First, describe what you want to understand.
Write down your question in ordinary language. You might want to understand the material already on a home, the components named in a proposal or a claim about a cool roof. A professional can decide what information and assessment are appropriate.
Bring existing product names or documents if you have them. You do not need to climb, open an assembly or diagnose a problem to use this sheet. Leave physical assessment, roof access and project decisions to qualified professionals.
About the proposed surface.
- What is the exact material and product?
- Ask for the product name and finish, not only a broad category such as metal or shingles.
- Why is it being discussed for this home?
- Ask which home-specific conditions need assessment before a choice can be made.
- What information can I read?
- Ask for the relevant product information and for unfamiliar terms to be explained.
About the complete roof system.
- What components are included?
- Ask how the proposal addresses the substrate, underlayment, roof surface, flashings and edges.
- What remains, and what is being assessed?
- Ask which existing components are expected to stay and what could change after assessment.
- Who checks the relationships between the parts?
- Ask who is responsible for evaluating the complete system, rather than only an individual product.
- What building conditions belong in the discussion?
- Ask whether insulation, attic conditions or other building features need separate qualified evaluation.
About water and the building.
- Where is runoff intended to go?
- Ask about the connected route from roof edges and wall intersections to collection and discharge.
- Who evaluates the site beyond the roof?
- Ask whether the ground or the discharge destination calls for another qualified professional.
- What care information should be provided?
- Ask who can explain appropriate ongoing assessment and maintenance without relying on a web guide as repair instructions.
About a cool-roof claim.
- Which properties are being quoted?
- Ask about solar reflectance and thermal emittance for the exact product and finish.
- Are the values initial or weathered?
- Ask which measured data support the claim and what the distinction means.
- How is my building being considered?
- Ask how the actual climate and building characteristics enter the discussion, without assuming a guaranteed result.
Keep the questions separate from the answers.
Print this page using the button above or your browser’s print command, then add your own notes on paper. No answers are collected or sent anywhere. If a term remains unclear, write it down and return to the relevant guide chapter.
The prompts are original editorial conversation aids. They draw on the guide’s source-supported vocabulary, but are not an NRCA or DOE form, a professional assessment, a legal checklist or an endorsement of any provider. The references below supply background, not personal project approval.
Background: NRCA Guidance for homeowners (October 2020 article PDF) · DOE Guidelines for Selecting Cool Roofs (July 2010 PDF) · DOE Building America: Gutters and Downspouts