Ventilation is crucial for your energy efficiency because, without it, your attic will simply continue to get hotter and hotter, putting a giant ball of heat over the ceiling above you that makes it nearly impossible for your air conditioner to cool your home.

A well-ventilated attic doesn’t usually have this problem—instead, it may get warm, but it never gets much warmer than the temperature outside. While the sun may beat down on your roof and cause the air to warm up, the warm air escapes your attic through a vent on your roof, then being replaced with cooler air from intake vents down low. As a result, your attic stays cooler and your home remains far more energy-efficient in the long run.

Heat-Resistant

Have you ever wondered why clay tiles are such a popular roofing material in the Arizona desert? There’s a good reason for this: they’re a natural material that’s extremely good at withstanding the Arizona heat and protecting your home. Clay is a natural material that by nature is not very good at absorbing heat. While these tiles can get hot in direct sunlight, they don’t tend to transfer that heat all that well, and that means they’re really good at keeping heat out of your attic, and thus the rest of their home. Likewise, their lighter red color makes them great at rejecting heat and keeping your home cool!

Another material that’s great in this regard is concrete tiles. Concrete is heavier and more expensive than clay tiles, but in exchange is often more durable and longer-lasting when properly maintained. Likewise, concrete is also particularly good at resisting heat and sunlight and doesn’t burn either, making your home less prone to fire.

Let us help you make your home more energy-efficient! Call Lyons Roofing at (520) 447-2522 today to learn more about energy-efficient roofing options when you need a new roof.

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