Should I Use a Light or Dark Color Roofing System on My Commercial Roof?

As far as commercial roofing goes, most businesses look for a roof that is low maintenance, affordable, easy to install, and provides efficient protection for their regular business activities against the elements.

Most business owners rarely care about the color of their commercial roofs if it serves their purpose well. However, what they don’t realize is that the color of their roofs can significantly affect the productivity of their business and the comfort of their employees.

The amount of heat your roof will absorb and its ability to reflect harmful UV rays are largely determined by the color of your roof or the quality of roof coatings. This will eventually affect your monthly utility bills. While today’s technologies have made it possible to paint any commercial roof with any desired color, the most popular colors for commercial roofing systems are black or white. In this article, we will discuss the key differences between these two colors of commercial roofs and their impact on your business.

What Are Black Commercial Roofs?

These roofs are commonly manufactured using modified bitumen and rubber materials like EPDM. Since black color is known for its natural ability to absorb heat, black commercial roofs are a good option for businesses located in colder regions. By absorbing heat, a high-quality black roofing system can help you keep your commercial building naturally warm, which can significantly reduce your utility bills every month.

This heat-absorbing property of commercial roofs also reduces the chances of ice or snow formation on the roof, which, in turn, can help minimize your maintenance efforts and expenses.

However, these roofs still need proper maintenance to remove the accumulated debris like leaves and dirt from the roof on a regular basis. Regular maintenance makes sure that your black roof keeps performing efficiently and you can take full advantage of its heat-absorbing properties for years to come.

On the downside, if your business is in a warmer region, a black commercial roof may not be an ideal option for you. In this case, a black roof can increase your air conditioning cost and may even result in a heat island effect.

What Are White Commercial Roofs?

These roofs are commonly manufactured using PVC, TPO, or metallic materials with a white coating. Also known as “cool roofs”, white commercial roofs are a wonderful option for businesses situated in hotter regions. These roofs can reflect heat and UV radiation away from the building. The high reflective properties of white roofs can help maintain a cool and comfortable temperature inside commercial buildings, which, in turn, can help you save some significant money on heating expenses.

However, just like any other type of roof, you need to keep your white roof properly maintained to enjoy its incredible cool roofing benefits. So, make sure to keep your white roof free from debris and dirt to make the most of its heat-reflecting properties.

While white roofs are great at keeping a commercial building comfortable and cool, they may not be a good option for buildings located in colder regions. A white roof in a colder climate may increase your utility bills as you’ll have to rely on your heating systems to maintain the right temperature inside your building.

Contrary to black roofs, a white roof may escalate the issue of snow and ice formation on the roof. So, you need to remove snow more frequently because if left unattended, it may lead to ice damming and standing water on your commercial roof.

Get in touch

At Republic Roofing, with over a decade of commercial roofing experience, we can help you select the best commercial roof for your building. We specialize in the installation and repairs of both commercial roofs as well as residential roofing systems. We can help you get a top-quality commercial roof that will stand the test of time and make your business more productive and energy efficient. For more information, contact Republic Roofing at 901-437-5278. We service areas in Lakeland, Germantown, Bartlett, Memphis, and Collierville, TN.