For some people, choosing the right roof paint is simply about using appropriate paint in the right colour. However, not all roof paints are the same, and some have additional benefits over standard products.

For example, you may find it useful to use a reflective roof paint, especially if you enjoy hot summers where you live. How does reflective roof paint work, and what are its advantages?

What Is Reflective Roof Paint?

Roof paints are specially designed to work on roofs. These paints are suitable for external use and are good at dealing with general weather conditions.

Reflective roof paints bring something else to the table, however. These paints contain special ingredients that target solar heat and its effects on a roof's surface.

Typically, a roof that is covered with regular paint will absorb solar heat and get hot when the sun shines. A roof that is painted with a reflective coating doesn't absorb as much heat. The reflective ingredients in the paint block some of the solar rays and heat that come on to the surface and reflect them away.

Why Use Reflective Roof Paint?

Roofs that are covered with regular roof paint don't just retain heat. This heat transfers down into your home. Roofs also absorb heat during the day, so you could have an ongoing temperature problem even when the sun isn't at its height.

If your roof is partly responsible for high indoor temperatures during hot summer months, then switching to a reflective paint may help cool things down for you.

This kind of paint prevents your roof from absorbing as much heat. Your roof and your home won't get as hot as they do right now. This could give you lower air conditioning costs in the summer. If your home is cooler, you won't have to use your system as much.

Reflective roof paints may also keep your roof looking good for a longer time between paint jobs. While regular roof paints are designed to protect roofs, they may not be able to completely block out some kinds of sun damage.

For example, if the sun regularly beats down on a roof, then the paint will start to look weathered and faded. Reflective paint may slow down this natural weathering by reducing the amount of sun that hits the roof.

Your roof painting company can give you more information about roof paints in general. They can also recommend reflective paints if you decide to take this route.