1 story building with flat roof. summer time seems like oven inside even with all winows open?

Question

building is in los angeles.

besides getting a airconditioner or opening all doors & windows, anything I can do to cool the inside? how much am i looking to spend?

Answer 1

With a flat roof you have a very efficient radiator, radiating heat into the building.

Buildings with peaked roofs always have a substantial load of insulation in the joists above the top floor ceiling, isolating the heat to the roof.

Also, people believe the fiction that the way to cool a buiding is to open all the doors and windows.

Think about it. How do you keep the building warm in winter? You keep the doors and windows shut. The insulation keeps the cold out. In summer it keeps the cool in and heat out.

When I was a kid, before air conditioning, people kept their doors and windows shut in summer and dark, shades in the windows to keep out the sunlight.. Heavy drapes across the windows also helped.

It might help to put in a drop ceiling in the top floor and insulate heavily above it.How much can your budget afford?

Answer 2

Wear Shorts and sleeveless Shirts.

If that isn't enough wear a bikers pack with a ice pack in it for a while. :-)

Answer 3

Insulate,  insulate, insulate.

Need help with the type of structure.

Can it be insulated from the inside?

Is the roof old, so you could consider replacing with 4" styrofome under rubber roofing?  

Is the ceiling finished?  Is it tall enough room to add false ceiling with insulation, and ventilation above?

Help!!

Answer 4

This would take a while but you need some trees.