We went with reflective coating a few years back, and honestly, I was skeptical at first—seemed like marketing hype. But our attic temps dropped noticeably. Curious though, anyone tried combining reflective coatings with green roofs? Wonder if that'd boost cooling even more...
"Curious though, anyone tried combining reflective coatings with green roofs? Wonder if that'd boost cooling even more..."
Reflective coatings definitely help, but pairing them with a green roof might not be as effective as you'd expect. Green roofs already provide significant insulation and cooling through evapotranspiration, so adding reflective coating underneath may offer diminishing returns. In my experience, it's often better to choose one method optimized for your climate and roof structure rather than stacking multiple solutions that overlap in benefits. Just something to consider before investing further...
Interesting points made here, but wouldn't reflective coatings still help on areas not fully covered by plants? Seems like it might fill in some gaps... Either way, exploring these options shows you're thinking smart about efficiency—good on you for doing the research.
"Interesting points made here, but wouldn't reflective coatings still help on areas not fully covered by plants? Seems like it might fill in some gaps..."
You're onto something there. Reflective coatings can definitely pick up the slack where green coverage falls short. Even partial shading from plants won't block all solar radiation, so having a reflective surface underneath can bounce back a good chunk of that heat and keep your attic noticeably cooler. I added a reflective coating to my garage roof last summer—just as an experiment—and the difference was pretty impressive. Temps dropped enough inside that I didn't dread stepping in there midday anymore.
One thing to keep in mind though: reflective coatings aren't magic. They work best with proper attic ventilation and insulation. If your attic isn't vented right, you're still trapping heat, just at a slightly lower rate. So yeah, coatings are a smart move, especially if you're already investing in better roofing materials or greenery... but make sure your attic airflow is sorted first to really get your money's worth.
Totally agree, reflective coatings can definitely help bridge those gaps you're talking about. Seen plenty of houses where they made a noticeable difference—just don't skip on ventilation, that's key. Sounds like you're already thinking it through pretty well though...
