Take a good look at the roofing in Albany, and you’ll see that the most beautiful roofs are often made from Colorsteel. This famous New Zealand brand has been inspired by local landscapes, and whenever people come to us to enquire about a new roof, we often tell them to check out the Colorsteel range of colours. That range covers a wide spectrum of shades, and there is something to suit every property. Behind all that beauty, however, there is a lot of durability and strength that makes Colorsteel an outstanding investment that will last for decades.
Something else we ask our clients to check when choosing a colour is the Total Solar Reflectance (TSR) and the Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of each shade. TSR measures the amount of solar energy across the entire spectrum that is reflected away from a Colorsteel roof. This obviously affects the temperature that the roof will reach on a hot summer’s day. As you’d expect, a lighter shade will have a higher solar reflectance percentage, and will therefore absorb less heat.
Meanwhile, the approximate light reflectance value (LRV) of a colour indicates the amount of visible light that a certain colour will reflect. For example, black has an LRV of 0%; when it comes to light it reflects nothing and absorbs everything. This means the surfaces are consequently very dark and can get very hot. On the other hand, white has a light reflectance value of 100% and can keep a building light and cool as a result.
TSR and LRV need to be considered dependent on where you live. If you’re in a cooler area, you want as much heat to be absorbed into your property as is possible, and a darker shade will allow you to do that because it will give you lower solar and light reflectance. On the other hand, if you’re in a warmer part of the Auckland region, a lighter colour will keep things cooler.
Confused? There’s no need to be. We’re happy to discuss Total Solar Reflectance and Light Reflectance Value as two of the factors you should consider when choosing your Colorsteel colour. Such is the range, there is sure to be a colour that will absorb as much heat and reflect as much light as you require. Contact us and we’ll help you make that all-important choice.
