Tips and Tricks on Cooling Rooftops

There are several ways to cool concrete rooftops, and this depends on preference, budget, and space.

Homeowners with a rooftop or flat roof made from reinforced concrete know that the attic can be extremely hot. This is because flat roof spaces are always exposed to sunlight and concrete greatly accumulates heat. When concrete fully absorbs the heat, it will begin the exothermic reaction. Even after sunset, the house remains warm. Here, we will discuss ideas on how to cool your rooftops.

Insulations in the ceiling Installing insulations at the ceiling is common due to its simple process that doesn’t involve bothering the roof. Insulations in ceilings are often made of fiberglass with 1, 2, 3, and 6-inch thickness such as SCG Thermal Insulation and PU foam insulations with both the spray or sheet types.

Heat reflective paint or ceramic coating on the roof Heat reflective paint or ceramic coating consists of borosilicate ceramic powder which reflects heat and UV rays. When applied to the roof, it helps reflect heat from the concrete, thus, reducing heat accumulation.

Solar slabs Solar slabs are 30x30 cm. concrete tiles with 3cm. tall legs in all 4 corners creating empty spaces beneath the tiles. The tiles prevent the roof from direct sunlight while space acts as insulations that prevent heat transfer from tiles to roof.

Wooden floor on the rooftop Aside from attractiveness, wooden floor rooftops can also cool roofs. Several types of wooden floors are available such as the 30x30 cm. prefabricated wooden floor planks or wooden planks on joists. Wooden floors cool roofs using the same principle as solar slabs. They protect the roof from direct sunlight and space in between the wooden floor and concrete roof act as insulations that obstruct heat transfer from the wooden floor to the roof.

A roof over a roof A roof is an umbrella for rooftops. It prevents the roof from direct sunlight while space in between the roofs become insulation and helps with ventilation. This is the best way to cool the roof while also preventing rooftops from leakage. The upper roof above the rooftop can be in different styles such as Gable roofs, Hip roofs, Lean-to roof, or other styles such as the Canvas roof etc.

Garden rooftop Aside from being pleasant, garden or green rooftop can also cool the roof. It can alleviate the Urban Heat Island effect that occurs in large cities. However, garden rooftops require special construction techniques and care as gardening involves soil and water. The roof structure must have the ability to withstand weight load. Also, the roof must be layered with materials for planting as well as blocking and draining water. This will help plants grow well and prevent leakage.

There are several ways to cool rooftops which depends on homeowners’ preference and budget. Several techniques can be integrated such as a roof over roof, heat reflective paint, and insulations in ceilings. This can help enhance the performance according to the suitability of different conditions.

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