Cool Roofing in Santa Barbara & Southern California
Cool roofing in Santa Barbara means a roof surface rated to reflect more sunlight and give off absorbed heat faster than a standard roof, which keeps the roof and attic cooler on hot days. Whether your new roof must be cool-rated depends on your building’s climate zone and the roof’s slope: in coastal Santa Barbara (zone 6) the rule covers low-slope roofs, while in inland zones such as Ojai, Westlake Village and Woodland Hills (zone 9) it also covers most sloped roofs on houses. NEMA Roofing installs cool-rated shingle, tile, metal and membrane roofs in all five counties it serves (Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino) from five Google-verified locations, in Santa Barbara, Oxnard, Woodland Hills, Tarzana and Downey; call 866-631-3366 for a free on-site assessment.
What a cool roof does
According to the California Energy Commission, a cool roof keeps the house cooler, reduces roof and attic temperatures, reduces the need for air conditioning and lowers energy costs. It does this with two properties, both measured from 0 to 1, where higher is cooler:
- Solar reflectance: how much of the sun’s energy the surface reflects back.
- Thermal emittance: how readily the surface releases the heat it has absorbed.
A third number, the solar reflectance index (SRI), combines the two and can be used instead of meeting each value separately.
Our professional team of certified roofing contractors provides high-quality services that protect your home from the elements and keep your energy costs low.
Does your re-roof have to be a cool roof?
Under California’s 2025 Energy Code, in force since January 1, 2026, these are the prescriptive values for re-roofing (replacing, re-covering or re-coating):
| Building and roof | Climate zones | Aged solar reflectance | Thermal emittance | Or SRI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| House, sloped roof (2 in 12 or steeper) | 4 and 8 to 15 | 0.20 | 0.75 | 16 |
| House, low-slope roof (under 2 in 12) | 4 and 6 to 15 | 0.63 | 0.75 | 75 |
| Commercial, low-slope roof, more than 50 percent of the roof or more than 2,000 sq ft (whichever is less) | All | 0.63 | 0.75 | 75 |
Where the towns we serve fall, from the Energy Commission’s climate zone list by ZIP code:
- Zone 6: Santa Barbara, Goleta, Carpinteria, Montecito, Summerland, Ventura, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Camarillo, and Newbury Park (ZIP 91320).
- Zone 9: Ojai, Santa Paula, Fillmore, Moorpark, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks ZIP codes 91358 to 91362, Westlake Village, Woodland Hills, Tarzana and Encino.
- Zone 10: Riverside, and San Bernardino (except ZIP 92404, zone 16).
So on a house in Santa Barbara, a new tile or shingle roof does not have to be cool-rated, but a new flat section does. On a house in Westlake Village, both do, unless an exception applies.
The exceptions that matter most
For sloped roofs on houses, the code treats any of these as meeting the cool-roof requirement instead of a cool product:
- ceiling insulation of at least R-38, or a ceiling U-factor of 0.025 or lower;
- a radiant barrier in the attic that meets the code’s requirements;
- in climate zones 2, 4, 9, 10, 12 and 14, no ducts in the attic;
- continuous insulation of R-2 or more above or below the roof deck.
Two more apply to both sloped and low-slope roofs on houses: areas covered by building-integrated solar panels are exempt, and so are roof constructions weighing at least 25 pounds per square foot; on a tile roof, ask for the installed weight of the whole tile system. For low-slope roofs on houses, extra insulation at the roof deck can be traded against a lower reflectance.
Cool roof products and how to check them
Cool roofs are not only white. Rated products include tile, metal, asphalt shingles and coatings, in light colors and in many darker shades. Only values listed in the Cool Roof Rating Council’s directory count toward the Energy Code, and a rated product carries a CRRC label with its initial and weathered (aged) solar reflectance and thermal emittance. Before you accept a proposal, ask for the exact product and color and check its aged values against the table above.
| Roof | Typical cool option |
|---|---|
| Asphalt shingle | Cool-rated shingle lines with reflective granules |
| Tile | Cool-rated colors, or a roof heavy enough for the 25 lb/ft2 exemption |
| Metal | Rated finishes in many colors; see metal roofing |
| Flat and low-slope | White or light single-ply membranes and reflective coatings; see flat roof repair |
Is a cool roof worth it where it is not required?
On the coast, where summers are mild, a cool sloped roof is a choice, not a rule, and the benefit is smaller than inland. It makes most sense over rooms that get hot, over an attic with ducts, and on flat roofs, which face the sun all day. Inland, where the rule already applies to most re-roofs, the question is only which rated product and color suit the house. For the broader picture, including recycled materials and solar-ready roofs, see eco-friendly roofing.
Cool roofing questions
Does a cool roof have to be white?
No. The Energy Commission notes that cool roof products come in a wide range of colors, including dark shades, and for a sloped roof the target is an aged reflectance of 0.20. Low-slope roofs need an aged reflectance of 0.63; the product’s CRRC label shows whether a given color reaches it.
Can I coat my existing roof to make it cool?
On a sound, dry low-slope roof, a rated reflective coating can do it, and re-coating counts as re-roofing under the Energy Code. The building code does not allow a new covering or coating over a roof that is water-soaked or too deteriorated to serve as a base (California Building Code 2025, section 1512.3), so leaks and wet material are dealt with first.
Do solar panels change the rule?
Roof area covered by building-integrated photovoltaic panels is exempt from the cool-roof values, on houses and on commercial buildings. Panels mounted on racks above the roof are a different product, so ask which kind you are getting.
To choose a cool roof for your building, call 866-631-3366 or use the form below. For a full re-roof, see roof replacement.
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As one of the leading roofing contractors, The NEMA Roofing team proudly provides a wide range of roofing services for residential and commercial properties. Whether you need installation, maintenance, or roof repairs, our roofing experts deliver tailored solutions to meet your specific needs.
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