Cooling The Roof Down

[CS Chua]

My kitchen is terribly hot because the space between the roof and the ceiling is about 2 feet. The ceiling follows the contour of the roof rather than the usual wall to wall false ceiling. So, the heat generated from the roof can be felt in the afternoon.

I am looking at different ways to cool it down. There are different types of insulation material which they put between the roof and the ceiling. And I also read about the mist cooling system where mist is generated on top of the roof. The mist or water will cool down the roof tiles. Anyone installed a particular system? Mind sharing what is good?

[Mat Bruce]

My kitchen is terribly hot because the space between the roof and the ceiling is about 2 feet. The ceiling follows the contour of the roof rather than the usual wall to wall false ceiling. So, the heat generated from the roof can be felt in the afternoon.

I am looking at different ways to cool it down. There are different types of insulation material which they put between the roof and the ceiling. And I also read about the mist cooling system where mist is generated on top of the roof. The mist or water will cool down the roof tiles. Anyone installed a particular system? Mind sharing what is good?

Install a sprinkler on the roof...so that you can make rain anytime...to cool the house down...

[currymee]

Install a sprinkler on the roof...so that you can make rain anytime...to cool the house down...

Remember not to exceed the "free" 20m3 allocation !!

[CS Chua]

Install a sprinkler on the roof...so that you can make rain anytime...to cool the house down...

Actually I saw the ads called Mamak Stall automatic sprinkling system. Instead of water, they use mist. They line a pipe at the very top of the roof and one can release mist anytime or using timer. Interesting. I am sure it works but how long does the material last since the sun is so hot? Back in Taiping, that is what we do to keep the house cool. Some people even put the garden sprinkler up there, in a very crude way but it works.

[jan tomaswaki]

maybe you might think of this,try use turbine type or a exhaust fan (big one)or a few smaller ones,one thing i know is never use ceiling fan as it worsen the area for the hot air still circulate around ,use a stand fan indeed.cheers.If it still doesn't work maybe have a nice cold beer imagine you are in Bahamas sunshine with lots of bikini girls around you.

[sorcerer788]

I discovered one method which is very environmentally safe and economical to cool down the roof. I have a metal kitchen roof (extended kitchen) which has metal sheet, rock wool, plywood and a final metal sheet underneath again. In the mid day, the underneath metal sheet (inside the house - ceiling) tempreture was recorded up to 46 degrees C. It was so hot in the kitchen that it was a torture working in the kitchen. Obviously the roof wool was not adequate. Finally we painted the roof top with a special "thermal insulation paint" which lower it to around max 36 degree C in midday. A massive 10 degree difference. Now it is more comforable.

The paint is not the ICI, Nippon, Jotun type of solar reflect paint (these paint don't work) but a specially made insulation paint. It was easy to install, just water jet the roof, apply primer and finally 2-3 layers of the paint. Apparently it not only reflect the heat but also insulate the roofing/ wall surface from the heat (the most important). A few month later, I had my entire roof painted with it and now my bedroom tempreture is low enough in midday to sleep without switching on the aircond.

I have recommended it a few of my friends and they too have painted their roof with it.

If you are interested, I can give you the company contact number. Ask them to give you a demo.

[DarkNite]

sorcerer788 - sorry to be cynical but the 'paint' sounds too good to be true.

[currymee]

I discovered one method which is very environmentally safe and economical to cool down the roof. I have a metal kitchen roof (extended kitchen) which has metal sheet, rock wool, plywood and a final metal sheet underneath again. In the mid day, the underneath metal sheet (inside the house - ceiling) tempreture was recorded up to 46 degrees C. It was so hot in the kitchen that it was a torture working in the kitchen. Obviously the roof wool was not adequate. Finally we painted the roof top with a special "thermal insulation paint" which lower it to around max 36 degree C in midday. A massive 10 degree difference. Now it is more comforable.

The paint is not the ICI, Nippon, Jotun type of solar reflect paint (these paint don't work) but a specially made insulation paint. It was easy to install, just water jet the roof, apply primer and finally 2-3 layers of the paint. Apparently it not only reflect the heat but also insulate the roofing/ wall surface from the heat (the most important). A few month later, I had my entire roof painted with it and now my bedroom tempreture is low enough in midday to sleep without switching on the aircond.

I have recommended it a few of my friends and they too have painted their roof with it.

If you are interested, I can give you the company contact number. Ask them to give you a demo.

Sounds like Cromseal advert

Best way, OPEN A WINDOW and switch on the ceiling fan ....

[sorcerer788]

No, this company is not Cromseal or what ever those company.

This company can just sell you the paint and you can do your on DIY which we did. Kitchen roof is normally not very high.

[bslee]

Cheap..errrrrr affordable method. 3-4" thick rockwool insulation laid above ceiling boards. I guarantee temp drop to a lower level. I have this entirely at my entire 700sqft roof area and G floor is VERY VERY COOL ALWAYS! Sepuluh tahun dulu pasang by CSR...(that time quite cheap, less than 1k..what I could afford only,I dunno current pricing)
2nd suggestion, if roof tile area not very big..change to terracotta roof tiles...together with rockwool insulation..almost ultimate! no need to think of painting for another 3 decades.

N.B. I'm not affiliated with any company doing this, just a very satisfied customer since it was intro to me and I did it without flinching.

[CS Chua]

Thanks guys. I am thinking of rockwool or whatever wool they used but which company is good and reasonable? Anyone can recommend one which can give a free quote? I am hoping it will not go past $2K for a normal 2 storey house. As it is, I am already changing new pipes - up and down, for the whole house. Going to feel poorer.

[CS Chua]

Btw, I read elsewhere that rockwool's ability to keep heat from going into the upstairs room is counter productive at night. That means, heat cannot escape through the ceiling and the room will be warm at night. In Australia, it works because the night is cold so they want to trap the heat in, and keep the heat out in the afternoon. In Malaysia, we want to keep the heat out in the afternoon and also at night. A friend of mine did theirs 20 years ago using another material called Cool and Easy and they regretted it because their house are so warm at night - for the same reason.

[bslee]

Btw, I read elsewhere.

Look lah Mr Chua, allow me to say that looking out for "ideals" in some solution to rectify some drawback in the home doesn't work all the time, win some loose some. Its all about some compromise somewhere and not always must find cheapest and must be very best.
I won't know about others, but I find my home very cool (and visitors have somehow wondered how come so cool) nearly always, unless its really really a hot weather for a period.

[Rhiga]

Sounds like Cromseal advert

Best way, OPEN A WINDOW and switch on the ceiling fan ....

Bro,

Before you said best way… you know I always have the best way

Stay in a condo , no roof ---->no roof heat problem at all …

[Rhiga]

Thanks guys. I am thinking of rockwool or whatever wool they used but which company is good and reasonable? Anyone can recommend one which can give a free quote? I am hoping it will not go past $2K for a normal 2 storey house. As it is, I am already changing new pipes - up and down, for the whole house. Going to feel poorer.

I read form other thread you have sensitive nose problem..!!

Beware of rock wool, check how the rock wool is installed

The tiny fibre from the rock wool certainly won’t do much good to sensitive nose..

My opnion is :
No need to re-invent the wheel, if you don't spend long hous there, just install an air-cond and pay extra for electricity (maybe the incremental is just 30-40 ringgit a month).