While the high temperatures in Jasper, Texas (where The Allman Company’s Lake Sam Rayburn properties are located) average a comfortable 75.6°F, it can still be stifling at times.
In such cases, you can keep much of the heat away from your home with your judicious choice of roofing materials.
Use overlays
Much like an umbrella, an overlay is a surface coating that protects the roof from the heat and light. There are all sorts of overlays with different levels of durability and ease of application.
Examples of this cool-roof treatment are:
- Ceramic-based paints
- Foam sprays
- Recycled waste cooking oil
Employ radiant barriers
Beneath an overlay lies another roofing marvel: the radiant barrier. Basically, this sub-roof system keeps the heat upward and away from the home through a reflective material (i.e. aluminum) or a high-tech reflective spray treatment.
Invest in slate
Slate is used in traditional European homes for its durability, good looks, and heat absorption. It can be quite pricey but a light colored white slate roof is a gorgeous addition as it exudes a Mediterranean or Spanish vibe. Like snowflakes, however, no two pieces of natural slate are ever alike because they come from sediment that took thousands of years to form. However, you’ll find gradating shades of white, gray, green, purple, black, and red.
Terra cotta and clay
American homeowners can get a clue from Spain, Mexico, and Italy when it comes to durable roofing. Even if their homes are constantly baked under the sun, they swear on terra cotta and clay to keep their homes cool.
Modern-clay tiles usually look like slate or terra cotta, their more expensive counterparts. These tiles are reflective and weatherproof. Terra cotta is less porous and the space underneath each tile’s arch provides better air and water circulation.
Living roofs
To counter the “urban heat island effect” felt in big, conglomerated cities, this modern roof style has a waterproof membrane made up of soil and plants. Aside from releasing oxygen, a living roof also features a water runoff to further keep the home cool.
Living roofs still have to gain traction in the US, but Germany has published a green roofing guide if you’d like to try it out yourself.