Do Dark Siding Attract Heat

A dark roof brings in more desired heat from the sun than a light roof.

Do dark siding attract heat.

Dark siding would absorb rather than reflect more sunlight making the siding hotter. Thinking about heat absorption dark exteriors are always going absorb more sun energy than whites creams and other light shades which are more reflective. For a long time homeowners avoided dark siding because it was more likely to fade and it absorbed more heat than light siding. The color of your home can affect heat absorption.

Scientific american is the essential guide to the most awe inspiring advances in science and technology explaining how they change our understanding of the world and shape our lives. So now that you ve heard the good and the bad would you take the plunge on your home s exterior and paint it black. Neal notes that dark shades also absorb more heat which means that your home will get hotter than it would if it were painted a lighter color. A white or light colored house will reflect more rays keeping indoor temperatures cooler in hot summer months.

Specifically we re talking about fading and heat retention. In order for sunlight to reach your siding the sun must shine on it. A dark roof absorbs more heat from the sun. However that s not the only reason you re better off sticking to lighter exterior house colors.

Your cooling system works harder to compensate for the extra heat and your bills slowly rise. Lighter colors on the other hand are reflective and cause much of the heat to from light rays to bounce off meaning they hold much less heat than a darker roof. If you think back to your elementary science class it s pretty easy to figure out why darker colors tend to absorb more light trapping heat in the roof and allowing it to flow into your attic. According to the department of energy s doe cooling your home naturally report dark dull colors can absorb 70 to 90 percent of the sun s radiant energy which can then be transferred into the home.

So why is dark siding catching on just now. The short answer is new siding technology is alleviating concerns that many homeowners had in the past when it came to dark siding colors. Meanwhile light colored paint can help reflect the sun s heat away from the home. Dark would also make it more likely to radiate heat away from its surface.

You might want to note where and when and what season that sunlight hits your home. This could mean higher cooling costs during the summer months. This can lead to higher utility bills he explains. But now new vinyl siding is better than ever at resisting fading and heat retention.

However there are a few simple solutions that will leave you worry free after your new black roofing installation. Black houses will absorb more heat from the sun than white houses. Learn more in our blog.