Cool roof installation in Long Beach, CA

A dark roof in full Long Beach sun can get far hotter than the air around it. That heat soaks into the attic and the rooms below. A cool roof reflects more of the sun back into the sky and sheds the heat it does absorb, so the roof surface and the attic stay cooler.

Cool roofs are not one material. There are cool-rated shingles, tile, metal finishes and flat-roof membranes and coatings. We help you pick the right one for your roof type and make sure it meets any state energy rules that apply.

What makes a roof cool-rated

Two numbers describe a cool roof product. Solar reflectance is how much sunlight the surface bounces back. Thermal emittance is how well it releases the heat it absorbs. Products are tested and rated, and those ratings are what building departments look at.

Light colors usually score higher, but not only white. Many cool-rated shingles and tiles come in grays, tans and earth tones made with reflective granules or pigments. That means you can often keep a color that suits the house.

• Solar reflectance: sunlight bounced off the roof
• Thermal emittance: heat released back out
• Ratings are tested and listed for each product
• Cool-rated colors are not limited to white

When Title 24 calls for a cool roof

California's Title 24 energy code can require a cool-rated roof on some re-roofs. Whether it applies depends on things like your roof slope, the climate zone, the size of the re-roofed area and the type of building. Some low-slope roofs face stricter targets than steep-slope roofs.

The rules change over time, and there are exceptions. We check what applies to your roof before ordering material and include the product ratings in the permit paperwork so the inspection goes smoothly.

Cool roof choices by roof type

On a sloped roof, cool-rated architectural shingles are the most affordable option. Light concrete tile and many metal finishes also rate well. On low-slope and flat roofs, white or light TPO and PVC membranes and reflective coatings give the biggest drop in surface temperature.

The right choice depends on your roof slope, the look you want and your budget. A Spanish home can use cool-rated tile in a warm color. A mid-century flat roof can go white without anyone seeing it from the street.

Getting the most from a cool roof

A cool roof works best with a vented attic and good insulation. While the roof is open, we check intake and exhaust ventilation and can add vents if the attic is starved for air. That helps keep heat from building up under the roof deck.

Near the coast, salt and dust can dull reflective surfaces over time. A gentle rinse on flat roofs every so often helps keep reflectance up. Steep-slope products are designed to hold their rating with normal weathering.

When to call about cool roof installation

Cool roofs for Long Beach's sun and building rules

Inland parts of Long Beach, like North Long Beach, Bixby Knolls and the East side near the 605, run warmer in summer than the beach neighborhoods, and homes there feel the most benefit from a cool roof. Flat-roof apartments downtown and in Alamitos Beach and low-slope mid-century homes in Rancho Estates also gain a lot from reflective membranes.

A re-roof in Long Beach needs a building permit, and the permit review is where Title 24 cool roof rules are applied. In historic districts, a bright white roof on a visible slope may not suit design review, so we look for cool-rated products in traditional colors. Cities outside Long Beach have their own building departments, and we check each one's process.