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Over all cooling energy savings White painted vs Unpainted

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Guest User
1/1/2009
While the difference may be negligible I could not find any comparison at all. So which one is better for lowering cooling cost ? Secondly which is easier to maintain painted or unpainted ?
Todd Miller
Isaiah Industries, Inc.
1/2/2009
In some testing done at Florida Solar Energy Center in 2002, mid attic temp beneath white standing seam was 93.7. It was 97.1 beneath unpainted galvalume and 99.4 beneath unpainted galvanized. For extra efficiency, products that have an airgap between the metal and the roofdeck may be helpful as well. Generally, painted or unpainted will be similar in terms of low maintenance. You can probably expect longer ultimate life from the painted product.
Guest User
1/2/2009
While that doesn't sound like a definitive answer, it makes sense and is pretty much what I was expecting. Thanks
Todd Miller
Isaiah Industries, Inc.
1/3/2009
One thing that should be noted is that, in the testing I cited, the unpainted samples were new ... they will lose some relfectivity with age. The painted white sample had been on the roof test facility for a few years.
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