Cost-Saving Construction Concepts: A Construction and Contracting Blog

With temperatures in Australia rising, it's important to keep the heat in mind when choosing a roof and its accessories. There are a number of features, materials and styles that work well in hot climates. If you want to keep your house safe and cool in intense heat, consider these features:

1. Metal roofing materials

When thinking about cool surfaces, metal may not immediately pop to mind. In fact, if you think of an old metal slide, you may imagine burning the backs of your legs or your hands in the summertime. Surprisingly, although metal can get hot to the touch, a metal roof is an ideal addition to a house in a hot climate, especially if there is a high risk of bushfires in that area.

With rising temps comes greater incidences of fires, but luckily, metal roofs are fire resistant, encouraging the fire to just jump over your house.

2. Light colours

If possible, look for a metal roof such as a Colorbond roof that can come in a light colour. Light coloured roofs reflect light back into the sky rather than absorbing it. As a result, your roof stays cooler, and you don't have to worry about it absorbing heat and sending that to the rest of the house.

3. Heat-resistant coating

In addition to thinking of the roofing materials, you also need to consider coatings and underlays. Speak with your roofing contractor about heat-resistant coatings. There are a number of sealants, sprays and paints on the market that are designed to make your roof extra reflective.

4. Radiant barriers

A radiant barrier works like a reflective coating, but it's not on top of the roof. Rather, it's an underlay, located under the roof in the attic of the building. Any heat that is absorbed from the roof travels to the radiant barrier, and then, rather than flowing into the house, it reflects off the radiant barrier and back to the roof.

5. Solar panels

Just as you take care to safeguard your home from the rising temperatures, you should also harness the heat and sunshine to your advantage. If you live in a sunny area, consider installing solar panels onto your roof. That way, you can benefit from the hot sun and reduce your energy bills.

Want more tips on choosing a roof for a hot climate? Contact a roofing company today. They can tell you what type of materials work best for your situation.