How to keep a porch cool?

We have a ceiling fan in our screened porch. Its quite effective.

Check into having it foam insulated, put shade screens on the outside of the glass windows, which I am betting are single pane... if you can keep the sun off the glass.. it will help with the heat inside the porch... and light colored curtains on the windows... to pull during the hottest time of the day will help too

I would insulate that metal roof underneath with foam panels with reflectix on top. Then I would have the metal roof painted a light or metallic to reflect more light. You could also put one-way UV heat reflective window film on the glass especially on the sunny side(s). Then add some fans on a timer to blow cool night/early morning air in, and one to exhaust heat out in the heat of the day.

Have you thought about insulating the ceiling? Then it may be a 4 season porch !

I would use a ceiling fan. We had one when we lived in Florida, on a patio that was covered just outside the back door leading to the one side of the lanai. It really helped control the humidity under it since it was only open on two sides.

This is a stretch, since I have no clue how large your porch is. Or your sense of humor.

This is a product that can be stapled to your walls or

you could set up a ”clothes line” at each end of the room and hang these like a fabric draped ceiling, stapling the ends over the roping or wire you use.

Could help in winter too.

For summer, I’m sure you have a fan. Like my grandparents, put a nice big pot of ice in front of the fan. To help the ice last longer, and if you can stand the smell, add some cheapie good old rubbing alcohol.

Or zip loc bag this concoction. And put in a pot. We did this mix when my kids had injuries in sports. The added alcohol makes the ice last longer/colder.

Cheap too.

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Both answers above are good. You could use roll up blinds on all windows (curtains in the afternoon and open at night and early morning). If you have any electrical appliances (like a freezer) you might thing about relocating that if possible. What about an evaporative fan/cooler (swamp cooler). It blows cool air out but won't break the bank when the electric bill arrives. If you have a concrete slab for your patio consider covering it with a huge rug. Concrete absorbs heat during the day and releases it at night making an already hot patio almost unbearable.

we have the hot, Georgia, afternoon sun beating down on one side of our porch, so we bought a Roman shade (indoor/outdoor one) on Amazon for less than $35, and put it up on that side of the porch. It looks great, keeps a Lot of the sun out, and also provides privacy from the neighbors ! You could put them all around the porch also.

We have a ceiling fan and olive green sheers, both help with cooler air and privacy.

I would go with ceiling fans then. Enjoy your summer.

Yep....get dark colored bed sheets and clip on hooks and make curtains that you can pull around to keep the glare out. Also, paint the metal roof white so that it reflects the light. If you have room, get some bamboo and grow it in pots outside the walls to create shade. It grows quickly.