Thread: White vs darker Colorbond roofing?

I know a lot of people in Australia build with white Colorbond roofing. It makes a lot of sense but the look of it is really against my sense of aesthetic.

Does anyone have experience how much worse colored Colorbond with proper insulation is? Something similar to this: http://st.houzz.com/simgs/b1b10eb30c...e-and-shed.jpg

Edit: I actually came across a great discussion.

- Colour of colorbond roof - Energy Matters Forum

I will go for white... it just has too many benefits. (If a moderator reads this feel free to delete the thread)

Originally Posted by Ratchaburi

Originally Posted by Boon Mee

I went White too. Less heat absorption.

That right BM White the colour to use.
The roof of my factory grey cement sheets, you can feel the heat 56c, in the middle of the day from Apr-July.

Yeah, White might not be as 'pretty' as some of the other choices of colors but more practicable in the long-run.

White is the obvious colour for the least heat absorption or is that adsorption , I never know. Most roofing manufactures offer "reflective" white roofing or you can buy "reflective' white roofing paint. Even white roofing sheets.

I am not building a house, yet!

I will consider a double roof like the old "African" Landrovers. Of course location is a factor if one wants to fit in or is worried about residual value.

As I'm not interested in a "European" looking house if a style description is required Australian tropical, any waterproof membrane will do for the roof that keeps out the elements. So one could have cheap grey cement roofing sheets. Over that one can lay separate sheet metal roofing of whatever colour one chooses. If the house is in a remote village even the cheap local "grass" roofing could be used as it does not absorb much heat and can be easily replaced and would fit in.

Another option of which there are a few appearing in Bangkok is a flat roof house with a separate flat sheet metal "sunshade" above the roof. Or if building a European style house metal roofing with bonded factory applied insulation.

As for car interiors there is little difference. Sure you can fry an egg on a black car or even a blue car but most of the heat gain is through the windows. In order to do a real test it would have to be the interior temp. measured. Or simply touch the headlining of a black car vs a white one.
I drive a white truck, it only comes in one colour, and the greatest difference in interior temp is caused as I said by sunlight coming through the windows. Park in the sun use collapsible silver sunshades. 150 baht at car dealers etc. When driving they are all about the same.