HOW HOT IS YOUR ROOF?

Material
Roof Temperature rise above air temperature (degrees F, full sun, no wind)
Remarks
Bright white smooth materials
15 F
The coolest construction materials, can be roof coatings, membrane, metal, tile, ect. A soiled white is warmer about 30 F.
Rough white surface
35 F
Rough surfaces of any given materials absorb more sublight than smooth surfaces.
Very light (pastel) colors
15 to 55 F
 
Intense but not very light colors (green, red, blue, ect.
79 to 83 F
Research may identify cooler colors.
Medium gray
52 F
Reflectance halfway between white and black.
Aluminum-pigmented asphalt roof coatings
50 to 65 F
The brightest aluminum coatings are the coolest.
Built-Up Roof (BUR) covered with gravel
61 to 83 F
Cooler values obtained with lighter gravel.
Asphalt shingles and granulated capsheet
72 to 90 F
The lighter asphalt shingles are cooler, but not much. In particular, even "white" asphalt shingles are hot.
Black materials
90 F