A “cool roof” is a roof covering with a minimum solar reflectance (how much sunlight it bounces back) and thermal emittance (how readily it sheds absorbed heat). The two values combine into a single Solar Reflectance Index (SRI).
California’s Title 24, Part 6 energy code mandates cool-roof products on:
- All new and replacement low-slope roofs (pitch ≤ 2:12) on residential and non-residential buildings.
- Steep-slope residential replacement roofs in Climate Zones 10–15 (the warmer inland zones — most of the Bay Area is Climate Zone 3, where it’s encouraged but not always mandated for steep-slope).
What this means in practice: when we replace your roof, the underlayment, the shingles or membrane, and any insulation all have to meet specific minimum performance values listed in CEC’s Cool Roof Rating Council directory. We handle this — every estimate we write specifies the actual product CRRC-rated values so your permit application clears Title 24 review on the first pass.
Real-world benefit in the Bay Area: a Title 24 compliant roof typically reduces attic temperatures by 15–25°F during summer afternoons, which lowers AC load and extends the life of attic ductwork and equipment.
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