I live in a home with a flat black rubber roof-any ideas how to cut down on the amount of heat in the house?
Question:Does anyone have any ideas on how to cut down on the amazing amount of heat that stays in the house when the sun shines,
Answers:
You could roll on a roof coating. There are many brands and different types of roof coatings out there. You should look for something that has the word "reflective" or "elastomeric" in the name. Basically, a white roof coating. You wouldn't want an "asphalt" type product, that would be dark, not white. You can buy the elastomeric white coatings at any big box home improvement retailer, and perhaps even Wal-Mart (I would be wary of how long some of their product sits on the shelf, as opposed to, say Home Depot). If you are going to go this route, you must follow the instructions carefully for whatever type you buy. You also need to make sure that what you buy will work on what kind/type of rubber roof that you have (EPDM, modified bitumen...). The directions may call for you to use a special cleaner or primer that you must also purchase. Using those will ensure that you get the best adhesion, and if you don't prepare the surface to the manufacturers recommendations, that will most likely void your warranty.
Notice that I did not say clean the roof thoroughly, I need to stress that you need to prepare the roof to the manufacturers recommendations; those two phrases are not the same.
You have a choice in roof coatings at this stage, and that will be based on how many years warranty coverage the product claims (1,3,5,10,20...). Keep in mind that a 5 gallon bucket of a 20 year product will cost substantially more than a 5 gallon bucket of a 3 year. But, using the 3 year, you will have to do it 5 more times in the span of 20 years. The higher the warranty coverage, the better the product. You get what you pay for.
There will also be matching products available for any patching or flashing that you will encounter.
If you don't want to go through the expense or labor of getting the appropriate roof coating, you could also pour out pea gravel over the entire surface of your roof. At a minimum thickness of 2-3 inches, the pea gravel will do a pretty good job of keeping the suns rays from directly hitting your roof.
If you go this route, it is crucial that you ascertain if your roof can support the added weight of a bed of gravel.
If you lay out a bed of pea gravel, you may encounter some moisture related issues down the road, depending on how effective the drainage is on your roof. You may get moisture trapped between the roof and gravel, and over time, that may cause mold/mildew/algae to grow. If that happens, it will greatly reduce the integrity of your rubber roof, the algae will grow on it, and begin deteriorating the rubber below it. With a gravel bed, you may also get weeds and other plants sprouting up on you roof, from wind-born seeds. I have seen it where weeds will sprout and the roots will penetrate the rubber below, causing holes and of course, leaks. If you go the gravel route, make sure that you are up there, inspecting your roof, at least once a year, to do some light weeding.
You should be up there inspecting your roof yearly, regardless as to what covering you put on. Pay special attention to the seams and especially where any plumbing vent stacks come up through the rubber. Repair all cracks immediately before they become major leaks.
Do it right, do it once, and then enjoy the peace of mind.
There is a reflective coating that you can paint on the roof to cut down heat have you tried this
Drop ceilings inside the home with insulation between the roof and the new ceiling.
Silvercoat. Most hardware and home improvement places carry it. I do mobil home roofs as a side line this helps a lot. Remember black draws heat, White reflects heat.Best of luck
I have a different approach.. a green roof. modules containing plants. Several buildings in my area have recently installed a system where the roof has been covered with shallow planter boxes. The boxes absorb the sun and create shade on the roof. The plants create more oxygen and absorb CO2..
It's an idea that would make Al Gore proud. google "green roof". I'll bet you find a bunch of info on it.
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