Expert: Nazim Nice - 7/28/2009

Question
Sir,
I live in a RCC Structured building which has 08 rooms.  I have not build any upper story my problem is that the house is exceptionally hot during the sun and at night both.  what kind of construction should I do on the first floor to reduce the intake of heat in the ground floor.   I want to know about head reducing roofing and wall structures.  The roof of my ground floor gets totally burned by the sun during morning.

Answer
Hi Raj,

I would look at trying to shade your roof, with perhaps a tile roof or something that has mass.  It's difficult for me to say exactly what will work in your part of the world, but generally a thick massive wall I think will help you out because it will take along time for the heat to get through.  For the roof, anything to block he sun from the main roof will help.  If gets cooler at night, then a thick wall will be cooled down at night and then radiate that coolness during the day.  If it's hot all the time, then having a basement room would be cooler since the earth tends to be around 60 degrees all year round once you get several feet down.

Also a white roof may reflect more heat than a darker color, so that will help keep things cooler.  I would concentrate on adding more insulation or more mass, depending on what you think will be more effective in keeping the heat out for your climate.

Nazim Nice
Principal / Architect
http://www.motion-space.com
--
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

Read our blog at: http://seattlearchitects.blogspot.com/

See our completed projects at: http://www.motion-space.com/seattle-architects-projects.htm

Looking for an architect?: http://www.motion-space.com/seattle-architects.htm

What are the typical services of a design firm?: http://www.motion-space.com/seattle-architecture-firm.htm

Frequently asked questions of architects: http://www.motion-space.com/frequently-asked-architect-questions.htm

Sustainable and green design resources: http://www.motion-space.com/seattle-architects-green-design.htm

Choosing exterior colors and materials: http://www.motion-space.com/exterior-house-colors.htm

Read about remodeling your basement: http://www.motion-space.com/seattle-basement-remodel.htm

Need to add more space? Consider a second story addition: http://www.motion-space.com/seattle-second-story-additions.htm

Remodeling your entire house: http://www.motion-space.com/seattle-whole-house-remodel.htm

Check out our newest product - Custom Engraved switchplates: http://store.lumenid.com

See our gallery of products: http://store.lumenid.com/product-gallery.html

Send in your own switchplates: http://store.lumenid.com/mail-in.html

Uses for our custom engraved switchplates: http://store.lumenid.com/product-wheretouse.html