Penthouses are hot

[abbby]

Visited a friend and she lives in a penthouse unit and I must admit the penthouse is extremely hot and scorching. The heat was all over the walls and ceiling and you could literally feel in once you walk in. I cannot imagine how she could tolerate the extreme heat.

[bgd]

So a penthouse is off the list then Abbby?

[tt1973]

Being on the top floor will face problems such as the direct heat from the ceiling, never ending waterproofing leaks.

Never like penthouses or any top floor unit in a building.

[PNGMK]

Told you.

[abbby]

So a penthouse is off the list then Abbby?

Yes, off the list.

[x9200]

Visited a friend and she lives in a penthouse unit and I must admit the penthouse is extremely hot and scorching. The heat was all over the walls and ceiling and you could literally feel in once you walk in. I cannot imagine how she could tolerate the extreme heat.

I've been living in the top floor apartments for the last 9 years. Now, just a regular apartment, earlier sort of penthouse (2 levels with terraces on each level) and I don't think it is much hotter than any other apartment I lived in earlier in Singapore. And the top floor locations have one unbeatable advantage - you don't have to worry about your neighbors from upstairs.

[abbby]

Visited a friend and she lives in a penthouse unit and I must admit the penthouse is extremely hot and scorching. The heat was all over the walls and ceiling and you could literally feel in once you walk in. I cannot imagine how she could tolerate the extreme heat.

I've been living in the top floor apartments for the last 9 years. Now, just a regular apartment, earlier sort of penthouse (2 levels with terraces on each level) and I don't think it is much hotter than any other apartment I lived in earlier in Singapore. And the top floor locations have one unbeatable advantage - you don't have to worry about your neighbors from upstairs.

Yup few of its advantages are that you don't have people upstairs stomping on floors and dragging furniture and annoying neighbours with your own bbq.

Perhaps design of the building is important as well.

[bgd]

I lived in one for a while. It was hot because one complete side was glass, but it faced east so ok come the afternoon. It was a duplex and the problem with this is that the terrace is off the bedroom, rather than the living areas downstairs. The novelty of the terrace wore off pretty quickly having to carry stuff up from the kitchen.

The other issue was drainage. In a very heavy downpour the drains could not clear the water fast enough and it would seep under the door.

Overall the unit was fine but I just didn't gel with the block and was happy to be paid to leave when it sold.

[x9200]

We also had once problem with water coming inside but this was more because the door was not providing any proper protection... But yeah, pluses and minuses. Still, I'd rather had the terraces
Back to the heat, I think a bit hotter may be expected but it is/was not like anything unbearable and we had actually the bedroom at the upper floor. There are some other annoyances I can mentioned like hearing the noise from the rooftop pumps or the lift engine room but not really the extensive heat. But again, could be related to specific buildings / locations / layout / direct surrounding.

[abbby]

Yup I believe some structures are designed better than others and usually those with a room upstairs with the roof terrace shouldn't be as hot as those with a full terrace. The materials used and layout also makes a difference.

I have lived in houses that have thick walls, but somehow the sound proofing is terrible. I can hear neighbours laughter, pacing up and down the stairs, dragging of furniture.

[TropicalExpat]

I quite like the idea of the penthouse, duplex. While floor to ceiling glass is a problem I am sure, but I think there are ways to reduce the temperature inside during the hottest hours of the day. I guess there is a UV blocking film which can help, and I've found those white inner curtains really helpful (admittedly I am not in a penthouse).

[tt1973]

Even if the glass are covered, the ceiling still transmit a lot of heat from the roof. And the heat will linger in all the furniture, floor, walls till late night. The cycle will start itself the next day

[bgd]

The place I was in did have UV blocking and it was pretty effective. I never use aircon and survived there happily. It would be worse if the property had been west facing. Afternoon sun is the killer. My current place is west facing and I need to draw the curtains in the afternoon to keep the heat and glare down.

[Max Headroom]

Install solar panels mah. The sunnier and hotter it gets, the more you can crank up your air-con FOC.

[abbby]

The place I was in did have UV blocking and it was pretty effective. I never use aircon and survived there happily. It would be worse if the property had been west facing. Afternoon sun is the killer. My current place is west facing and I need to draw the curtains in the afternoon to keep the heat and glare down.

West facing units are a nightmare, even at night the heat in the day gets trapped in the unit, floor, walls, ceiling, bed, everything...