In a typical Panamanian house, the roof is the point that lets in the most heat. The good news is it's also where an intervention pays off the most. Build your roof layer by layer below.
A conventional roof exceeds 65 °C at the surface; a reflective one can be more than 28 °C cooler See evidence. Cutting the heat chain at the roof (reflective finish, air gap, radiant barrier, insulation, ceiling) is the most cost-effective path.
| Configuration | What it does | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Metal, no ceiling | Transmits heat almost instantly | Very low |
| Metal + ceiling | Cushioning air gap | Low-medium |
| Metal + radiant barrier | Reflects radiant heat | Medium |
| Metal + insulation | Resistance to conduction | Medium-high |
| Reflective (light coating) | Lowers absorption at the source | High |
| Concrete + reflective/insulation | Thermal lag + low absorption + resistance | Very high |
A radiant barrier alone reduces cooling needs by 8 to 12% in hot climates See evidence.
A diagnosis determines exactly which layers your roof needs, without overselling. Gallardía assesses and installs.
Every important claim links to its evidence. Tap to see the source, its context and its limits: DOE PNNL Tropical cool roof Heat balance. Full bibliography in the evidence library.