Cooler roofs will prevail: colours and coatings to help beat the heat
News Source
β’Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:20 GMT
π° What Happened
Australia is heading into a strong El Nino summer, so hot days are likely. Experts say the colour and coating of your roof can change how hot your home gets.
Adelaide engineer Nic Jacobson upgraded his insulation, but his upstairs rooms stayed hot. After he painted the roof and the western wall with a heat-reflective coating, the upstairs cooled down. He says his air conditioning bill dropped.
Most Australian roofs are medium or dark in colour. Lighter roofs reflect more heat.
π The Backstory
Reflective coatings are not new. The coating Jacobson used is a water-based ceramic paint first made for the space shuttle. It pushes back infrared radiation so the roof heats up less.
A simple test in Adelaide found coated tiles stayed far cooler than untreated ones on a warm day. Research from the University of New South Wales found the cost can come back through lower power bills and a roof that lasts longer.
π― Why It Matters
Cooler roofs can mean lower power bills and safer homes during heatwaves. A simple paint job may help people who cannot afford solar panels or new air conditioning.
Australia is heading into a strong El Nino summer, so hot days are likely. Experts say the colour and coating of your roof can change how hot your home gets.
Adelaide engineer Nic Jacobson upgraded his insulation, but his upstairs rooms stayed hot. After he painted the roof and the western wall with a heat-reflective coating, the upstairs cooled down. He says his air conditioning bill dropped.
Most Australian roofs are medium or dark in colour. Lighter roofs reflect more heat.
Reflective coatings are not new. The coating Jacobson used is a water-based ceramic paint first made for the space shuttle. It pushes back infrared radiation so the roof heats up less.
A simple test in Adelaide found coated tiles stayed far cooler than untreated ones on a warm day. Research from the University of New South Wales found the cost can come back through lower power bills and a roof that lasts longer.
Cooler roofs can mean lower power bills and safer homes during heatwaves. A simple paint job may help people who cannot afford solar panels or new air conditioning.