The first being that white membranes are more durable than black membranes due to their lower surface temperature.
Northeast flat roof white vs black.
Unless routine maintenance and power washing is completed a white roof will often dull and look dirty.
That means blacks roofs in the northern usa might provide lower heat costs compared to buildings with white roofs in the north during winter.
Built up membranes can be surfaced with energy star cap sheets creating a white membrane.
Ballasted black membranes can have similar performance to white membranes.
This is one of the reasons why many black roofs are covered with other materials.
In other words white roofs cost 9 per square foot less than green roofs over 50 years or 0 30 per square foot each year.
For example a black tar roof is often covered with gravel.
Higher than the same sheathing material under white shingles on a sunny day.
White roofs are commonly constructed out of tpo or pvc.
False white roofs attract and retain dirt easily which quickly diminishes some of the positive aspects of the membrane.
Why choose a white roof over black.
White black membranes need not create black roofs.
Since a black roof absorbs and retains heat the summer is the absolute worst time to have one.
Study found that for most locations tested roof sheathing temperature below black roof shingles were 10 15 degf.
One might think that benefits solar gain in a heating climate at least when the roof is not snow covered.
A black or gray modified roof is either painted with a reflective paint or is embedded with tiny white.
By reflecting up to 88 of the sun s energy duro last s white membranes can greatly reduce energy consumption and costs making it an ideal energy efficient cool roofing solution.
The debate between white roofs versus black roofs has raged on for years however recent science has shown the reflectivity of white roofs has given them the edge.
Vegetated green roofs can use black membranes because performance isn t affected by the membrane solar reflectance.
City roofs are traditionally black because asphalt and tar are waterproof tough ductile and were easiest to apply to complex rooftop geometries.
White roofs will stay white.
That s why we say bright is the new black.
The 50 year life cycle cost analysis found that even the most inexpensive kind of green roof with no public access and consisting of only sedum or prairie grass costs 7 per square foot more than black roofs over 50 years while white roofs save 2 per square foot compared to black roofs.
This is especially true when you are removing a black roof and installing a new white roof.
And white roofs stay cooler potentially lower cooling costs in the summer.
Haag certified roofing inspector epa certified lead safe firm lp preferred remodeler.