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par Maxime BOURASSIN le Jul 27, 2025 4:48:32 PM
A white roof offers many advantages not only for homes, but also for warehouses and other industrial and commercial facilities. This solution, which is both economical and ecological, aims to reduce summer temperatures and, more broadly, to increase the energy comfort of buildings. Let's take a closer look at the benefits of a white roof... for your wallet and the environment!
Related content: Painting roofs white: a solution to keep the heat out
Contents
Reflecting the sun's rays with a white roof
The main advantage of a white roof is its ability to reflect a large proportion of the sun's rays. Unlike black or dark grey roofs, which absorb up to 90% of the heat received, a white roof benefits from a high albedo, i.e. a high solar reflectivity. It therefore reflects the majority of the light spectrum, considerably reducing the temperature inside the building.
🔥There's little doubt about it at first, but whatever the type of building, the roof doesn't necessarily protect against the heat - quite the opposite, in fact: the materials used are often veritable receptacles for rising temperatures. Conversely, switching to a white roof offers the expected thermal comfort when it's hot outside.
Limiting urban heat islands
Similarly, especially for buildings located in densely populated cities, a white roof helps mitigate the urban heat island effect. Normally, in concrete neighborhoods, most buildings are covered by dark roofs, and floors are generally gray. All this leads to heat exchange and a significant rise in ambient temperature.
🌡 Conversely, white roofs are one of the key elements in maintaining coolertemperatures in the city.
Reducing CO2 emissions
In addition to energy savings, a white roof offers other advantages, particularly for businesses with large roof areas that need to air-condition their spaces. A white roofnaturally air-conditions buildings, limiting electricity consumption and heat rejection into the atmosphere.
Extending roof service life
White roof paint is also a way of extending the life of the roof. How can this be achieved? Quite simply because of the protection it can provide against UV rays. It prevents damage to roofing materials from the sun and temperature variations.
How do I paint my roof white?
Just as in Greece, where traditional houses are white, in France it's possible to paint a roof white and enjoy the same thermal benefits to limit the effects of heat.
💧Areflective roof coating suitable for buildings, known as "cool roof", now achieves fantastic results in lowering indoor temperatures. This type of paint, dedicated to different roof typologies, is specially designed to reflect a large amount of sunlight, thus reducing the heat absorbed by the roof.
On large buildings such as company headquarters, warehouses and factories, the cool roof is particularly suitable. At a time when the cost of electricity is a major issue, cool roofs are an effective way of reducing the need for air conditioning. To measure this advantage,the Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) must be equal toor greater than 78. Of course, the higher the SRI, the greater the energy efficiency of the cool roof.
Reflective coatings can be applied to a variety of substrates:
📌Bituminous membrane
📌Ardoise/natural tiles
📌Concrete
📌Metal ...
Call in the cool roof professionals
Although a white roof has many advantages, it may not be suitable for every type of building. Similarly, not all white paints are equal in this respect. In addition to being reflective, the product must also adhere perfectly and prevent stains from marring it.
✅ In any case, before opting for a white roof, consult a cool roof specialist who can assess the specific needs of your building and recommend the best solution.
A white roof offers many benefits to businesses, from thermal performance to energy savings, as well as extended roof life. While a wide range of materials and installation techniques are available for this type of roof, calling in a white reflective paint professional will enable you to choose the best solution for your building.
See all our content on cool roof paints and white roofs.
With the right paint, you can benefit from all its advantages, to reduce your environmental footprint and improve comfort inside your facilities!
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