Product Comparison

 

Roof Product Comparison

If you are considering a cool roof, this table can help you compare different roofing materials and select the right cool roof option for your building. Because there are frequent developments in building materials science and the availability of products, the best source of information for the Solar Reflectance and Thermal Emittance performance of materials that are rated to meet the requirements of various codes, standards, and financial incentive programs in California is the CRRC Rated Roof Products Directory.

Roof Type Conventional Roofs Cool Roofs Life Expectancy (years) Roof Slope
Roof Option Solar Reflectance Roof Option Solar Reflectance Material Cost*
Asphalt Shingle black or dark brown with conventional pigments 0.05 - 0.15 “white” (actually light gray) 0.20 - 0.30 $ 15 - 30 Steep slope
medium gray or brown with cool pigments 0.20 - 0.30
Built-Up Roof with dark gravel 0.10 - 0.15 with white gravel 0.30 - 0.50 $ - $$ 10 - 30 Low slope
with aluminum coating 0.25 - 0.60 smooth surface with white roof coating 0.75 - 0.85
Clay Tile dark color with conventional pigments 0.20 terracotta (unglazed red tile) 0.40 - 0.50 $$ - $$$ 50+ Steep slope
color with cool pigments 0.40 - 0.60
white 0.70
Concrete Tile dark color with conventional pigments 0.05 - 0.35 color with cool pigments 0.40 - 0.60 $ - $$$ 50+ Steep slope
white 0.70
Liquid Applied Coating smooth black 0.05 smooth white 0.60 - 0.90 $ 10 Low or steep slope
Metal Roof unpainted, corrugated 0.30 - 0.50 white painted 0.60 - 0.70 $$ 20 - 50+ Low or steep slope
dark-painted, corrugated 0.05 - 0.10 color with cool pigments 0.40 - 0.70
Modified Bitumen with mineral surface capsheet (SBS, APP) 0.10 - 0.20 white coating over a mineral surface (SBS, APP) 0.60 - 0.75 $ 10 - 30 Low slope
Single-Ply Membrane black (PVC) 0.05 white (PVC or TPO) 0.70 - 0.85 $ 10 - 20 Low slope
color with cool pigments 0.40 - 0.60
Wood Shake painted dark color with conventional pigments 0.05 - 0.35 bare 0.40 - 0.55 $ 15 - 30 Steep slope

*Cool Roof Material Cost

$: $0 - $2 per ft2
$$: $2 - $4 per ft2
$$$: $4 - $6 per ft2