Climate in Colorado – overview
Colorado has more hours of sun per year than Miami or San Diego. The average climate is typically affected by differences in elevation. Colorado is a mountain state, but a significant percentage of its area is taken up by high plains. Climate variations may occur even within short distances.
Mountain regions are cool and invigorating, with low humidity, which translates into a nice thermal comfort on hot days. In the lower elevations, precipitation is light too, as a result of Colorado`s distance from the Gulf of Mexico and the ocean.
Wind movement is typically moderate to high, with storms prevalent along the mountain slopes and eastern plains, but not so frequent, nor severe.
In the high mountains, winter brings heavy snow, which may cause spring floods, in years of below-normal snow accumulation.
Roofing in Colorado
In this diverse climate, the best roofing materials are those providing good protection against wind and UV radiation, as well as materials resistant to heavy snow fall, in the case of houses situated in the mountain areas. However, the climate is not the only factor to take into account when you choose the materials for your roof, so you should consult a local Centennial roofing contractor to help you make an informed choice based on quality and price.
Here are the materials recommended frequently by Centennial professional roofers, with their pros and cons.
- Asphalt shingles
A white or light roof is a cool roof, which means that it is a very good choice when it comes to reducing the heat build-up. Asphalt shingles in light colors are probably the most popular option in Colorado, due to the quality-price ratio. Nowadays, there are companies on the market that offer traditional asphalt roofing products treated with special paints that help reduce heat build-up even more. These materials reach a degree of solar reflection of 40%. Asphalt shingles can also be coated with granules in reflective colors that make them more durable than regular asphalt shingles, to various weather conditions.
- Metal shingles
When properly installed, a metal roof should last as long as the house, being waterproof, surviving strong winds and preventing snow accumulation. The metal is resistant to fire, rot, mold and insects. Metal shingles are lightweight and the installation process doesn`t take so long; they can even be applied on an existing roof without the need for additional structural support.
The metal reflects the radiant heat from the sun, preventing the excessive use of the air conditioner on hot summer days. Although the material itself has a low insulation value, many metal roof systems use open air space between the metal platform and the roof, to increase energy efficiency.
- Solar shingles
A solar shingle is a photovoltaic module encapsulated in a shingle shape, cast from classic materials and having standard size. Basically, it is a photoelectric mini-panel included in a ceramic frame. The materials from which solar shingles are made provide them with high resistance to hail impact and stress produced by snow buildup. From a practical point of view, the advantage of these materials is that they turn the roof from passive to active, generating electricity that will lower your bills.