Iron sheet roof - how to keep the heat out?

Noodle

Hi all handymen!

Is this the right forum for this topic? If not, mods please move it.

So, we have a shed with an iron sheet roof and it will soon get very hot in there. Already now at lunch time it's 30 degrees in it. Is there a way to keep the sheets from taking in too much heat without building a proper roof (no money for that right now)? Someone suggested tiles but they would be too heavy.

To put a plastic sheet on top won't help much, will it?

Thermocol came to mind but will that help (I've never seen it used here although it's known to help with heat insulation)? And how to fix it so it doesn't fly away?

Or what else could be used?

Any ideas, folks?

Noodle

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iwanttogoback

insulation, insulation, insulation - can be fixed between the iron sheet and some wire mesh (like chicken wire), but make sure you don't compress it or it loses some of its insulation value.

or shade the roof - is this possible (probably not, i guess).

Noodle

Eeehhh, which is what exactly?

Shading the roof could be done via a plastic sheet. Will it help you think?

freenote

As iwantogoback said insulation !! i just googled "Thermocool" and it looks about right .Fix it underneath the roofing material to protect it and fix with nail, glue, wire mesh , anything to keep it up under the roof .Tin roofs can get very hot , hot enough to cook an egg or two

PeakXV

You might be needing a heat-reflecting coating for your roof. Don't know how expensive, or how sourcable in India this would be ..... but here is a link that might give you a few ideas on this option:

http://www.hytechsales.com/low_eroofpaint.html

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Nick-H

How about a layer of coconut pal-leaf matting above the roof?

It should stop some of the sun rays getting through. Like a second roof.

natureschild

What you need to a false ceiling which provides insulation, thermocool is a good and cheap material, you can also get special 2x2 tiles, made of compressed saw dust but that is likely to cost you. Irrespective of the material used you will need a frame to support it.
One cheap alternative I have seen is bedsheets (presumably with polythene on one side) stretched out and nailed a couple of feet below the tin ceiling, to trap the heat.
Other methods involving structrual changes are raising the roof and providing cross ventilation.
"Mud packs" on the roof also help but are meant for roofs with stone slabs, not tin.

freenote

If that's all there is ,it's guaranteed to help .
p.s I'll come and fix it if you like ....Give you good price

mairangi_vice

you should paint the roof white to reflect some of the suns energy. If you feel energetic, make a false ceiling as others have suggested. Any structure that will trap air between the roof and the false ceiling should work.

Nick-H

I'd make the priority keeping the sun off the tin roof. That means most of the heat will be kept outside.

If you could put a layer of "thermocool" or similar insulation underneath as well, that should be a good bonus.

Many people in india live under coconut thatching; it does its job quite well, but can be a bit lacking in water-proofing. With the steel underneath that isn't a worry, but maybe paint the steel as it will stay wetter longer when it rains if it is covered.

Brisso

In SEAsia I have seen hoses with fine perorations run each side of the ridge of the roof - in hot weather water is pumped up and sprays out to evaporate and remove heat ... helps to have a pond or dam though ...

Noodle

Thank you for all your inspired suggestions!

Palm leaves are not a bad idea actually cause we have four huge palm trees in the garden and every once in a while a leaf comes crashing down with such force that you think a metoer has struck! We give those huge monuments to the neighbours who burn them, but maybe we could just put them on the roof? The thought about water getting trapped in monsoon and the things starting to rot is something to think about though.

Thermocol and shading seem to be a good combination, the advantage is that thermocol is so cheap and a plastic sheet nailed/hung a foot above the iron sheets would also be easy to set up.

Thanks!

Nick-H

You have to find someone who knows how to weave them. That'll be good. If your have spare, then you can have some brooms too!

Noodle

Oh, they need to be weaved? I would have just slapped the whole leaves on the roof

No brooms needed here anymore - I'm the proud owner of a vacuum cleaner What an idea!

Nick-H

They need to be woven, yes.