Archive for January, 2012
Painting A Roof Offers Unique Benefits
A relatively new trend among roofing products is roof paint. Many roofers feel that painting a roof can produce many benefits for homeowners, as well as help protect the environment. While roof painting hasn’t quite made its way into the green roofing movement, you can’t argue with the facts.
Why Paint?
Roof painting is common for metal roof owners that want to change the aesthetic appeal to their roof from time to time. Recently, more people have begun painting other roof materials in order to take advantage of some of the benefits roof paint has to offer.
It is reported that painting a roof white can significantly reduce the energy consumption of a home. The white roof paint reflects the sun’s rays, thereby lowering the heat absorption of the home. Roofers estimated that a white roof coating can deflect 85% of sun rays and lower the surface temperature of the roof by 50 degrees. A cooler roof means cooler interior and less need for energy consuming air conditioners.
Energy experts also note that a reflective roof coating can directly impact the environment by reducing carbon emissions through less energy consumption and improve local air quality by eliminating ozone toxins. The U.S. Secretary of Energy, Steven Chu, has said that painting roofs white would reflect enough sun rays back into space, creating a green house saving effect equal to removing a vehicle from the planet for 11 years.
Ukrainian Catholic Church gets New Polymer Roof
Sacred Heart Ukrainian Catholic Church, in Johnson City NY, has a new polymer shake tile roof from DaVinci Roofscapes. The much needed roof repair of the deteriorated wooden cedar shake on the siding and rooftop were replaced with a Valore polymer shake roof. Also tiled were the church’s three 80-foot tall domes on top of the roof. The church was founded in 1944 and the original wood shakes were designed for the church in 1977.
Polymer Tiles Sturdy and Cost Effective
In keeping with the traditional Ukrainian design of building, 90 squares of Volare were installed in a Tuscano color blend of light to dark autumn colors. The new roof has a 50 year warranty on the polymer shakes. Easy to maintain, the polymer tiles resists mold, insects, fungus, algae cracking, fading and curling. The tiles are 100% recyclable and virtually maintenance free. DaVinci Roofscapes have been making synthetic slate and shake roofing in the United States since 1999.
Reverend Theadore B. Czabala Jr. said “The new polymer shakes look almost identical to the older wooden ones, but these will last so much longer. The wood exterior of the church has been cleaned and stained, so now the structure looks perfect. We’re both amazed and pleased that these man-made roofing tiles could have such a positive and beautiful impact on our facility.”
