By Michael Johnson M.W. Johnson Hold Co | Peachtree Roofing & Exteriors | TC Roofing & Restorations

A New Mandate, Same Commitment: Protecting Homeowners First

Atlanta’s new cool roof ordinance is part of the city’s effort to combat urban heat and reduce long-term energy consumption. While we respect the intention, Peachtree Roofing & Exteriors believes every homeowner deserves clear, practical, and financially grounded guidance, not buzzwords or assumptions that don’t hold up in real-world roofing conditions.

Our philosophy has always been simple: Do what’s best for the homeowner. Deliver excellence. Communicate honestly.

Those principles guide every project we take on, from rigorous preparation to final inspection, reflected in the high standards showcased across our operations, safety practices, and workmanship.

When we evaluate the cool roof ordinance through that lens, one conclusion becomes clear: For most Atlanta homeowners, cool roof requirements are not cost-effective over the typical life of a residential roof.

And transparency requires us to say that plainly.

Why Cool Roof Requirements Don’t Deliver Real Value to Most Homeowners

1) The Payoff Doesn’t Match the Roof’s Lifespan

City projections often calculate savings over theoretical periods that don't match reality. In Atlanta, a well-maintained architectural asphalt roof typically lasts 20 to 30 years. However, the premiums paid for cool roof technology often require decades to break even, a time that many homeowners won't see before the roof needs maintenance or replacement. Homeowners end up paying more upfront for reflectivity that may never generate a true return on investment.

2) Drastically Higher Material Costs

The price difference is not negligible, it is substantial. Cool roof-compliant shingles can cost over double the price of standard architectural shingles.

  • Standard Architectural Shingle (e.g., GAF Timberline): ~$130.00 per square (materials only).

  • Cool Roof Compliant Shingle (e.g., GAF Timberline CS): ~$256.00 per square (materials only).

For an average 30-square roof, this price gap ($126/square) adds $3,780 to the material cost alone. When you factor in sales tax, the total increase exceeds $4,000 for the exact same roof coverage. Most households will never see energy savings that come close to offsetting this upfront premium.

3) Supply Chain Vulnerabilities

Beyond cost, availability is a major concern for the East Coast market. Cool roof shingles are not a standard stock item for most big-box roofing supply distributors in our region.

  • West Coast Production: Manufacturers have limited production plants for these specific shingles, most of which are located on the West Coast where these codes originated.

  • Logistical Delays: Because this is not a popular product in the East, obtaining materials often involves special orders and long lead times. If your roof suffers storm damage, you cannot afford to wait weeks for a "compliant" shingle to arrive from California.

4) Better ROI Exists Elsewhere

If the goal is energy efficiency, the roof is rarely the most efficient place to start. A simple smart thermostat, costing roughly $200 to $300, will likely yield greater annual energy savings for an average Atlanta home than a cool roof upgrade costing thousands more.

Additionally, Atlanta homes rely heavily on attic ventilation and insulation to regulate heat. Our teams routinely install:

  • Balanced ventilation to 1/150, doubling the 1/300 code standards

  • Full attic airflow assessments

  • Proper deck evaluations and structural checks

  • Ice/water barriers in all leak-prone areas

When these systems already mitigate heat effectively, cool roof shingles deliver only marginal gains.

5) The Public Benefit vs. Private Cost

The ordinance is designed to reduce the "Urban Heat Island" effect by reflecting heat back into the atmosphere. While this may help reduce citywide  temperatures slightly, individual homeowners are bearing the entire cost of this public service. You are being asked to pay a premium to reflect heat away from the city, while seeing little measurable payoff inside your own home. We support community improvement, but not at the expense of misleading expectations or avoidable financial strain for families.

How This Aligns With Our Company Philosophy

Built on Expertise, Certification, and Integrity
Peachtree Roofing & Exteriors holds industry-leading distinctions:

  • GAF Master Elite, 3-Star President’s Club

  • OSHA-certified teams

  • HAAG-certified inspectors

  • Best-in-class workmanship standards

We understand how materials actually perform over time, not in theory, but in the field.

A Proven Process Focused on Protection, Safety, and Quality
From site preparation and safety protocols to post-project quality control, our team follows a disciplined, multi-layered process designed to protect homeowners at every stage. That same discipline applies to evaluating any new regulation. If something doesn’t serve the homeowner, we do not pretend that it does.

Consumer Advocacy is Not a Slogan; It’s a Standard
Our claim support model is built on capturing lost equity at no cost to the homeowner, demonstrating our philosophical commitment: Protect homeowners, maximize their outcomes, and defend their investment.

That lens makes it clear: Cool roof compliance doesn’t yield sufficient financial benefits to justify the premium most households pay.

What Homeowners Should Know Moving Forward

We Will Help You Comply; Without Overselling​​
If your project falls into a category where cool roof compliance is required, we will:

  • Use the most cost-efficient compliant products available.

  • Provide transparent comparisons between compliant and non-compliant materials.

  • Educate you on realistic, not exaggerated, energy savings.

  • Manage the supply chain logistics to minimize delays.

  • Document everything required for your permitting and inspections.

We Will Always Prioritize What Actually Improves Home Comfort
In many cases, homeowners get far more value from:

  • Better attic insulation

  • Improved ventilation

  • HVAC efficiency upgrades (e.g., smart thermostats)

  • Radiant barrier enhancements

These improvements deliver absolute, measurable comfort and savings, unlike the speculative benefit of high-reflectance shingles on typical Atlanta homes.

Our Bottom Line

A roof is a homeowner’s largest protective asset. A mandate should never pressure people into spending thousands more for benefits they will never fully realize.

At Peachtree Roofing & Exteriors, our commitment remains unwavering: Do the right thing. Protect the homeowner. Deliver excellence. We nail it every shingle time™