Cutting costs using reflective coatings

Applying a reflective coating of paint or a similar substance to your roof is a great way to cut energy costs that most people don't even think about. Reflective coatings come in a wide variety of options. There are different paints, textures and membranes that can be applied to your rooftop to reflect solar and ultraviolet heat. Applying a reflective coating can reduce the temperature of the roof by up to 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

A few of the many different uses for heat resistant paints and coatings are listed below:

• They are used in the construction of "green" buildings; the application of the coating gives "green credit points" to the project.
• They are used in livestock and poultry sheds, to help reduce heat stress on the animals.
• They are used in hospitals, schools and malls to help provide a more comfortable work environment.
• They are used in residential homes, villas and office buildings to lower the cost of air conditioning.
• They are used in some military defense vehicles as well.

Applying a light or reflective coating on your roof is a great way to lower your cooling costs and to extend roof life. The right type of reflective roof coatings will provide a waterproof surface, along with reflecting heat and preventing heat transfer to the interior of the building. This, in its turn, extends the life of your HVAC system and reduces maintenance fees.

Reflective coatings are measured by their albedo. The higher the albedo of a product is, the more heat it is able to reflect. Roofing such as bitumen, gravel or tar has albedos from 0.1 to 0.2. This means that these products absorb nearly 80 percent of the heat they receive. The heat they absorb is conducted into the home where the inhabitants, in order to remain comfortable, must turn up the air conditioning several notches. The albedos of heat reflective materials tends to be significantly higher, around 0.9.

Kelly Moore Paints offers a reflective paint designed to reflect radiant heat away from the surface to which it was applied. The 1545 Enviro Coat Reflective paint is designed for commercial and residential use. This paint uses advanced infrared-reflective technology to prevent infrared rays from penetrating through the coating and into the wall, even if the wall has been painted a medium or dark color.

High-performance heat-reflective paint offers high opacity and is quite inhospitable to mold and mildew. In addition, the paint is strongly resistant to ultraviolet damage due to its light-reflecting capabilities.

The process of applying the heat-reflective coating of paint to a roof is quite simple. The first step is to sweep the roof clean of any debris and to pressure wash it. The next step involves the application of a sealant, which prevents the next coat of paint from penetrating into porous materials. This cures for two days before the next coat is applied. The third step is the application of a base coat. The fourth and final step is the application of a topcoat of the same product as the basecoat. The topcoat is available in an almost endless variety of colors to match the exterior color scheme of your home. You can find out more about the different steps involved with the application of this special paint at this website.

There you have it - everything about applying heat-reflective materials to the roof of your home. Getting a heat-reflective coating applied to your roof is a smart way to go green. And it also saves you money in the long run.

Today's post has been brought to you by a sponsor. Our Daily Green regularly shares information that we think will be useful and help our readers save money and energy. 

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