When you think about staying cool inside, the first thing that may come to mind is air conditioning. But the first real line of defense against heat is the roof above your head. A good roof means it releases and doesn’t store or absorb the heat from the sun. In this post, we share our top list for roofing materials for warmer climates like ours here in Australia.

Terra Cotta and Clay Tiles

In regions like Spain, Mexico, and Southwest US, known for the heat and sunshine, you’ll find an abundance of Mission- or Spanish-style Terra Cotta and Clay roofs. Even some ancient sites have Terra Cotta and Clay tiles that have survived the test of time.

Basic clay tiles light in colour don’t retain as much heat as a darker roof. Modern tiles, made out of these materials, have paint treatments to make them look like more expensive slate tiles, and to add weatherproofing and reflective capability.

Traditional Terra Cotta tiles keep buildings cool through their shape as much as their composition. They go through a baking process which makes them harder and less porous. Most often they’re moulded into an ‘S’ shape, forming interlocking arches across a roof. The Space beneath the arch of each tile allows for air and water circulation and run off, preventing heat capture and keep the home below cooler.

Concrete Tiles

Concrete is heavier but also takes a long time to heat, making it a good material for warm weather roofing. Concrete tiles are usually fireproof and solid. Using specialised “cool colours” you can increase the energy efficiency of your concrete tiles so that they will reflect more of the sun’s rays.

Green/Living Roofs

These roofs incorporate a waterproof membrane filled with soil and vegetation intended to cool a building naturally through soil temperature and growth of greenery. Roofs that are made of living plants also release oxygen into the air, making it less toxic and harmful than other tiles atop other buildings. Water runoff also serves to cool a building and the entire green/living roof system works to protect the base roofing underneath, adding to roof longevity.

White Flat Tiles

Another roofing material great for warmer climate like ours are while flat tiles (made of either concrete or ceramic). These while flat tiles rank high in testing as both very heat-reflective and long lasting, according to The New York Times.

White Metal Roofing

While when it coems to reflectivity, white metal roofing doesn’t perform as well as white flat tiles, it does have on edge: compared to other roofing type, it cools fast at night, and holds less heat for shorter periods. However, make sure to consider your slope and any glare your white metal roof might cause - you don’t want nearby residents or drivers being blinded by reflected light off your white metal roof.