Do Metal Roofs Make Your House Hotter?

Metal roofs are a popular option in cold climates because they shed snow easily and are suitable for steeper roof pitches than asphalt shingles. But what about hot climates? Do metal roofs make your house hotter? In this guide, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about how a metal roof affects your indoor temperature.

Will a Metal Roof Make Your House Hotter?

The short answer is no—a metal roof will not make your house hotter than asphalt shingles, clay tiles, or slate. In fact, metal is the most reflective roofing option, so it will actually keep your home cooler than most other roofing materials, especially in hot, sunny climates.

How Do Metal Roofs Help to Keep Your Home Cool?

There are four key ways metal roofs keep your home cool in hot, sunny areas, and understanding these factors can help you install the right metal roof for your home.

Reflectivity

First and foremost, metal is naturally reflective and will reflect a good portion of the sunlight that hits it away from your home. This helps reduce solar heat gain, which means the heat from the sun will stay outside rather than transfer through your roof.

High Thermal Conductivity

Metal also has a high thermal conductivity, which means it gains and loses heat rapidly. When the sun warms your metal roof, it will quickly heat up, but it will also lose heat readily to the air surrounding it. Since the heat is lost to the surrounding air, less of that heat transfers through your roofing system and into your home.

Cool Roof Options

Metal roofs come in a variety of colors, and lighter colors like red and white are considered “cool roof” options. Light colors naturally reflect more sunlight, so roofing materials like asphalt shingles and slate shingles that are almost always black or dark gray aren’t ideal for keeping your home cool. The fact that metal roofs are available in white means you can maximize reflectivity and reduce your cooling bills in hotter climates.

Insulation

Finally, it’s relatively simple to insulate under a metal roof. Most local metal roof installers will be able to couple your metal roof with rigid foam board insulation or even a reflective insulation to help keep the heat outside. Adding insulation will drive up metal roof installation costs, but it can be a worthwhile addition for boosting energy efficiency and saving on cooling costs over time.

How to Keep Your Home Cool With a Metal Roof

Any metal roof will help keep your home cooler than asphalt shingles, but if you’re hiring a roofer to install a new metal roof, there are a few things you can prioritize to maximize your home’s energy efficiency.

• Choose a light-colored roof: According to the Department of Energy, white and light-colored roofs reflect the most sunlight and keep your home the coolest. Choose a white metal roof for the best reflectivity.

• Choose the right type of metal: The most common types of metal roofs are aluminum, stainless steel, zinc, and copper. Of these options, aluminum reflects the most thermal radiation, followed by zinc, steel, and copper. For the coolest home possible, choose an aluminum metal roof.

• Add insulation: Paying a bit more for insulation under your metal roof can make a major difference when it comes to how your roofing material affects how hot your home gets. Choose a reflective insulation for the best results in sunny areas.