Roofing membranes and coatings

Roofing membranes

There are several types of roofing membranes. These membranes are made of waterproof materials and they involve a single or multiple layers. They usually contain a polymeric material and a fabric made from fiberglass, felt or polyester. Polymeric materials may vary a lot, and some are environmentally negative (namely those based on PVC).

Take also into account the color of the polymer. They may be very dark or light, and you should choose light colors to reduce cooling loads. Only in this case they have high reflectance and emissivity.

Reflective Roof Coatings

Roof reflective coatings are the most common solution to cool existing roofs.

There is a wide offer of these coatings, and local lumberyards and hardware stores offer products as white latex, which are easy to apply, affordable and with a reasonable warranty (5 years, often).

Reflective coatings have both waterproof and reflective properties, and are applied over common asphalt and fiberglass shingles or metal roofs. Reflective roof coatings contain transparent polymeric materials and a white pigment (rutile, for instance).

Choose a white or light-colored coating to get more energy saving in air-conditioning. Light colors have higher emissivity and reflectance levels and may reflect 70 to 80% of the sun's energy.




See also:
Roof basics
Metal and ceramic roof materials
Selecting roofing materials and installers
Roofing and environment
Roofs and climates
Attic insulation
Roof and ceiling insulation
Reflective insulationInstalling a green roof
Green roofs costs, pros and cons


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