Now-a-days, nearly everyone is trying to save money and many people decide that the best way to save is to cut back on non-essentials and luxuries. Hoping that a more basic way of living will help keep costs down. This however is not always necessary, as one good way to save money particularly on energy bills, which can be a large portion of anyone’s budget, is to think about getting an energy efficient roof.

What is an energy efficient roof?

Energy efficient roofs have the intended goal to reduce the amount of energy required by providing insulation from the weather and warm for your home. Improvements in energy efficiency are generally achieved by adopting a more efficient technology, such as:

Tiles. Clay and concrete are popular and sustainable tile materials. Some tiles can have an additional energy efficient coating added.

Membrane Roofing. This is Long-lasting and easy to-install. The downside however, is that it can be extremely costly but certainly worth it. This is more likely to be found on commercial buildings because it is so durable.
Sprayed on Polyurethane Foam Roofing. Unlike Membrane roofing, this method of roofing is more affordable and is pretty much leak proof because there are no seams.

There are countless reasons to improve energy efficiency. Cutting back on energy use will reduce household energy bills. In addition to this, having an energy efficient roof will reduce your carbon footprint which is great for the environment.It would definitely be a good idea to speak to an expert, to find out what can be done about your roof. If you are looking for a flat roofing contractor in Coventry, you can find out all you need to know to make your roof more energy efficient.

How do I make my roof more energy efficient?

Your roof is your best defense against the sun in summer, the cold in winter, the wind and the rain. A low energy efficient roof will do a poor job of protecting you from the elements outside and will hike up the prices of your household bills.Energy-efficient materials are also able to endure the persistent attack of ultraviolet radiation from the sun so therefore extend the life of your roof. Saving you money in the long run, as a new roof can be costly.

The most energy-efficient roofing products reflect the sun’s energy back into the environment, rather than absorbing it. This keeps your home cool when it’s hot.Plus with added insulation, you keep the heat from escaping so you don’t need to rely on heating as much.

You should pick your roofing material and colour based on your location. Light-colored roofs reflect heat and are good in warmer climates, whereas dark-colored roofs absorb heat and are better in cooler climates. As the UK is part of an island we have a varied climate. Meaning that we never really know what the weather will be like from one day to the next. One day we could have a heat wave, the next it could be freeing cold! In general we have warm summers and cool winters. Our summers are colder than those in southern Europe, but our winters are milder.

Going back to choosing the right roof colour, this may seem irrelevant to someone living in the UK, but it does actually benefit in a small way. This is because certain parts of the UK are warmer than others; likewise certain parts are also colder. The rule is the further north you go, the colder it gets. Therefore a darker roof would be ideal. The opposite is true, the further south you go. The climate actually becomes warmer, although not massively and might benefit more from a lighter coloured roof.

When choosing a roofing material, you have several options, these include tarmac, metal, wood, concrete and tile. Clay tiles and concrete roofsare generally more expensive to install, but they can save you money in the long run because they tend to last much longer and are durable in all climates.

The downside

It is pretty obvious that having an energy efficient roof is certainly beneficial to the environment and to your household bills.However installing and maintaining one does come with its disadvantages. These roofs are more expensive to install than traditional roofs and require regular maintenance. If not looked after and maintained, the roof can become costly to repair.

Everyone knows that installing a standard roofisexpensive and an energy efficient roof can cost up to ten times as much. However there are government funded grants to help towards the cost. It is vital to remember that upkeep is essential, waterproofing and irrigation must be constantly maintained to prevent any moisture from damaging the building’s structure.