Global temperatures are soaring. New homeowners are looking at ways to keep homes cool. There is a wide range of design options that help you achieve this. Besides many windows and vents, the tiles you choose could also play a major role in making your home a lot cooler.
The roof is the area of your house that receives the most sunlight. It is also the area that absorbs and transmits the most heat into the house. So, cool tiles will help to keep the interiors cool. These tiles reflect the sun’s heat. They do not absorb it. They help to maintain the temperature by regulating it.
The ideal cool roof tiles would serve two purposes-
Reflect solar radiation
Absorb less heat than usual
Normal floor tiles do not have a solar reflective index. They depend on the PEI ratings. These tiles are laid in the interiors of the houses. You can select these tiles based on many criteria-
Colour
Size
Material
Area
Use
We use floor tiles in all the spaces of our house. We may choose different tiles for different rooms in the house. For example, we use tiles with anti-skid coating in the bathroom. We use light-colored tiles in the living room. We may not use the same tiles in the living room and the bathroom.
Depending on the use, we lay different rooms with different types of tiles. We can use ceramic or porcelain tiles in our house. Sometimes, we use terracotta tiles on the porch. The tiles we choose for the interior spaces will affect how bright the house looks. It also has to match with the paint and furniture.
We choose floor tiles that are stain-proof. We also check if they are resistant to scratches. Scratch resistance and stain resistance are essential for floor tiles. If the tiles are resistant, they become more durable.
What are cool roof tiles?
Cool tiles are quite self-explanatory. They keep your home cool. They do this by reflecting heat into the atmosphere. These tiles are usually installed on the roofs of houses. They make sure that the interiors of the house stay cool. We typically use these tiles on terraces and balconies. These are the areas that have maximum sun exposure.
These tiles are different from the normal tiles. They are glazed tiles. The glaze is an important factor. It makes the tiles reflect solar heat. Otherwise, this heat gets absorbed during the day.
The tiles come with zirconium oxide, alumina silicate, or zirconium silicate. These are vital to reflect heat away from the tiles. In addition, these tiles come with a solar reflective index. This index shows how effective they are. A solar reflective index of 90 or higher is the best.
How do cool tiles reduce heat?
These tiles can reduce heat because of
Material
Colour
Smoothness of surface
The material of the tile is important. Tiles are made using different materials. Some of these can absorb heat. Others may not absorb the same amount of heat. So, choosing the right material can make a difference. The terracotta ones absorb heat. Ceramic tiles take in less heat. Cool roof tiles come with a coating. The material of this coating is also another factor. This helps the tiles to reflect more heat.
Most of these tiles come in colors that do not absorb heat. Cool roof tiles come in light shades. Sometimes, they come in white. Of all the colors, white absorbs the least heat. Black, on the other hand, absorbs it the most. The traditional red roof tiles absorb more heat than white ones. The color of the tile matters a lot. A dark roof can absorb a lot of heat. It can go up to 70◦ Celsius on a hot day. That means that the house gets warm. Tiles coated with zirconium oxide are the whitest ones.
Considering these two factors, cool roof tiles that are white and ceramic glazed absorb less heat than the traditional red terracotta tiles.
The surface is another factor. A smooth surface reflects more heat than a rough one. There is an irregular reflection if the surface is rough. That is why there is a lower solar reflection index when the tiles are not glazed.
Can we use floor tiles instead of roof tiles?
We can use normal floor tiles in most of the house’s spaces. But we cannot use them on the roof. These tiles are not made to withstand so much heat. They chip easily. They can also fade. This makes it necessary to change the tiles often. The tiles can also break easily and lead to leakage during rainy weather.
Rooftop tiles are different from floor tiles. Rooftop tiles are more durable. They have better resistance to wear. They can be used in adverse weather conditions. These tiles also have a different thickness from floor tiles. Roof tiles are more resilient to changes in weather. They do not expand or contract as much as floor tiles. This stops them from breaking or chipping easily.
Rooftop tiles come in many colors and designs. They are more equipped for the roof than floor tiles. These tiles do not require as much maintenance as floor tiles. Roof tiles need only regular cleaning. Sometimes, they need a coat of paint or waterproofing.
Is the installation process the same?
The installation process for roof and floor tiles is different. The process of laying roof tiles is more complex than laying floor tiles. Installation requires professional roofing contractors. The process is different. The professionals measure the tiles first. Then, they lay them in a pattern. This is important to prevent leakage later.
Floor tiles need to be soaked before installation. They also have grout. Roof tiles do not require grouts. The installation process of floor tiles is different.
What are the advantages of roof tiles?
Here are some of the advantages of roof tiles.
Roof tiles last longer than floor tiles.
They are ideal for different regions.
This is because they are more robust than floor tiles.
They are durable.
They do not fade quickly.
They come in various sizes and shapes.
They reduce the indoor temperature.
What are the disadvantages of roof tiles?
Although roof tiles are the best bet for various reasons, they have some disadvantages. All of these are how they are different from floor tiles.
They are more expensive than normal floor tiles.
They are heavier than floor tiles. Sometimes, when replacing floor tiles in the balcony or on the terrace with roof tiles, you might need to reinforce the support.
These tiles can break if heavy things fall on them. For example, if a tree branch falls on the roof during a storm, it could break.
When you are choosing tiles, remember to check the following-
Does it need extra support?
Is it too expensive?
Can it withstand the weight of the furniture?
Where will I use it- roof or floor?
Which color is most suitable?
Is it a glazed tile?
How do I maintain it?
The choice between roof tiles and floor tiles depends on the place you stay. It also depends on the structure of your house and where you want to use the tiles. These tiles are best suited for places that experience variations in weather. This is because they bring down the temperature inside the house and last longer than floor tiles. You can consult the staff at BeautyWares to help you decide the right tiles for each space in your house.