085 · Cool roofing, cooling buildings through the roof

It may come as a surprise to some, but painting the roofs of buildings, stores, houses, etc., white can help you earn money while doing something positive for the planet. In this article, I’ll explain this innovative concept in detail, as well as how you can start your own business, find customers, and give you a few tips on how to achieve rapid success.

• Here's the program
• What is cool roofing?
• How do you learn this special trade?
• Où trouver vos premiers clients ?
• How can you communicate effectively to convince your future customers?
• How much do you need to invest to implement this activity?
• How much can you expect to earn?
• Legal requirements, licenses and insurance
• A few tips to conclude
• Conclusion
• EcoTips
• Pros and Cons
• Information recap

What is cool roofing?

Cool roofing is an ingenious, cost-effective technique that involves painting the roofs of buildings white to reduce the excessive heat they absorb and thus cool the interior. How does it work? Quite simply because white reflects most wavelengths of visible light, while black absorbs almost all of them, converting light into heat in the process. This is why white surfaces stay cooler, absorbing less heat from the sun than black surfaces.

The result is quite spectacular: In summer, there’s a difference of up to 30°C (80°F) at the surface of roofs (70°C or 80°C (158 or 176°F) for a black roof vs. 40°C (104°F) for those painted white). This results in a reduction in temperature inside the building of between 4 and 7°C (39 and 44°F). A significant thermal gain, which means less need for air-conditioning, and sometimes even none at all.

It’s a simple and inexpensive way to reduce a company’s or a family’s energy needs, but above all it’s eco-friendly since it reduces greenhouse gas emissions linked to the production of fossil fuels (fossil gas, coal, or oil). What’s more, it helps mitigate the urban heat island effect, a phenomenon where urban areas experience higher temperatures than the surrounding rural areas due to the accumulation of heat in buildings and “artificial” surfaces (asphalt, paving stones, concrete, etc.).

Comparing the difference in solar radiation absorption/reflection (albedo) between a black and a white roof. Source

How do you learn this special trade?

Of course, it’s not just a matter of going to your local DIY store, buying the cheapest white paint and spraying it on your customers’ roofs. You’ll need special reflective materials and application methods to make it really effective. I’m not going to be able to give you a complete course on the subject here; others do it far more thoroughly and professionally than I could myself.

But if you’re interested in Cool Roofing and are considering starting a business in this field, it’s essential to learn the mastery of the skills needed to guarantee effective, professional and lasting results. That’s why it’s so important to learn the trade in one of the ways listed below.

• Certified training: Several Cool Roofing training programs are available, offering specific courses on materials, application techniques, safety, and more. Look for programs certified by recognized organizations to ensure you acquire quality skills. A Google search localized to your area should help you find these easily.
• Research and self-study: Many online resources, such as videos, tutorials, and guides, can help you understand the basics of Cool Roofing. You’ll find them fairly quickly with a Google or YouTube search. Note, however, that it may be important to supplement this information with more supervised and structured training to gain solid expertise.
• Internships and on-the-job training: Working alongside Cool Roofing experts who know the concept inside out is probably the best way to quickly learn all facets of the business and gain experience quickly. If this type of business already exists in your area or not too far from home, offer to work for some of them until you feel you’ve learned enough to stand on your own two feet.
• Attend workshops and conferences: Attending these kinds of events won’t teach you the business, but they do offer opportunities to hear from experts in different fields related to this business, keep up to date with the latest industry trends, and make useful professional contacts. There are a number of accounts and groups on social networks that will keep you informed of such events.

Note also that getting into Cool Roofing requires a thorough understanding of various concepts such as insulation, roofing materials, waterproofing techniques, and local regulations. If you’ve already trained as a roofer or have been working in this field for some time, then you’ll be able to get started much more quickly.

Where to find your first customers?

Once you’ve acquired the essential basics, it’s important to practice as much as possible to perfect your skills in this area. To find your first customers, you could start by approaching the people around you (family, friends, colleagues, etc.) with a tempting offer. This will also enable you to get your first feedback and customer opinions.

And then, when you feel competent enough to provide a professional-quality service, it’s time to find an effective way to find your first “real” customers. Here are a few ways to do so:

• Network and word-of-mouth: Keep telling your friends, family and other acquaintances about your new business, and ask them to recommend you to their acquaintances. Word-of-mouth is a powerful way of spreading the word about your business quickly.
• Create an online presence: Create a professional website showcasing your Cool Roofing services. Be sure to include information about your skills, achievements, and contact details so that potential customers can find you easily and judge the quality of your work.
• Use social media: Create accounts on relevant platforms such as YouTube, Tik Tok, Instagram, Facebook, etc. Share photos of your previous projects and chat with your followers. Social media can help generate interest and referrals pretty quickly.
• Collaborate with other contractors: Establish partnerships with contractors in the construction, real estate or other related fields. They can recommend you to their customers, and you can recommend them to your customers, creating a mutually beneficial arrangement.
• Flyers and local advertising: Distributing flyers in your area and advertising in local newspapers can attract the attention of residents and building owners looking for Cool Roofing solutions.
• Participate in local events: Attend community events, local fairs, or trade shows. It’s the perfect opportunity to showcase your services in person and make connections with other professionals and potential customers.

How can you communicate effectively to convince your future customers?

Finding your first customers won’t necessarily be easy, so you’ll need to take great care in your communications to convince every customer to sign your quotation and optimize your conversion rate. To do this, you need to work on 3 main areas of communication.

• 1A clear benefit: Your future customers need to quickly understand the benefits they will derive from this work (greater comfort for people in the building, energy savings, and therefore lower bills, and a gesture in favor of the environment).

• 2An attractive price: Your prices don’t necessarily have to be the best on the market, especially if there’s little competition in the area, but they do have to be consistent with the benefits you’ve highlighted. You should also adapt your prices according to whether you’re dealing with a small family with limited resources or a large company with several hundred employees.

• 3Proven credibility: This last point is also crucial, because if you and your company don’t inspire confidence, there’s little chance of quickly achieving the success you’re hoping for. Do your utmost to collect reviews from satisfied customers and publish them on your website, social networks, and all the other means of communication mentioned above.

How much do you need to invest to implement this activity?

This will of course depend on the country you live in, but also on how much you’re willing to invest, and the potential profits you could make in the first few years of your business. If, for example, you live in the US, Europe, or anywhere else where the economy is fairly stable and flourishing, you could buy a van, ladders, a paint spray gun, and any other expensive equipment you need to work as simply and efficiently as possible.

On the other hand, if you don’t have a lot of money and your region isn’t very wealthy, or is going through a severe economic crisis, then it would be better to acquire the minimum necessary equipment and, once you’ve signed a contract, hire day laborers to do the job manually (or even do it yourself). It all depends on your situation/location.

Buying a van to transport all your equipment represents a substantial initial investment. So opt for a second-hand model to get you started.

How much can you expect to earn?

Here again, it’s extremely difficult to say, as it will depend on the same factors mentioned in the previous chapter, especially as this is a relatively “new” business, and there are few, if any, figures available for drawing up any statistics. And then there’s the cost of the materials you’ll need (paint, coating, tools, etc.), which will affect your profit margin…

But if demand is strong enough, which often means that the climate is warm and the region sufficiently densely populated, that the market isn’t too competitive as can be the case in certain cities like Los Angeles, Miami, or Sydney, and finally that your work and communication are of good quality, there’s no reason why it shouldn’t work out. In this case, you should be able to earn at least the equivalent of a full salary from your business.

Legal requirements, licenses, and insurance

Ensuring that your business complies with local and national regulations is a crucial point, so you’ll need to familiarize yourself with the legal standards applicable to your field of activity. In particular, you’ll need to take account of construction site safety regulations, environmental laws, and building codes in place. All these requirements vary from country to country, and sometimes even from region or state to state, but there are a few things you should definitely check.

The first step is to find out if there are any licenses and permits required to operate legally in your area. This can include general business licenses as well as licenses specific to the construction and roof painting industry. Find out all you need to know about the various requirements and application processes, and make sure you follow them rigorously.

You’ll probably also need to take out appropriate insurance to protect you in the event of an incident. Professional indemnity insurance can cover any damage caused by your services while workers’ compensation insurance can protect your employees in the event of accidents on site.

Finally, you may want to consider consulting a lawyer who specializes in construction or business law. Legal assistance can help you better understand complex regulations and make wise decisions.

A few tips to conclude

Here’s a list of tips and tricks that will effectively help you put this roof painting idea into practice:

• Thermal analysis before painting: Before applying paint, use thermal analysis tools to identify the hottest areas on roofs. This will help you target those requiring the most attention in terms of insulation.
• Customized reflective paints: Explore the possibility of collaborating with paint manufacturers to develop customized reflective paint formulas, adapted to your region’s specific climatic conditions.
• Green loyalty program: Set up a loyalty program or discounts to reward customers who opt for greener paint options.
• Artistic roof decoration: Offer roof painting services that go beyond mere functionality. Offer artistic options to create unique patterns and designs to “customize” your customers’ roofs (but again, beware of applicable legislation).
• Use self-cleaning paints: Self-cleaning paints are available that remove dirt and deposits thanks to their hydrophobic properties. This can not only extend the durability of the work carried out but also give you a slight boost to your profit margin.
• Bundling with gardening services: Collaborate with gardening companies to offer bundled packages, such as roof painting and green roof installation, to maximize environmental benefits.
• Free energy assessment: Offer free energy assessments in conjunction with your roof painting services. This can show customers how they can save more energy.
• Awareness workshops: Hold local workshops to educate property owners about the benefits of roof painting. Inform them about benefits such as reduced energy costs and carbon footprint.
• Before-and-after visual documentation: Take high-quality photos and videos before and after each project to illustrate the tangible benefits of your services. Share them on your social networks to reinforce your credibility.
• Partner with architects: Establish partnerships with architects specialized in sustainable buildings as they can refer you to their customers who are looking for eco-responsible solutions.

Conclusion

With the impact of global warming set to be felt more and more over the coming decades, with temperatures likely to rise significantly in some parts of the world, but also with the scarcity of resources and energy crises certain to drive up the price per kilowatt/hour, this activity is likely to become increasingly popular, not only with companies, but also with private individuals, who will also find definite benefits.

What’s more, with some regions, states, and cities offering financial assistance to encourage homeowners to carry out this type of work, there’s another reason to believe that demand for roof cooling will continue to grow.

So if there’s ever a time to implement this idea, it’s now, don’t you think? But if you do want to embark on such a project, you’ll need to acquire certain essential skills first (which I’ve discussed in this article), as well as finding out about the legal obligations imposed by your local government (permits, insurance, etc.). This is important both to enable you to guarantee a professional quality service and to protect you and your customers in the event of a problem.

What do you think of this idea? Let me know in the comments section.