How to Keep a Steel Building Cool in the Summer Months
Metal buildings provide so many benefits, from durability to withstand severe weather conditions to endless customization options. However, one of the main concerns people have is being able to keep their steel building cool during the summer. While metal can get hot, there are effective ways to reduce heat in the summer months.
When a building is experiencing extreme heat, there are numerous consequences to be aware of. First, no one wants to sit inside a building that is too warm. In addition, prolonged heat exposure can weaken your metal building over time.
Thankfully, there are ways to keep your steel building cool during the summer without dealing with costly energy bills. First, you should insulate your building efficiently, using specialized insulation that prevents hot air from circulating. You can also use natural ventilation, and HVAC systems, choose a light roof color, and create natural shading with vegetation.
Ways to Keep a Metal Building Cool in the Summer
While you might be worried about your metal building becoming too hot in the summer, maintaining a cool temperature is not as big of a deal as you’d think. In addition to air conditioning, there are a plethora of ways to keep cool air inside of your steel building.
The easiest ways to keep a steel building comfortable during the summer include:
Insulation
The most effective way to keep your steel structure cool during the summer is to insulate your metal building. Installing high-quality insulation will keep cool air in while preventing warm air from affecting the interior of your structure. This is because insulation creates a barrier between the outside and inside atmosphere, preventing heat from entering the building.
Most metal buildings are built with insulation already. However, you must routinely check your insulation to make sure it has not been damaged or compromised. Staying on top of the health of your insulation will make the summer months much more comfortable.
Natural Ventilation
Another way to keep your steel building cool during the summer is to incorporate natural ventilation into your building. To do this, you’ll want a good amount of openings, doors, and windows throughout the structure. Having an expert engineer place these openings strategically will make your building less prone to heat. For example, cross-ventilation is the best way to combat heat in the summer. You could do this by having windows adjacent to doors or entrances, allowing cool air to flow across the room.
You could also install ventilation systems on top of having natural ventilation, making your metal building all the more efficient at staying cool and comfortable.
HVAC Systems
HVAC stands for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. These systems combine all three of these things to keep your building at a comfortable temperature year-round. Having an HVAC system in combination with air conditioning, natural ventilation, and high-quality insulation will make it extremely easy to keep cooler air in your building longer.
Having an HVAC system will improve the energy efficiency of your metal building. This is because they require less energy to work, allowing you to spend less money on your monthly energy bills.
When you are designing your building, you can ask the engineers to include an HVAC system. At Titan Steel Structures, we include customizations like HVAC systems in our quotes to help you get a good idea of the overall price of your build.
Choosing a Light Roof Color
When you are designing your metal building, you might have aesthetics in mind. If you feel tempted to choose a dark-colored roof, you should know that it can contribute to warmth inside of a building. To keep your metal building cool during the summer, it is best to pick a light-colored roof instead.
Instead of absorbing the heat from the sun, light-colored roofs reflect heat into the atmosphere. As a result, the inside of your building will be cooler than if you chose a black roof.
Using Vegetation and Shading Devices
Another way to reduce heat during the summer months is to create shade with vegetation. You could add bushes along the sides of your building, which will keep the metal siding of your building cool. Additionally, bushes can be aesthetically pleasing, making it a win-win situation.
In addition to shrubbery, you can use shading devices to keep your building cool. For example, you can install awnings, canopies, and overhangs in areas of your building that the sun affects. Another idea is to install reflective window pane glass on all of your windows or sliding glass doors.
Get Connected to a Leader in the Metal Building Industry
If you are interested in creating a new metal structure, you’ve come to the right place. Titan Steel Structures is a leader in the steel building industry, with decades of experience and high customer satisfaction rates. Whether you are creating a residential property or a commercial business like a manufacturing warehouse, we can help you create a high-quality steel building.
Contact us today to learn more about keeping metal buildings cool during the summer and to get started customizing your new building.