With asbestos cement roofing, you can extend the life of your roof and save money, but it can be challenging to remove all the heat that gets trapped inside the panels once installed.
An asbestos cement roof may look like an ordinary roof, but it is very different from other roofing materials.
Due to its differences, it will require a unique process to cool it down when the weather gets too hot, and people can’t stay outside for long periods.
This article will show some steps you can take to cool an asbestos cement roof down in the summer months or if you are going to be out of the house on hot days and need to let your family know what they should do if they get home while the weather is still hot and they find the roof still too hot to touch.
You can cool your asbestos cement roof in several ways to make it more conducive for you during the summer. A popular way to cool your asbestos-cement roof is by applying a roof coating over the asbestos. Adding a covering to your asbestos roof can help confine asbestos fibers and block solar radiation.
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Roof Cooling Techniques
There are various techniques that you can use to cool your roof. They include:
#1. Using Modified Bitumen
A modified bitumen roof is one of the excellent roofing alternatives most frequently used for low-sloped roofs or flat roofs.
Due to their low solar reflectance, most of the sun’s light is absorbed rather than reflected by traditional black or gray-modified bitumen roofs.Â
Manufacturers can increase solar reflectivity by putting a white coating on the material at the manufacturing facility.
It allows traditional black or gray modified bitumen roofs to meet cooling roof standards.
#2. Using a Water Cooling System
You can use a water cooling system to cool your roof, but it is sometimes impractical for ceilings.
So if you don’t want to invest in a water-cooling system, try some other techniques: Spray your roof with cool water using a hose. It will evaporate quickly, cooling down your roof for a few hours.
#3. Installation Of Air Conditioning Vents
Another possibility to cool down your asbestos cement roof is installing air conditioning vents strategically on top of your house.
#4. Using Light-Colored Roofing Sheets
Use light-colored roofing sheets that reflect solar radiation. Do not use dark-colored roof sheets as they will absorb more heat from sunlight than lighter colors like white and gray.
If you’re using metal sheets on your roof, paint them white so they reflect more heat away from your house.
#5. Installing Solar Panels
Installing a solar panel over your roof is one way to cool your roof. The solar panels of photovoltaic cells prevent the heat from reaching the ceiling.
However, it is against the law to put solar panels on tops made of asbestos cement roofs, but people use them over asbestos cement roofs.
How to Cool An Asbestos Roof (Step By Step)?
Asbestos cement roofing materials are solid, not absorbent, and durable.
These qualities make it an attractive building material for many projects, but they also mean that these roofs can get extremely hot in direct sunlight.
So if you’ve got an asbestos cement sheet or corrugated cement on your ceiling, it’s crucial to understand how to cool it.
Follow these steps to cool your asbestos cement roof:
- First, evaluate the location of asbestos roofing siding, asbestos cement sheet, corrugated cement roof, and wall panels to see if it’s safe to clean up.
- Ensure you set up a containment area to keep people and pets away from the site to avoid asbestos contamination.
- Wear protective clothing and disposable protective gear like gloves, safety goggles, and shoe covers. In addition, wearing a dust mask or respirators is recommended.
- Use a fungicide and sealant to clean the asbestos roof sheet.
- Spray down the remaining visible surfaces with water and let them dry.
- Apply paint to the asbestos cement sheets. Instead of a brush, use a low-pressure garden fence spray—no high-pressure sprays.
Do not use a pressure washer or compressed air on asbestos materials to avoid inhaling asbestos fibers. Never disturb suspected asbestos-containing materials without proper training.
As a result of its density, asbestos cement roofing retains heat and cools much more slowly than other materials.
Many governments have made regulations against using asbestos cement products, so if you live in an area with these regulations, options for cooling and insulating your asbestos cement garage roof may be available.
You can find out which ones are right for your home by contacting your local environmental protection agency.
How Do You Keep the Asbestos Roof Cool In the Summer?
Asbestos cement roofing is a popular, affordable, and lasting option for commercial buildings.
Unfortunately, it’s not so great regarding summertime temperature control. Here are some tips to help you cool down your asbestos roof in the summer and extend its life as long as possible!
#1. Provision Of Shade
The best way to cool down your asbestos roof in the summer is to provide shade.
Provision of shade can be made by planting trees or shrubs around your commercial building and covering the bare ground with mulch.
You can purchase mulch from home improvement stores, but ensure that you buy a brand that isn’t hazardous to your health.
#2. By Insulating Your Attic
Proper attic insulation may not cool your roof, but it can reduce the impact on the interior temperature.
Strong insulation on your attic floor maintains your home’s temperature when it’s hot or cold outside.
Install the highest R-value attic insulation your budget permits. Roof insulation choices include cellulose, loose-fill fiberglass, fiberglass batt, and spray foam insulation.
#3. Roof coating
Adding a roof coating can ensure that you can cool your asbestos cement roofs in the summer.
In addition, adding a covering to your asbestos roof can help confine asbestos fibers and block solar radiation.
Do the preliminary work before covering an asbestos roof. Check for a clean, safe surface. Bitumen paint is popular, but there are alternative options.
#4. Ventilate Your Attic
Increasing attic ventilation might help cool your asbestos cement roofing without upsetting it. Ensuring appropriate attic ventilation prevents hot air from trapping and heating the home’s interior and roof.
In addition, proper ventilation helps regulate attic temperatures and moisture levels.
#5. Heat Resistant Flooring
If you are trying to cool down an asbestos cement roof, you can do that by choosing flooring that is resistant to heat.
Steps to Prevent Heat From Asbestos Roof
To prevent heat from your asbestos cement roof, follow these steps:
- First, do not allow direct sunlight to hit your asbestos cement roof or any part of your home’s exterior, for that matter. Then, through thermal conduction, the heat absorbed by all that hot sunlight will be transferred into your attic, resulting in a hotter attic and a hotter temperature in your home overall.
- Install some exterior awnings around your home, especially ones that protect your asbestos cement roof from direct sunlight. If you already have tops installed, ensure they are not old, and you do not need to replace them because they will not be as effective at blocking sunlight anymore.
- Think about installing exterior fans connected to your home’s HVAC system. These will help circulate air in your attic and provide a more even distribution of heat throughout your entire home. As there is no longer a hot spot on top of your home, you won’t have to worry about air trapped up there often.
- Install roof-mounted attic vents. These allow heat to escape faster when hot, decreasing attic heat accumulation. With cooler air, heated air doesn’t build up in your attic and travels to living spaces via thermal conduction.
Conclusion
In summary, houses built with asbestos cement roofs can get very hot very quickly, especially during the summer, so it is essential to know how to cool them down and do it properly.
I have mentioned several ways to do that and how to prevent heat from this corrugated asbestos cement.
Just ensure you know the rules of the environmental protection agency in your area to know the guidelines.
