Galvalume roof = ugly (Any options?)

[civesnedfield]

It might be ugly but it's very reflective. So if some yogurt eating art major tries to tell you your roof is ugly, tell them it's saving energy and the environment.

Actually there are some colors that qualify for the Energy credit from the Feds.

 

[OrangeAgain]

We are nearing completion of our Monitor Barn addition and love the Galvalume / galvinized color of the roof. Goes great with the reddish stained shiplap exterior siding.

Many real barns have a galvinized color roof.

 

[studor]

Yes it can be painted -- it is done around here all the time -- with proper prep it will last a long time. On the other hand as the saying goes in the construction trade -- can't see it form my house

 

[Raspy]

Galvalume requires a galvalume primer if you wish for the paint to stick. Contrary to above posts, galvalume does not reflect heat. Galvalume is far far hotter in the sun than a dark painted metal. I have the same problem as you. I let my contractor talk me into a white painted roof to reflect the heat over the burgundy color that is on the side walls. I never gave it any thought that I would be able to see it until it was on sight. Time to get some oil based paint and cover 5,625 sf.

This doesn't make the slightest bit of sense to me. Bright shiny surfaces reflect sunlight and dark surfaces absorb it. That's how solar panels work.

I chose the bright surface for my house in Hawaii for just that reason. It previously had a red roof that was unbearable in the summer. I also lined the wall around my wood stove with it and the wall stays cool when the stove is very hot.

Even bright objects can get hot out in the sun. Things like wrenches sitting out on a hot day. But try it with a flat black colored object and see what happens.

I'd much rather have a reflective roof than an absorbing one.

 

[2manyrocks]

Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder. If you paint it to look good now, what happens when the paint starts to look bad and you have to repaint it? You can't get much more ugly than a lot of peeling paint.

 

[AGGIE00]

This doesn't make the slightest bit of sense to me. Bright shiny surfaces reflect sunlight and dark surfaces absorb it. That's how solar panels work.

I chose the bright surface for my house in Hawaii for just that reason. It previously had a red roof that was unbearable in the summer. I also lined the wall around my wood stove with it and the wall stays cool when the stove is very hot.

Even bright objects can get hot out in the sun. Things like wrenches sitting out on a hot day. But try it with a flat black colored object and see what happens.

I'd much rather have a reflective roof than an absorbing one.

Try it. Galvalume defys your logic.

 

[dave1949]

This doesn't make the slightest bit of sense to me. Bright shiny surfaces reflect sunlight and dark surfaces absorb it. That's how solar panels work.

I chose the bright surface for my house in Hawaii for just that reason. It previously had a red roof that was unbearable in the summer. I also lined the wall around my wood stove with it and the wall stays cool when the stove is very hot.

Even bright objects can get hot out in the sun. Things like wrenches sitting out on a hot day. But try it with a flat black colored object and see what happens.

I'd much rather have a reflective roof than an absorbing one.

I am confused by that statement also. Don't have a galvalume roof, so no experience with that. I did have a polished aluminum pickup bed toolbox and that thing was like opening a refrigerator inside on bright sunny days. Definitely way cooler than the grey paint on the truck. It's seals were in good shape, so not much air transfer happened either.
Dave.

 

[BeezFun]

Contrary to above posts, galvalume does not reflect heat. Galvalume is far far hotter in the sun than a dark painted metal.

Fortunately this question has an answer, it's easy to look up the solar reflectance of galvalume and compare it to white paint vs black paint. Galvalume is about 0.75 when new, white paint is 0.80, and black paint is 0.05. So galvalume is not quite as good as white paint but pretty close. Here's the test results that qualified galavalume for the energy star rating.