Why are roof shingles black?

[dullard]

With insulation I doubt it matters how much heat your roof is absorbing.

Insulation + proper ventillation should result in not much difference at all.

Of course, if you skimp on either, then you might see a difference. But the solution isn't changing the color of the roof in that case, the solution is to fix your poor insulation/ventillation.

And, there is the other part of the picture. Even in Dallas (and many other parts of Texas) half of the year has daily temperature highs below 70°F where you WANT to absorb the sun's heat.

 

[OutHouse]

Black would melt snow quicker and help keep the house warmer in winter.
I bet black is normal for northern states and it seems terra-cotta color is more popular is southern states.

yup. ive every winter the temp may be 15 degrees but the the snow is melting off my roof.

 

[Imp]

yup. ive every winter the temp may be 15 degrees but the the snow is melting off my roof.

Hope that's the sun and not your heating going out the roof.

 

[lxskllr]

I'm not sure you want the snow to melt quicker. I'd think it would help insulate the house. That's how you can tell your insulation isn't great. The snow will melt faster than on a house with good insulation.

 

[CZroe]

Did you ever think that absorbing heat may be just as beneficial to the HVAC as reflecting it? Spring/Summer is only half the year. It all depend on what utility you need more of and how much it costs (gas vs. electricity).

 

[BoomerD]

My house has an almost black tile roof. In the summertime, attic temps are well over 130 degrees...TOO fucking hot.
I've considered painting them...but it would look ghetto at best...but replacing them would cost at least $15,000...so for now, I live with the extra heat.

 

[weadjust]

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http://www.koolseal.com/product_detail.asp?product_id=53-300

 

[Blackjack200]

I don't think I've seen the question answered yet so...

They're black because they're made of asphalt:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asphalt_shingle

 

[OutHouse]

Hope that's the sun and not your heating going out the roof.

the sun. there are advantages to living in denver and being a mile high. the roads do the same. if its a bright sunny day the snow will melt fast especially if its on a black surface.

 

[Demo24]

They are doing this in NYC by painting a lot of the roofs white. It will apparently save millions in cooling costs.

 

[Newbian]

They are doing this in NYC by painting a lot of the roofs white. It will apparently save millions in cooling costs.

And will cost millions in heating costs.

 

[silverpig]

Plain white would probably look dirty all the time.

 

[SunnyD]

Because they're made mostly from asphalt.

 

[werepossum]

Had a cow-orker whose 90+ year old father got tired of replacing roofs, so he had the shingles removed and had his roof fiberglassed in white gel coat. Man, his neighbors bitched. Glare from that sucker was horrible, and I can't imagine trying to walk on it. But it did save him quite a bit during the summer. I would imagine he'd lose some of it over winter though.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

Once you go black.