One ridge vent to let the hot air out and two eave vents to let cool air in is fairly standard. If you want to add more to increase the volume of air moving through the space you can additional vents inc motorised vents. Plenty of suppliers of those on the net. Do you have eaves? Did you limit windows that are hit with afternoon western sun? Is there any passive shading from trees or greenery? Your external blinds will still transfer heat if the sun is heating them directly. There are some house designs and locations where the standard offering needs to be added to by owners after building.

Is your home single storey or double storey. On a day like today, have you opened up the house and let the cross breezes cool the home down? I would consult a roof specialist for venting and get them to recommend a solution. Is it double brick with a concrete slab? A brick home does take longer to cool down after a row of hot days. I would open the windows when ever possible. Are you in an area of Perth where you do not get the cooling breezes in the afternoon or early morning?

Maybe try this company. https://totalatticstorage.com.au/index.php/portfolio/ventilation/

If you have ceiling insulation I doubt if roof venting is the main factor.

I agree about the other things as listed by Kate, bigreader and dreamer, I was going to ask the same.

Thank you all for your comments. I do have cavity wall insulation, R4.1 ceiling batts, and the entire west side of the house is in the shade of a large two storey next door. I am close to the ocean and let in the sea breeze through whenever possible.

Just surprised that even though my house is essentially pitch black all day long with the shutters down, I come home to warm, sweaty house at 6pm.

No greenery yet but great idea for shading, I will keep that in mind when we finally get the garden done.

If the garden isn't done yet, I wonder if there is a lot of reflected heat from bare hard surfaces? Have you ever seen a video of someone using one of those surface temperature measuring gadgets?

Do you also have a large two storey house on the east boundary? If so you will be battling to get any cross breezes through your home, unless there is a strong south westerly. I would not be locking the house down completely during the day. leave the south windows open slightly and see if you get some air circulation with in the home. The air vents on the eaves and roofing are circulating air in the roof space. But you also need some air circulation inside the home. Especially if your home is also double storey.

Thank you Macyjean, someone did mention trying out that gadget, I will have to see if I can source one.

And thanks dreamer - single storey on the east (as is my house), will try leaving a couple of south facing windows open.

I've heard some libraries have thermal sensors available to borrow?

awesome, thanks heaps macyjean!!! i did some googling and saw them to be $200+. fabulous, thanks !!!

Hi Anna,

Overheating in a new house is very problematic and must be very frustrating for you.

It is also a very complex issue. Easy to design for but hard to solve if it has not been properly designed for this consideration.

Dreamer's comments above are great and if you have plenty of well installed insulation in the ceiling, the roof should not be the source of the overheating. The insulation should have no gaps and be continuous over the rafters/ceiling joists. Also if you have recessed ceiling lights, they are a leak source of heat through the ceiling. Check how the insulation has been installed.

Can you provide a floor plan with direction of north which also shows where all the windows are and which windows have shutters on them. Also the direction of the sea and the main direction of the wind. We could then possibly give you more clues as to why the house is so hot.

Mostly, houses that are all shut up during the day will get hot so trying to encourage cross ventilation throughout the day. Shutters are more of a security item and have been marketed for heat prevention but I seriously doubt the validity of this

Give us more info and we'll help.

C.