Building gets realy Hot

[ugotadollar4me]

Does anyone know how to keep the inside of a building cool in the summer?

we have approx 140sqm of open space which gets extremly hot in the summer, like 40 degrees.

Air con will not work because the area is to big and it would cost a fortune to run

any ideas?

 

[Propertunity]

Insulation & cross ventilation.
Keep hot sun off outside walls with shade trees or sails.

 

[Kristine..]

Why does it get hot?

Direct sunlight from the West?

Any natural or artificial shading of the windows?

Lots of heat retaining materials around the building eg concrete or paving stones?

Lack of opening windows or only where the heat banks are?

Thin metal roof with no insulation?

No ability for the hot air to rise and escape?


What is your analysis of the situation?

 

[Melbournian]

Does anyone know how to keep the inside of a building cool in the summer?

we have approx 140sqm of open space which gets extremly hot in the summer, like 40 degrees.

Air con will not work because the area is to big and it would cost a fortune to run

any ideas?

Insulation
Double glazed windows.
Window shutters.

 

[ugotadollar4me]

Thanks all,

The building is surrounded by other buildings
No breeze comes threw the windows
metal roof bolted to timber beams then jib screwed to beam or to 20mm timber then to beams,
from memory the is no cavity space and if there is it will only be between the 20mm timber.

Would whirlybirds work?

 

[Propertunity]

...No breeze comes threw the windows....
Would whirlybirds work?

If there is no breeze then the whirlybirds won't spin, but if they do, then it should give you some ventilation.

 

[RumpledElf]

You can insulate a flat roof with no crawl space. We did it on our current kitchen, which is a skillion lean-to on the back of the house and was a monstrous hotbox when we moved in.

The catch? You have to take the roof off to put the insulation in. If you're that hot though chances are it is worth it, this room went from unbearable to really quite nice after it was insulated, we just used R2.5ish pink batts from the local hardware store, back when they were cheap because the insulation rort scheme hadn't started yet (it started about 5 minutes after we insulated).

If you don't want to take the entire roof off you can get that fluffy stuff blown in through a much smaller gap, maybe just a couple of sheets loosened at the edge.

 

[Gools]

If there is no breeze then the whirlybirds won't spin

The convection current should make the whirly bird do its thing.

 

[Propertunity]

The convection current should make the whirly bird do its thing.

Ah yes, you're right

Also RumpledElf's suggestion to lift the roof an put down an insulation blanket is probably going to be the most effective. (I'm not keen on the 'blow in' stuff personally).

 

[RumpledElf]

The fluffy stuff gradually drops and you'd be amazed where it comes out through. Gaps around architraves, that kind of thing. Had it done once and have been a batt devotee ever since

 

[ugotadollar4me]

thanks everyone, I think I will try some whirly birds to start with

 

[depreciator]

It's a flat roof? Can't see whirlybirds doing much at all.

There are some reflective paints around that people put on roofs to deflect the heat. Not sure whether that will work.

Air Cell (or similar) under the metal and maybe some bulk insulation under that. It's not a huge job removing and replacing a 140sqm roof.

 

[Doovalacky]

The fluffy stuff gradually drops and you'd be amazed where it comes out through. Gaps around architraves, that kind of thing. Had it done once and have been a batt devotee ever since

I agree. Ever since I saw a couple roofs that supposedly had been insulated in areas that got an afternoon breeze.
All blown to one end of the house.