Cool tile comparisons | Tile Roofing USA

Start with the product you would actually order

List the manufacturer, model, profile, color and finish for each candidate, then request the corresponding rating information. DOE distinguishes solar reflectance from thermal emittance; both contribute to surface temperature. A generic statement about a tile family does not identify the properties of the proposed selection. Keep physical color samples beside the comparison rather than choosing from numbers alone.

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The CRRC directory guide distinguishes initial measurements from values after three years of outdoor weathering. It also identifies pending and interim Rapid Ratings. Put the same type of value beside each candidate; do not compare one product’s initial reflectance with another’s aged reflectance without making that difference obvious. Record the date on which the information was checked.

Understand what a listing establishes

CRRC rates radiative performance without imposing a universal minimum that makes every listed product a cool roof. A listing therefore does not by itself establish compliance with a particular project requirement. Ask the design professional to identify the applicable criteria and compare them with the exact rated product, rather than treating the presence of a logo as a pass.

Connect the label to the selected material

The CRRC standard label includes a product ID and measured values. An extended label may cover several products, with the relevant ID identified for the package. Keep that identity attached to the color and model in the specification. If a proposed substitution changes the product, obtain its own rating record before assuming the original comparison still applies.

Keep performance in the building context

DOE explains that cool-roof benefits depend on climate and building characteristics. Use the product comparison to make a documented material choice, not to promise a particular utility-bill reduction. Confirm appearance through samples and assess the roof as part of the building. A favorable rating is one selection criterion alongside the suitability and condition of the complete roof system.

Compare cool-roof tile colors using product ratings.

Start with the product you would actually order

Compare equivalent rating columns

Understand what a listing establishes

Connect the label to the selected material

Keep performance in the building context

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Further reading & technical sources