One of the greatest expenses that South Florida homeowners face is their monthly electric bill. Knowing how you can make your home more energy-efficient is one of the easiest ways to save some money each month.
A main contributing factor to your electric bill is the use of air conditioning. When it’s hot outside your AC unit will have to work harder to keep your home cool. A major benefit of concrete or clay tile roofs is that they can help make your home more energy-efficient.
If you’re looking at a roof replacement then it’s important to understand the long-term benefits of tile roofs.
What Makes Tile Roofs More Energy-Efficient?
The reason tile roofing makes for a more energy-efficient home is that it creates a more stable interior temperature, which means your AC unit won’t have to work as hard to keep it cool on those extra hot summer days. Concrete or clay tile roofs will help stabilize your home’s interior temperature in three ways:
Thermal Emittance
Thermal emittance is when a material can emit heat instead of absorbing it. This is extremely useful when there is direct sunlight on your tile roofs. Instead of absorbing the heat into your home, the cement or clay roof tiles emit the heat back into the air. This allows for your home to remain cooler.
Solar Reflectance
Solar reflectance is similar to thermal emittance and has the ability to reflect direct sun rays. However, this ability is linked directly to the color of the material. If the material is darker, it’s more likely to absorb heat rather than reflect it. Cement or clay roof tiles in lighter colors can better reflect the sun’s rays during the day, which will naturally allow your home to stay cooler.
Individual Tile Installation
Since tile roofs are installed individually rather than in an overlapping sheet style, it allows for more natural ventilation. The naturally created airspace allows for a thermal barrier to be placed in between the tiles and the roof deck, which means less heat will escape into the house.
What Are Some Other Benefits Of Tile Roofs?
Other than the scientific reasons for tile roofs being more energy-efficient and saving you money in the long-run on your electric bill, there are a few other long-term cost benefits of switching to tile roofs.
Federal Tax Credit
There has been a lot of research based on the energy-efficiency of tile roofs. Scientists have confirmed that tile roofing decreases the flow of heat into an attic by as much as 70% in comparison to asphalt shingle roof tiles. This research has been recognized by the federal government. If you are looking at renovating your home and are considering installing a tile roof, you can apply for a tax refund and if eligible, you can receive up to 30% of your total installation costs.
Low Maintenance Costs
If tile roofs are installed correctly and the material is of high-quality, your maintenance costs will over time, be much lower. Taking into consideration the qualities of materials and the fact that cement or clay tiles do not absorb heat, they will suffer less heat damage than some other roofing materials.
Significant Home Resale Value
If you are looking at making small upgrades to your home before trying to sell it, it would be a good idea to look at re-tiling your roof with cement or clay tiles. Since they have long-term money-saving benefits, they add more value to a home.
If you’re looking at renovating your home or commercial property, and are looking for ways to make it more energy-efficient as well as cut your overall long-term costs, then it would be a good idea to think about upgrading to a tile roof if your roof type allow. If you want to invest in top-quality materials and installation, then look no further than our roof replacement specialists at ABC Roofing!
