Iron sheet roof - how to keep the heat out?

Noodle

Oh dear! I must be getting old.

__________________
If in hole
stop digging.

Indian saying

crvlvr

Get a bunch of cocnut leaves that have fallen off the tree and place them on top of the iron roof.

Noodle

Yea, that's what I thought, but Nick said they must be wo-ven

crvlvr

woven is better, as that would require fewer leaves, and thus less weight, to get the job done.

They can easily be woven as follows:

1. Split the big leaf down the center -- you'll be left with a main stem and bunch of leaves running parallel
2. fold alternate leaves back so that they run across the unfolded leaves
3.weave them like strings in a tennis racquet.

I found one picture that might help. look closely at the leaves that are closest to the main stem right by the man's hand

edwardseco

You could turn lemons into lemonade by putting tubes down the roof to collect solar hot water heating..

freenote

Now that is just silly . How about being woven by a group of scantily clad southern islanders . No that is increasing the heat,

Lemon ,lemonade , solar hot water

tdmc

noodle - consider the properties of the materials - metal roof - good for rain protection and shade, not good for insulating. Palm leaves 9or shredded newspaper, good for trapping air, and therefore good insulation. Plastic sheet - can shade, and is waterproof, not good for insulation.
You seem pretty keen on using plastic sheet so maybe fix it over the metal (make sure there's air space) that will shade and keep rain off. Fill the air space with palm leaves - this will trap air and act as insulation. Come monsoon, remove palm leaves and lastic - let the metal do the work. Hot season, replace them again. Thank should work

Leith

Run a white plastic or cloth sheet one foot or so above roof line.

A inlet fan pulling cooler air from a low position on one wall and a exhaust fan to remove hot air in a higher position would help.

Leith

Noodle

Yes, the plastic sheet is already here, which is why I'm keen on using it. No extra hassle going out buying other kinds of material etc. Sounds good and straight forward what you say, I think I will do that! I never knew before that trapped air is helping insulation. Live and learn.

And crvlvr, thanks for the picture! Looks great!

@edward, yes, we could have solar water heating but who needs hot water in the hot season?

Leith, yes, additional air circulation would also help, but I think we'll be fine as long as we can prevent the iron sheets becoming a frying pan.