In recent years, there has been a growing concern over climate change and rising energy costs. In response to this, a revolutionary product was designed. It has taken the paint industry by storm ever since. We’re talking about heat reflective roof paint, of course. And in this post we’ll take a close look at what it is and if it really works.

What is Heat Reflective Paint?

Heat reflective roof paint is helpful in cooling down your roof. This is due to the paint’s ability to reflect solar radiation. It eliminates solar heat before entering the building while drawing out excess heat. As a result, your building can benefit from better insulation.

There are many advantages to using heat reflective paint. It helps preserve your roof as it protects it from thermal shock and corrosion. It also reduces leaking. Having a heat reflective roof can even increase the value of your building.

When you use heat reflective paint, you’ll realise that you won’t need to use air conditioning as frequently. It can save up to 40% on your utility bill or reduce your energy usage by 25%. It can also lower the emission of carbon dioxide. Some estimates point to an offset of 18 tonnes of carbon dioxide in the average Australian household.

Moreover, this type of paint can help your building last longer. This makes heat reflective paint a more sustainable option for those who are environmentally-conscious.

 How Does Heat Reflective Paint Work?

To better understand how heat reflective paint works, we must first discuss energy spectrums. There’s a spectrum of energy that originates from the sun. There’s another that comes from building materials as well as those of the earth. All objects radiate energy at various degrees.

Solar energy is radiated on both a visible and invisible (infrared) spectrum. Objects like those you’d find in your house range between the mid and far end of the spectrum. Heat reflective
paint works by interrupting the normal transference of this energy.

 How is Energy Transferred?

Energyis transferred in three different ways: conduction, convection, and radiation. Each energy transfer can be countered by an insulation R-value, air-tightness layers, and a radiant barrier, respectively. Each energy transfer can affect the energy efficiency of a building’s floors, walls, and ceiling. Radiant barriers can include metallic surfaces, Low-E films, and white paints.

As you may already know, the high solar reflectance of white paint minimises the absorption of direct energy from the sun. This is known as the albedo effect. Therefore, it is safe to say that white paint does help save energy.

The sun transfers energy to the earth in the form of solar radiation. In turn, the earth radiates heat back to outer space. The sun, however, only provides buildings with energy for a few hours a day. Therefore, more is needed to provide homes with a comfortable room temperature around the clock. This is where heat reflective roof paint can make a big difference.

What difference does it make for a house to have cool walls?

Many houses have dark exterior walls. Although this is visually appealing, it is not the ideal choice of colour when it comes to energy efficiency. Simply put, dark colours absorb heat. When
exterior walls are painted with heat reflective paint, less heat is being absorbed. As a result, even if the walls are dark, a heat reflective coating will minimise thermal shock.

What difference does it make for a house to have cool roofing?

Heat reflective roof paint can reflect up to half of infrared light through solar radiation. Re-roofing isn’t necessary to help your house remain cool. Instead, you can save money by applying a heat reflective coating to your roof.

Can  Heat Reflective Paint Indoors higher Up Room Temperature?

No, heat reflective paint is ineffective when used indoors. If the paint has no exposure to sunlight, then it won’t perform. The only product that can really keep energy within a building is bulk insulation. Clearly, then, it takes much more than a thin layer of paint to radiate energy. Interestingly, this myth may have originated with TV ads about the product. In the advertisement, the “insulative” properties were tested in the presence of a blow torch. Other videos online demonstrated the same idea while using infrared heat lamps. The fact of the matter is, only the heater itself is radiating heat. The supposed evidence is inconclusive in regard to a building’s walls, ceiling, and floors.

Does Heat Reflective Paint Keep A Building Warm in Winter?

No, heat reflective paint does not keep in the heat during the cold, winter months. The reason for this is simple. The name “heat reflective paint” says it all. The paint is solar reflective, which is part of the energy spectrum that is visible. It is not infrared reflective. In winter, a home naturally loses some of its heat. It escapes from the roof via infrared radiation and is released into the atmosphere. Heat reflective paint doesn’t block or prevent the heat from leaving the building.