Cool Roofing Can Cut Carbon Emissions
Ducker Worldwide provides leaders within the roofing industry with expert analysis, strategic consulting services, and timely market research to stay ahead of the curve with all the latest trends within the building industry and roofing materials.
United States Energy Secretary Dr. Steven Chu recently made an announcement to implement a process to paint roofs white in order to assist in decreasing carbon emissions. There are multiple roofing systems available with cool roofing capabilities. Three systems in particular that have gained additional market growth in recent years are cool roof coatings, single ply roofing materials and metal roofs.
Cool Roof Coatings Save Energy
Cool roof coatings are white liquids with the consistency of thick paint which are applied on top of an existing roof structure. Coatings are designed for use on low-slope roofs to achieve energy savings, extend life span, and protect from weathering and ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Depending on coating quality and the thickness at which it is applied, a new surface can last 10 to 20+ years. Application costs usually vary between $0.75 and $1.50 per square foot for materials and labor. Most cool roof coatings fall into one of the following product categories; elastomeric, polyurethane and acrylic. Acrylic coatings traditionally have represented a high share of the market; however, more premium urethane-based systems have experienced significant growth driven by technologies brought to the U.S. from Europe.
Single-Ply Roofing is Durable and Easy to Install
Single ply roofing materials are delivered in pre-fabricated sheets and are applied as a single layer to a low-sloped roof. Single-ply roofs are made of rubber or plastic materials and can be manufactured in a bright white color for high reflectivity and increased energy savings. Single-ply roofing systems can be applied to a number of roof structures and are considered a durable product and is easy to install.
Single-Ply Roofing Costs
Some of the newest single-ply roof products are made with self–cleaning and mold-resistant polymers to maintain solar reflectance. Single-ply roofing costs vary considerably from $1.50 to $3.00 per square foot, including materials, installation and reasonable preparation work. The satisfaction level among building owners with singly-ply roofing systems has consistently increased since 2004. The average maintenance cost per square foot per year is $.26. Examples of single-ply products include: EPDM (ethylene-propylene-diene-terpolymer membrane), PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and TPO (thermoplastic polyolefin).
Metal Roofs are EPA Energy Star Certified
Lastly, metal roofs are also considered "cool" roofing materials. Several metal roof products are considered EPA Energy Star Certified. Manufacturers have developed cool metal roofing products that use pigments to reflect infrared radiation, further increasing the solar reflectance of metal roofing, which in turn keeps buildings cooler.
Metal Roofing Maintenance Costs
The average annual maintenance cost for metal roofing systems per square foot is $.10 which is about 35 to 50 percent of the maintenance cost of asphalt or single-ply systems. Additionally metal is considered a premium system for roofing among building owners, and as with single-ply systems, the satisfaction level with current metal roofing systems has consistently increased since 2004.
Ducker Worldwide offers several market research and consulting services throughout the building and construction industry as well as roofing materials. Ducker Worldwide service offerings include:
- Market size and segmentation
- Competitive Intelligence
- Market entry and growth strategies
- Product and service expansion
- Customer satisfaction
- Investment analysis
- Due diligence
- Strategic planning
For more information on Ducker Worldwide's roofing industry expertise and market intelligence, contact one of our industry experts at 877-538-2537 or email us at info@ducker.com.
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