When shopping around for a reflective roofing product such as a roof coating, it is necessary to research the reflective capabilities the coating is able to provide initially and at 3 years. The Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC) tests and rates reflective roofing products to provide consultants and building owners with these initial and 3 year unbiased results.
While it is very important to select a roof coating that provides high reflectivity initially, it is more important to find a reflective coating that provides high reflectivity for the long run. The longer the coating remains reflective, the greater cost savings and benefits you will gain. This is where dirt pickup resistance becomes important. A white reflective roofing product with good dirt pickup resistance is defined as having the ability to maintain it’s white color and appearance even after the roof has come in contact with dirt, dust, and other outside environmental conditions that could darken the surface.
Roof coatings need to have excellent dirt pick-up resistance in order to reflect the sun’s heat away from the building. The coating must remain white in color, allowing the minimal amount of heat absorption as possible, if the coating is expected to preform at a high level years after installation. The darker in color the surface becomes as a result of dirt pickup, the more heat it absorbs. A similar analogy to this is when you wear a white shirt on a hot day; it keeps you cooler than if you wore a dark colored shirt that same day. The more heat the building absorbs, the more energy usage is necessary to cool the inside of the building, increasing energy costs. Depending on the roof coatings dirt pick-up ability, you eventually will lose your “cool roof” and the air conditioning energy savings you were obtaining initially, will be lessened or lost completely.
National Coatings reflective roof coatings have been tested and rated by the CRRC to provide our customers with initial and 3 year results to prove and guarantee that our top coats provide industry leading UV protection, longevity and brightness. They are formulated for superior dirt pick-up resistance and protection against biological attach, such as algae and mold. For a list of our CRRC rated products, click here.
For more information on our Cool Roof Coating Systems and Products, download our FREE Product and Application Brochure!