By Emma Peterson. 

See what AskARoofer readers were interested in this month!  

It’s time again for our monthly article recap! At the end of each month, we like to look at the articles that caught you, our readers, attention. Not only does this give us a chance to walk down memory lane, but it also creates a helpful summary of the month for others to read!  

This month, Anna Lockhart kicks off our list with an article all about saving money on home renovations or projects. Her article not only breaks down immediate savings in the forms of tax breaks, rebates and incentives, but also long-term savings on things like maintenance and performance. Next on our list is an article from our CEO and president, Heidi J. Ellsworth, about metal siding’s rising popularity, followed by an article from the Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC) about their new cool surfaces toolkit.  

Second place on the list is an article highlighting the National Women in Roofing Oregon Council’s coordination of a roof replacement for a Portland homeowner in need. This replacement was a great example of the good the roofing industry does when people come together, with support from a variety of leading companies like Malarkey Roofing Products, ABC Supply, SRS Building Products and Owens Corning. 

And the number one spot on our list was taken by an article by Anna Lockhart about “the ways metal roofing materials help protect homes and businesses from wildfires.” For those living in areas that are prone to a summer wildfire season, this article is a must-read!  

April 2026 top article list 

5 – Financial benefits homeowners need to consider by Anna Lockhart.  

4 – Metal siding on the rise: How performance, data and design are reshaping exterior walls by Heidi J. Ellsworth. 

3 – New cool surfaces toolkit site provides public with resources and knowledge base by the Cool Roof Rating Council. 

2 – Roofing community rallies for Oregon homeowner by The Coffee Shops™. 

1 – Maximizing fire resistance with metal by Anna Lockhart. 

By Anna Lockhart.  

Do you know the best way to save on home renovations or roofing projects? Here’s how! 

No matter the time of year, there’s one thing that is always at the top of mind for homeowners – how will certain purchases impact my taxes? And with that worry comes a wave of follow up decisions: navigating whether to invest in home improvement projects, which design choices will offer the best value in the long run and so on. Knowing that the pressure to make the right choice for your finances can be overwhelming, Metal Roofing Alliance (MRA) offers a comprehensive look at everything you need to know when it comes to tax breaks, rebates and incentives.  

Federal programs are a great place to start when navigating roofing upgrades or replacements, and how it can impact your financial planning. Select roofing upgrades can grant homeowners benefits, especially if the roofing option is an energy-efficient material, for example.  

The MRA points to the Federal Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit as a valuable opportunity to explore. In 2026, homeowners can claim back up to 30% of the cost of qualifying metal roofing materials (limitations do apply). Not only that, but based on the state homeowners reside in, they could gain further assistance and credit back for choosing energy efficient materials. Most notably, states like Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Texas, Oregon and Washington prioritize energy-efficient and eco-conscious roofing choices and understanding what your state offers can make a difference.  

Further, understanding the ins and outs of tax exemptions and how your project might quality is key to getting the most out of your purchases and investments. Is the roof for your primary residence? Will the roof you’re considering be ENERGY STAR® or Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC) certified? Does the installation timeline meet tax deadlines? The answer to these questions can help refine your options and provide a clearer picture at how much you stand to gain or lose financially based on different materials.  

The MRA is dedicated to providing homeowners with the tools they need to succeed in installing and navigating metal roofing materials. And when it comes to your finances, metal roofing is an option that often pays back tenfold over the course of its lifespan. But when it comes to immediate payoff, there’s options to consider.  

Read the original article to learn more about your financial options!

The Cool Surfaces Toolkit is designed to make trusted, science-based information on cool roofs, walls and pavements more accessible to a broad range of audiences. 

The Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC) has released a new Cool Surfaces Toolkit microsite featuring informational resources about solar-reflective “cool” roofs, exterior walls and pavements. The Cool Surfaces Toolkit is accessible at coolrooftoolkit.org.

The purpose of the toolkit site is to provide a collection of educational content for members of the general public and practitioners such as architecture and design professionals; policy and program developers; roofing and construction contractors; teachers and educators; and more. It offers streamlined access to educational briefs, videos, courses and other publications separate from the CRRC’s primary website, coolroofs.org. It also includes a blog and hosts A Practical Guide to Cool Roofs and Cool Pavements: Primer, which was developed by the Global Cool Cities Alliance to provide detailed guidance on the use of cool roof and pavement materials.

A standout feature of the site is the Cool Surfaces Knowledge Base, a repository for cool surfaces and heat island information from around the world. The knowledge base catalogues over 600 peer-reviewed research and technical studies; codes, standards, policies and laws; government reports; case studies and demonstration projects; and sample program documents and implementation frameworks. It is updated regularly to include new publications. The knowledge base is searchable and can be filtered by a variety of criteria, including open access availability.

“Our hope for the microsite is that it opens doors for more audiences to utilize and benefit from the CRRC’s extensive collection of scientifically supported educational resources. There is something for everyone who has an interest in cool surfaces, whether they are a teacher looking for classroom materials, a policymaker in need of answers or a seasoned design professional,” says CRRC Communications Manager Audrey McGarrell. According to Kurt Shickman, chair of the CRRC Education Committee and ex-officio CRRC board member, “The CRRC draws on experts from across industry and academia to produce high-quality, balanced and accurate educational materials. The new microsite is a fantastic and intuitive way to find all of that knowledge and insight.”

The Cool Surfaces Toolkit is designed to make trusted, science-based information on cool roofs, walls and pavements more accessible to a broad range of audiences. Additional materials and updates will continue to be added over time as they become available. The site is now publicly available at coolrooftoolkit.org.

About CRRC

The CRRC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that develops fair, accurate and credible methods for evaluating and labeling the radiative properties of roofing and exterior wall products. The CRRC’s mission is to bring objective, scientific information related to cool surfaces to critical discussions and informed decisions about the impacts of heat islands, extreme heat and energy use in the built environment. Please contact the CRRC at info@coolroofs.org or (866) 465-2523 for more information on its programs.

By Emma Peterson. 

Explore the science, benefits and savings surrounding cool roofing. 

Did you know that a traditional roof can reach temperatures upwards of 150°F on sunny summer afternoons? This type of heat and exposure not only can prematurely age the roof, but it also contributes to things like the urban heat island effect (when urban areas experience higher temperatures, greater pollution and negative health impacts during hot summer months due to the overwhelming presence of heat-absorptive surfaces like pavement and heat-generating activities like engines) and can raise the building's cooling costs! So, what can you do about this? Cool roof materials! 

What is a cool roof  

The United States Department of Energy reports that a “cool roof is designed to reflect more sunlight than a conventional roof, absorbing less solar energy, [and lowering the temperature by 50°F or more].” Lowering this temperature leads to a variety of benefits, both for the building owner and the environment around it. Benefits include: 

• Energy bill savings: By keeping the roof cooler, the entire building stays cooler. This helps reduce the air conditioning needs of the building and can save a lot of money over time.  
• Extend roof life: Extensive exposure to high temperatures can prematurely age a roof. By lowering the temperature a roof reaches, cool roofing can extend the lifespan of a roof. 
• Reduce urban heat island effect: Because the roof is absorbing less heat (ergo releasing less heat later) and instead reflecting it back out into the atmosphere, it lowers outside temperatures and can help offset climate issues.  
• Decrease pollution: Many air pollutants are temperature dependent and create a cooler atmosphere around it, cool roofs can actually slow the formation of smog! They also generally reduce the number of pollutants put into the environment as they lower the power plant energy consumption by reducing air condition usage. 

What does a cool roof look like? 

Cool roofs come in many different shapes and forms. Many are often lighter-colored, as that allows them to reflect more sunlight and subsequently heat. However, as “about half of sunlight arrives as invisible “near infrared” radiation... dark materials can use special pigments (colorants) that preferentially reflect this invisible light.” This innovation allows home and building owners to adopt cool roofing without sacrificing things like curb appeal. 

One of the best resources to work with to make a choice about cool roofing is the Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC). They are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that “develops fair, accurate and credible methods for evaluating and labeling the radiative properties of roofing and exterior wall products.” Specifically, the rated roof products directory is a great resource to learn more about cool roofing materials and products.  

Installing a cool roof 

While cool roofing has many benefits, they can be a bit expensive. Oftentimes, that cost is offset but the long-term savings in reduced energy bills and extended roof lifespan, but it can be a lot up front. Luckily, there are a lot of programs that help make cool roofs affordable! A great example is the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) rebates for cool roof installations. These rebates offer “$0.20 to $0.80 per square foot for eligible cool roof installations” in order to make energy-efficiency more accessible.  

The rebates available to home and building owners depends on the state and city they live in, though there was a bill (H.R.2679) introduced in April 2025 called Cool Roof Rebate Act of 2025 that aims to “to direct the Secretary of Energy to establish and carry out a program to provide rebates for the purchase and installation of cool roof products.” However, as of the writing of this article, this bill is still being examined by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. In the meantime, here are some of the rebates to look into based on what state you’re in!  

• California: Cool roof rebate options are not limited to Los Angeles. There’s a statewide program called Energy Upgrade CA that offers rebates of up to $5,000 for eligible cool roofing materials that are installed alongside other energy efficient home upgrades. 
• Florida: Florida’s Solar and Energy Loan Fund (SELF) offers rebates of up to $5,000 for roofing materials that are certified with ENERGY STAR®. 
• New York: Like Florida, New York offers rebates based on the installation of ENERGY STAR® certified roofing products. This is part of the state’s NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research and Development Authority) program. 
• Ohio: Home and business owners in Ohio can get interest rate reductions of loans for energy-efficient roofing through Ohio’s Eco-Link program. 
• Texas: The Texas Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) is a powerful financial program that can provide a loan of up to 100% for energy efficiency and renewable energy retrofits.  
• Illinois: For residents of Illinois, they can apply for grants up to 50% of the installation cost through the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation. 

In addition to state rebates and programs, many utility companies and roofing manufacturers offer their own rebates and incentives to encourage the use of cool roofing materials. A great example is residents of Colorado and Minnesota whose utility company is Xcel Energy, who can use “ENERGY STAR® certified roofing materials as part of their home energy efficiency programs.” As for manufacture incentives, companies like GAF, Owens Corning and CertainTeed have different promotions and rebates available. Overall, no matter where you are, cool roofs are a great option to not only help the environment and your community but also save some money and make your building more comfortable. 

Original image source: Cool Roof Rating Council

By Emma Peterson. 

Learn how cool roofs create a more energy-efficient and equitable Hawaiʻi. 

Every state in the U.S. presents unique challenges and needs when it comes time to constructing or renovating a building. For example, in Colorado, residents need to think about snow retention, while in Florida it’s tropical storms and hurricanes that are big concerns. Last year, Lauren White, editor at The Coffee Shops™, got the chance to talk to Howard Wiig and Ron Chatterjee at the Hawaiʻi State Energy Office about some of the unique challenges facing Hawaiʻi communities.  

Given their respective position positions at the state energy office, the conversation naturally drifted towards energy efficiency challenges in the Hawaiian Islands. One of the biggest reasons this conversation is so crucial in Hawaiʻi is limited land availability because it is an island state. Ron elaborated: “Unlike the mainland, there's almost no gas infrastructure here. We don't have gas water heaters or gas appliances. The most gas used is in the Waikiki area, on the resorts, because there are no gas reserves on the islands.” The gas used in the resort areas is either manufactured synthetically or shipped to Hawaiʻi at a hefty price.  

In the place of gas infrastructure, many communities rely on electricity for appliances like water heaters. The problem with these electrical resistance-based systems is that they are notoriously inefficient. So the communities that rely on them end up paying more for less because technology like solar panels and solar-thermal heaters have quickly outpaced resistant heaters (systems that use electric coils).  

So why haven’t Hawaiʻi residents switched over to the more economical and efficient option? Lack of accessibility. Howard explained: “To look at this from an equity standpoint, if you look at a map of where solar thermal heaters and photovoltaics are installed, and you correlate that with per-capita income, guess where those more energy efficient units are? On the homes of the people who can afford it. The majority of resistance water heaters still in use today are in lower-income areas.” 

What Ron and Howard are working on with their team at the Energy Office is helping low-to-moderate income communities' access better energy solutions. One of the ways they make this happen is through grants. “We're working with a lot of the programs that the Inflation Reduction Act and the bipartisan infrastructure law have created,” Ron elaborated. “We apply for grants mostly aimed at these communities. For example, Hawaiʻi was awarded$34 million for the Solar for All program from the Environmental Protection Agency. Using these funds, the Hawaiʻi Green Infrastructure Authority is providing solar for more residents.” 

In addition to the grant work that the state energy office participates in, they are also taking initiative by training contractors on the islands and changing building codes to create healthier, more energy-efficient structures. As an example, Howard shared that under Hawaiʻi Energy Code 2B, when roofs are replaced, instead of having to insulate them, contractors must make them reflective. In this, Hawaiʻi is unique in the nation. And studies show savings from insulation versus savings from reflectivity are approximately equal. 

The big difference between insulation and cool roof coatings is that where insulation keeps cool air trapped inside a space, cool roof coatings keep heat from conducting into a space in the first place. The Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC) explains cool roofing as follows. A cool roof reflects sunlight (solar energy), emitting any heat that was absorbed. This makes the roof literally stay cooler and reduces the amount of heat conducted into the building below. Cool roofing is growing popular in areas on the mainland like southern California and in the southwest states because it has proven to be incredibly effective. In fact, Howard explained, when Hawaiʻi developed Building Energy Code (2B), they took a lot of cues from California’s Title 24 reflectivity and emissivity ratings on products.  

Beyond the energy efficiency goals driving this choice, it is also a more affordable solution that negates the need to ship more materials to the islands. Ron explained that insulation, like gas, is a lot more expensive in Hawaiʻi than on the mainland. So, reflective coatings on walls and roofs are the economical way forward because they provide the same amount of heat mitigation as insulation would. Overall, these initiatives not only help the environment and the state from an energy efficiency perspective, but also give the people of Hawaiʻi healthier and more comfortable homes to live in. 

Original photo source: Hawaiʻi’s State Energy Office

By Emma Peterson.

Learn how an $18.1M grant is powering Hawaiʻi’s push for energy efficiency.

Building a more environmentally friendly future is not only crucial to mitigating the future effects of climate change, but it also provides economic and health benefits for people right now. A huge part of doing this is building a more efficient and resilient energy grid. Recently, Hawaiʻi’s State Energy Office received an $18.1million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to help them implement a building energy performance standard aimed at energy-efficiency. Lauren White, the editor at The Coffee Shops™, got the chance to sit down with Howard Wiig and Ron Chatterjee of the Hawaiʻi State Energy Office to talk about the grant and where the money will be going.

Ron, who is an energy efficiency specialist, explained the core of what this grant does, saying, “It's to develop energy targets for older existing commercial buildings that were constructed before building energy codes were introduced. It's not directed at residential at all, although some very large multifamily buildings are going to be part of this at a much later date. But it's office buildings, hospitals, shops and resorts, who are the main energy users on the islands.” The majority of the money will be used to create a workforce development program to support the goals of this program. The skilled trades workers who come out of the program will then be able to work in the field, retrofitting and rebuilding according to the increased energy efficiency standards.

Because the training is being done with the goal of having skilled workers who can make buildings in their communities more energy efficient, there is a lot of code training involved. Howard has a lot of experience with energy codes, having watched the first energy codes emerge in the 1980s. He shared a bit of the history, saying, “In the 1990s came the upwelling of energy codes for residential buildings. And a residence is defined as a building that is three stories or less in height and is intended for the habituation of occupants. If you have a three-story building, and the top two are for residents, and the bottom is for retail, then that's called a mixed-use building.”  

A great example of the type of installation practices and products that these codes deal with are cool roofs. The Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC) describes a cool roof as, “One that strongly reflects sunlight (solar energy) and also cools itself by efficiently emitting any heat that was absorbed. The roof literally stays cooler and reduces the amount of heat conducted into the building below.” The use of cool roofs is an especially powerful method in the unique climate of Hawaiʻi. Ron explained, “We have absolutely no heating load. We have a lot of cooling load. If you look at the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), who do all the heating and cooling calculations, even Miami has a certain amount of heating load that they anticipate. We are the only place that does not. And so, insulation being a lot more expensive here than on the mainland, the reflective coatings on walls and roofs are the economical way forward because it does the same amount of heat mitigation as insulation would.”

So, when the Hawaiʻi’s State Energy Office started developing the codes for energy efficiency, they kept this in mind. Howard explained, “When the 2015 energy code came along on the mainland and said that existing residences needed to install the same amount of insulation as a new construction if they were going to reroof, the Roofing Contractors Association of Hawaiʻi came to me and said, ‘Howard, this is going to double the cost of our reroofing.’ And that's when we sat down and came up with this solution, using California's Title 24, which requires a higher reflectivity and emissivity rating, in our code.”

The result of establishing and continuing to develop codes like this can be seen through typical single-family residence energy consumption. Howard explained, “When I first started in the business, the typical kilowatt-hour bill for your typical single-family residence was about 1,000 kilowatt-hours a month. Now, even with every electricity consuming device known to man, our average single-family residential bill is now 600 KWH a month.” Now, eight years later and with the grant supporting them, Ron, Howard and their coworkers are still improving and developing their code and workforce to create more energy efficiency in Hawaiʻi.  

Original photo source: Hawaiʻi’s State Energy Office

By Howard Wiig, Hawai‘i State Energy Office. 

Explore the benefits of cool wall technology and its role as a sustainable solution for modern construction in a warming world. 

For centuries, homes in hot climates like the Mediterranean have been painted white to help reflect heat. As global temperatures rise, this practice is more relevant than ever. With advances in pigment technology, reflective surfaces can now be an array of colors that expand beyond white. “Cool colors” offer the same appearance as standard colors while reflecting more solar energy thanks to enhancements with materials like titanium dioxide. This technology reduces heat absorption without altering the visible color, making them a smart choice for energy-efficient and sustainable buildings worldwide. 

Understanding the benefits of cool coatings 

Coatings formulated with cool colors absorb less heat and have a total solar reflectance (SR) that is significantly higher than when using the same-colored coating with conventional pigments. For example, a standard green paint may have an SR of 0.25 while a similar-looking cool green paint may have an SR of 0.50 – regardless of whether the substrate is wood, cementitious fiberboard or stucco. Cool colors’ secret sauce is titanium dioxide and other minerals embedded in the paints.  

Two 2010 studies by Newport Ventures consulting on adding R-3 and R-5 continuous insulation in addition to R-13 interior insulation to steel-framed homes resulted in estimated payback times of between 46 and 85 years. An independent consultant produced nearly identical estimates. While Hawai‘i’s kWh cost was $0.27 in 2010, the value of the dollar has slipped by 44% since then, creating an approximate tradeoff.   

Cool exterior walls 

Cool exterior walls are evaluated using two properties – solar reflectance and thermal emittance, measured on a scale from 0 to 1, where 1 is the most reflective or emissive. The Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC) measures these two properties for exterior wall products, both for the product's initial values and after three years of outdoor exposure. The CRRC publishes the results in the CRRC Wall Rated Products Directory. The directory enables you to compare the rated values of various product types and brands. 

Hawai‘i was the first state to add cool walls to its International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). In Table R407, Points Option, credit is given for high reflectance walls in the wood-framed, metal-frames and mass walls sections. A high-reflectance wall is defined as having a visible light reflectance of .64 or greater. (Subsequent issues of Hawai‘i’s amendments to the IECC will use the metric of SR.)   

Nationally, ASHRAE’s 90.2 standard for residences requires an SR of .20 for mass walls. California’s Title 24 and the City of Los Angeles have cool city requirements that include cool surfaces and other states and cities are being added to the list.                 

LEED certification 

Perhaps the most powerful driver of cool walls is LEED — Leadership in Energy Efficient Design — a documentation program which requires building designers to achieve high levels of health, comfort and energy efficiency. Well over 100,000 buildings worldwide are LEED certified. High reflectance surfaces receive key points. Under LEED Version 4.1, “Heat Island Mitigation With Cool Walls,” one point will be awarded for the installation of a cool exterior wall product under the Heat Island Reduction Sustainable Sites Credit for the Building Design and Construction (BD+C) rating system. When a cool exterior wall product is used for the heat island reduction credit, the CRRC Directory can be used to find products that meet the requirements.    

To achieve the credit, at least 60% of the building’s gross exterior wall area (including vertical fenestration) must be surfaced with a wall material that has an SR of at least 0.60 and thermal emittance of at least 0.75.  

Cool walls in energy studies 

Because the same laws of physics that apply to cool roofs apply to cool walls, an EPA brochure offering an excellent primer on cool roofs is entirely relevant to the cool wall designer.    

For those wanting a deep dive into cool walls, the California Energy Commission’s study is possibly the most definitive. In California, project researchers used EnergyPlus to perform more than 100,000 building energy simulations, which included: 

• 10 different building categories 
• Three building vintages 
• 16 California climate zones 
• 15 United States climate zones 

Key parameters varied during these simulations, including: 

• Wall albedo (solar reflectance) 
• Roof albedo 
• Combination of walls modified 
• Building orientation 

Results showed: 

• Annual savings in source energy and energy costs across all California and warm U.S. climate zones 
• Reductions in emissions, including carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e), nitrogen oxide (NOx) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) 
• HVAC peak power demand reductions in all simulated zones 
• In California specifically, cool walls reduced whole-building annual HVAC energy use by 3% to 25% 

Solar radiation control is an effective means to decrease building cooling energy. By reflecting sunlight away from an exterior surface before it can be absorbed, solar radiation control keeps the exposed building surface cooler. This decreases the temperature difference between the inside and the outside of walls. Reduced heat flow means lower energy costs for the building owner. Reflecting sunlight away also diminishes the effects of high temperature and intense sunlight on immediate surroundings. We can learn from the ancient Mediterranean designers and improve upon them by using our secret sauces to specify highly reflective medium colors as well.  An easy-to-use guide is provided by the Lawrence Berkeley Lab.  

About Howard Wiig 

Howard Wiig is the codes and standards program manager for the Hawai‘i State Energy Office. Any comments or questions, please contact him at howard.c.wiig@hawaii.gov. 

By Emma Peterson. 

Learn a bit about the science behind having a cool home and why it’s so important. 

As the pressure of rising heat levels continues to emerge, issues like urban heat islands and overstressed energy grids are becoming more and more common. In this AskARoofer podcast episode, Megan Ellsworth and Lauren White speak to Sarah Schneider and Audrey McGarrell of the Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC) to learn how homes are being redesigned to account for these issues. CRRC is a nonprofit that works on ensuring free data and information surrounding urban cooling and energy efficiency is widely available to homeowners and contractors. Sarah is CRRC’s deputy director and Audrey is a project manager for the team. 

In the most basic of terms, a cool roof is one that reflects sunlight and re-emits heat that is typically absorbed by traditional roofs. Audrey explained a bit more, “We're really looking at solar reflectance and thermal emittance. These both fall under the umbrella of what we call radiative properties, and they're both measured on a scale of zero to one. Zero would be basically no reflectance, no emittance, whereas one would be the most reflective or emissive that you could get.” Getting closer to that one means that the roof itself would be cooler, which keeps the home cooler and means there is less need for internal air conditioning.  

But this work is not limited to the roof. Audrey explained, “The exterior wall side is a newer topic that's coming on the scene as communities are looking for more ways to combat heat as the world continues to be warmer. With a cool exterior wall, it's exactly the same concept in that it has a higher solar reflectance, a higher thermal emittance, and keeps the building cooler inside.” One of the biggest challenges to expanding the conversation to exterior walls is the misconception that the impact is negligible.  

While a cool roof makes logical sense given the direct exposure to the sun, walls often don’t get direct sunlight all day. But they still play a key role in keeping a home cool. Audrey explained why they are equally important, “Studies have shown, at least in the state of California, that walls have only about half as much insulation as your attic or your roof does. That lesser insulation coupled with slightly less solar radiation kind of cancels itself out and we see quite similar benefits from cool exterior walls as we do with cool roofs.” 

Read the transcript or Listen to the entire episode to find out more about what keeps a roof and a home cool. 

New launches include Unified Steel Material List Generator, Unified Steel Cool Roof Colors, CEU Course on underlayments for architects and e-books and a new DaVinci color exterior support series.

Westlake Royal Roofing Solutions will also feature its new Unified Steel Cool Roof Colors, two hues rated by the Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC). Each color provides high solar reflectivity and high thermal emittance when solar energy hits the roof surface, detracting sunlight and radiating heat off the roof surface. The colors exceed California Energy Code (CEC) Title 24 Part 6 Cool Roof Requirements and, with a Solar Reflective Index greater than 20, meet Los Angeles County’s more stringent SRI requirements. The colors, Harborwood™ and Stirling Gray™, are offered in PINE-CREST Shake and PACIFIC Tile® profiles.

The company is also unveiling its new CEU course on roof underlayments for architects. The Importance of Roof Underlayment for Energy Efficiency and Fire Resistance course explores the roof underlayment as an integral part of the total roof system design and educates architects on the performance, benefits, fire resistance and weather resilience of various underlayment types. The course is accessible through Hanley Wood University and the AIA. Participants obtain 1.0 CEU credit upon completion. 

DaVinci will also recognize roofers from coast-to-coast who have received the 2023 DaVinci Masterpiece Contractor® Project of the Year Awards. Six residential projects and one commercial project have received the prestigious award. Qualifications for DaVinci Masterpiece Contractors to obtain the award include excellence of installation work, outstanding visual impact and ability of the roofing work to transform the look of a home or commercial project.

On Tuesday, February 27, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. PT, RoofersCoffeeShop will broadcast live from the Westlake Royal Roofing Solutions section of the Westlake Royal Building Products booth. Heidi Ellsworth, President of RoofersCoffeeShop, will interview industry leaders on new product introductions at the show, trends taking place in the industry and insights into show floor activities.

To explore the full suite of Westlake Royal Roofing Solution’s clay, concrete, steel, composite, and components roofing solutions, visit westlakeroyalroofing.com.

About Westlake Royal Roofing LLC 

Westlake Royal Roofing Solutions is a recognized, national leader in durable and sustainable clay, composite, concrete, and steel roof systems and components. The company’s offerings include US Tile products, a legacy line of premium, stunning clay tile solutions manufactured to the highest standard of sustainability and craftsmanship; DaVinci Roofscapes, beautiful and durable composite slate and shake roofing tiles; Newpoint Concrete Tile Roofing, the enduring line of concrete tile known for its superior strength, Class A fire rating and long-lasting beauty; Unified Steel Stone Coated Roofing, the ultra-lightweight roofing system which benefits from the structural strength of steel; and Westlake Royal Roofing Components, a full line of integrated roof components designed to deliver a higher standard of roof installation and performance.

About Westlake Royal Building Products

Westlake Royal Building Products USA Inc., a Westlake company (NYSE:WLK), is a leader throughout North America in the innovation, design, and production of a broad and diverse range of exterior and interior building products, including Siding and Accessories, Trim and Mouldings, Roofing, Stone, Windows and Outdoor Living. For more than 50 years, Westlake Royal Building Products has manufactured high quality, low maintenance products to meet the specifications and needs of building professionals, homeowners, architects, engineers and distributors, while providing stunning curb appeal with an unmatched array of colors, styles, and accessories.

By Dani Sheehan. 

Celebrate the top content from 2023 and see what topics are top of mind for home and building owners like you! 

When you have questions, we find the answers! No matter the topic, we strive to connect roofing contractors with homeowners and building owners to provide education and build relationships. We wanted to take a moment to celebrate the hard work by our industry partners and Coffee Shop crew in the amazing content we shared last year.  

Top articles 

Top AskARoofer article - “IKO Introduces Summit Grey – A new Color in its Line of Performance Shingles” 

The North American mountains inspired the addition of Summit Grey to IKO’s Dynasty® and Nordic™ Performance-class shingle lines. Offering homeowners exquisite curb appeal, these shingles also have a strong impact resistance rating and protect against wind uplift, so they are well suited for any climate. 

Top innovative product article - “Owens Corning Expands Algae Resistance Warranty Coverage” 

This article shows Owens Corning’s commitment to investing in the longevity of a roof’s curb appeal. Increased from ten years to 25 years, their Algae Resistance Limited Warranty provides long-term protection against blue-green algae thanks to advanced granule technology. Our innovative products’ page helps keep you up to date on new products, technologies and innovations designed to better protect your home. 

Top Q&A article - “Q&A – Advice on Flashing a Chimney” 

Our resident expert roofer, John Stout with Go Roof Tune Up™ helps a homeowner from Minnesota with a question about how high to run the flashing for their chimney. Don’t miss answers to all your roofing questions – submit your own question or read about other common problems and how to solve them! 

Top podcast episodes 

AskARoofer podcast - “How Cool is Your Roof?” 

Listen to industry experts from the Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC) explain how important it is for your roof to help manage the temperature of your home. In this exhilarating episode around sustainability, you’ll see why we think roofs are cool and how to take advantage of a cool roof for your home too! Catch more episodes from AskARoofer during your commute to work or while you’re cooking dinner and wow your friends and family with cool facts about all things roofing. 

Understanding Roof Restoration podcast - “Hail Damage and Fluid Applied Reinforced Roofing” 

Join Greg and Hal from Western Colloid as they discuss how fluid-applied reinforced roofing is an excellent way to remediate hail damage. If you’re a building owner, this episode is for you! They talk about how to identify hail damage on commercial roofs, which substrates are more susceptible to damage and how to talk to insurance adjusters about alternative solutions for repairs. Whether you’re looking to get into roof restorations yourself or just like learning about roofing systems, our Understanding Roof Restoration podcast provides answers to questions you submit each month. 

Social media posts 

Join our community of homeowners when you follow us on Instagram and TikTok and hear industry experts answer important questions about your roof. Some days it’s all business, and other days the crew is sure to have you rolling on the floor laughing and sending posts to all your friends. 

TikTok – In this video, homeowner Jack wants to know how long their multi-layered roof will last. Watch the video to find the answer you need! 

Instagram reel – Even working in the industry, I still call my dad when I’m having issues with my roof! This Instagram reel captures the sentiment all too well. Who do you call first?