5 High-Tech Roofing Innovations

Architecture is still a key place for technology and innovation to shake things up, especially with the increase of urbanization and the influx of more concentrated human populations around metropolitan areas. Here are some current roofing and architectural innovations that are shaking up the design game.

Cool Roofs

Tar and asphalt seem like pretty standard roofing materials to cover buildings. A result of darker roofing surfaces, however, is an increase in temperatures and, as a result, greater heat gain. This increased heat intake naturally results in higher cooling costs.

Cool roofing systems are different. They are made of a light-colored membrane instead of a thick black tar, and they reflect the sun’s rays instead of absorbing them to protect a building from developing too much heat.

Green Roofs

Some urban planners prefer not to let solar energy go to waste. That’s where a green roof option comes into play to counteract the surface-absorbed heat while taking advantage of natural energy.

Green roofs are essentially turning a bare roof space into an active garden area—a kind of rooftop greenhouse. Perhaps that’s why they’re also referred to as a living roof because they have the goal of transforming a sterile space into a surprise ecological escape. This has a cooling instead of heating effect on the building due to the combination of shade with heat and sunshine absorption.

Blue Roofs

Another environmental roofing innovation is blue roofing. This roof is designed to capture and store rainwater and is used as temporary storage for that rainwater. Automated roof runoff management systems are also known as active blue roofs, as the control devices that collect the rainwater and roof drainage can be managed and adjusted to be most effective.

Sometimes, blue roof systems are integrated with green roof systems to make irrigation and plant watering a much more intuitive and effortless process. These systems help to prevent sewer water overflow in tightly populated or poorly irrigated urban areas, keep buildings naturally cooler and providing fresh rainwater to be used in a variety of ways.

Weather Resistant Barriers

This modern roofing innovation has been developing steadily over the past ten years or so into a more effective and balanced preventative barrier. Weather resistant barriers would be more aptly named water resistant barriers, as they take the form of mats that go down beneath your roof shingles and help block water from entering. There are a range of materials used for weather resistant barriers, and the technology is continually evolving and improving.

Solar

This is the innovative staple of the past ten years. Solar is getting more affordable all the time, and it follows the trend of the first three items on this list—it harnesses sunlight and heat energy, and redirects it from your home. Instead of baking the interior of your home, solar panels absorb heat and light and then transform it into energy, which can then be used to power your home or stored for emergency use.

Find out about the most innovative roofing solutions for your home from the experts at Findlay Roofing. Not sure how to tackle your next roofing project or repair dilemma? Our team can channel our expertise and personable practices into helping you get the roofing solutions that are just right for you.