Roof color significantly impacts longevity, particularly in Florida’s intense sunlight. Darker colors absorb substantially more heat—sometimes reaching 150°F or higher during summer afternoons—accelerating chemical breakdown in roofing materials. This excessive heat causes oils in asphalt shingles to evaporate more quickly, leading to brittleness, granule loss, and premature aging. The same principle affects other materials, though to lesser degrees. Lighter colors reflect rather than absorb solar energy, potentially extending roof life by 5-10 years for identical materials. This temperature difference also reduces thermal shock—the repeated expansion and contraction that weakens fasteners and seams over time. For maximum durability in our climate, lighter shades of white, beige, or light gray offer significant advantages.
