Sure, we all know about air-conditioning but in the current energy crisis many are seeking more sustainable ways to cool their homes – and here in Africa we also have to consider the impact that the harsh summer sun can have on the exterior of our homes or offices too.
So, what are just a few practical and more sustainable ways that you can protect and cool your property this summer with sustainable renovations?
Painting is versatile and effective
The first and foremost thing that you can do to both cool and protect your property, particularly in our summer weather conditions, is to give it a fresh coat of paint. From a cooling perspective, utilising a very light colour like white or eggshell white (just 2 examples of many available colour options) can make a huge difference. It makes the whole dwelling feel cooler on the inside and has a couple of added benefits too.
Firstly, if you speak to your wall decorating experts you can ensure that the paint and painting methods you use will give your home or office effective protection against the sun and last longer too.
Secondly, from an aesthetic point of view, a white building as a backdrop to your plants and decorative garden trellises and hedges makes a stunning impression of stark white and green contrast and has the effect of making the property look so much bigger. All this adds to the property value.
Cooling and protection renovation hacks
There are various ways to cool and protect your property in the summer through certain sustainable renovations too.
Open up
Firstly, just removing some inner walls to go more open plan will allow far more air to circulate – and speak to your renovation experts about other ways that air can be more effectively circulated through the premises, like through more windows or air vents. If you want to still retain the heat in winter, then replace these walls with beautiful frameless sliding doors – they look magnificent and do the job.
Look up
There are many ways to prevent a roof from overheating in the summer sun too. Use insulation in the roof and consider painting it a better, lighter colour too, as with the walls. You can even consider replacing the roof altogether, particularly if it is the type that retains heat and needs an overall anyway. You can change it to a more reflective material or shingles. This can help to minimise the absorption of the sun’s rays during the day.
There are many more things you can do, like using awnings to shade the windows, and even the way the garden is landscaped can cool the dwelling, but we will elaborate more on these in future articles.
All it takes is one versatile painting and renovation provider
Swirl Painting, with over 40 years of combined solid construction and painting experience, is reliable and accountable and creates the perfect finish to any construction project. We are proud to say that as specialist painters, wall decorators and renovators we already have an impressive portfolio of satisfied clients.
Contact us today for a no-obligation consultation regarding your specific painting and renovations requirements and let us help you to protect and cool your property this summer with sustainable renovations.
We also urge all of you to travel safely through the holiday season, wish you a fabulous family Christmas – and thank you to all who have supported us in 2023. Watch this space for more great painting and renovation ideas in 2024!