Black Roofs vs. White Roofs

Most business owners prefer a commercial roofing system that is easy to install, requires minimal maintenance, is affordable, and can protect the everyday business practices going on underneath from the outside environment.

The color of a commercial roof is probably last on the list of priorities of business owners. But what many may not know is that the color of your roof has a significant impact on your business below.

The color of your commercial roofing system can make a world of difference when it comes to how much heat is absorbed into your commercial building, how it withstands harsh UV rays and its influence on your energy bills.

While you can paint or coat your commercial roof any color you’d like, the most common commercial roofing colors are black and white. Today, we’ll be discussing the differences between these commercial roofing colors and how they may benefit your commercial roof and your business.

 

Black Commercial Roofing

Black commercial rooftops are generally made from dark materials like modified bitumen, EPDM, or rubber roofing materials. Black commercial roofing is an excellent option for businesses in colder climates. The black surface absorbs heat, which keeps buildings warm and lowers energy bills during the winter.

This heating feature also reduces snow and ice forming on your roof, reducing your maintenance costs and efforts.

However, these roofing systems still require maintenance as the build-up of dirt and debris on your roof will drastically reduce the black roof’s color advantages.

If your business is located in a warmer climate, you may want to reconsider installing a black commercial roof. Your black roof will make you spend more money on air conditioning and contribute to the heat island effect.

 

White Commercial Roofing

White commercial roofing systems are generally made from materials like TPO, PVC, or white-coated metal roofing materials. Often referred to as the “cool roof,” white roofs are great commercial businesses in warmer climates. They can effectively reflect light and heat away from your commercial roof, and this reflection rate keeps your commercial building cool, thereby reducing your air conditioning bills.

However, much like black commercial roofing, to reap the benefits of a cool roof, you need to keep your white roofing system well maintained and free of any dirt and debris.

While white commercial roofs are great at keeping your building cool during those hot summer days, they’re not the best at keeping your building warm in winter. You may end up spending more on heating your commercial building with a white rooftop due to its low heat absorption qualities.

When it comes to ice and snow formation, white roofing, unfortunately, is not as great as black roofing at getting rid of it. Snow and ice need to be removed as soon as possible because standing water can deteriorate your commercial roofing system.

Whichever color you decide to go for, rest assured that Port Orchard Roofing will do an excellent job at installing your commercial roof. For all your roofing needs, give Port Orchard Roofing a call today!