India’s summer heat is once again pushing people to look for cheaper ways to keep their homes cool without depending too much on air conditioners and coolers. Now, a man’s low-cost rooftop trick claiming
to reduce roof temperature by nearly 15 degrees has started a huge discussion online, with many calling it a practical solution for extreme heat.
A video shared on X by user Dinesh K Sen shows a man named Ritesh standing barefoot on a rooftop even though the outside temperature had reached 44 degrees Celsius. The person filming the clip looked surprised and asked him how he was comfortably standing on the hot terrace during peak afternoon heat.
He Explains The Cooling Method
“Let me show you something remarkable. Even in 44°C heat, you’re standing barefoot on this roof. What’s the secret,” the man filming asked.
Ritesh replied, “The sun is blazing, but my roof is cool. This isn’t a miracle – it’s science. I’m standing here completely barefoot.”
He also pointed at his watch, which showed the time as 4:15 pm while the temperature remained around 44°C. Ritesh then explained that he had applied a special coating on the rooftop using simple materials that helped reduce heat absorption.
According to him, the treatment brought the roof temperature down to nearly 28 to 30 degrees Celsius even during the hottest part of the day. “You won’t need to rely as much on coolers or air conditioners. Even a fan will start giving cooler air,” he said.
The Full Cost Was Under Rs 1,000
Ritesh explained that the mixture was made using 20 kg of lump lime, also known as chuna, along with Fevicol DDL binder and a waterproofing compound called Universal Repair Polymer (URP). He said the lime cost around Rs 350, while the waterproofing material cost around Rs 200.
According to him, the lime should first be soaked overnight in nearly 50 litres of water. Once the mixture cools down, the binder and waterproofing liquid are added before applying it to the terrace surface.
He suggested using at least one coat across the rooftop and applying a second layer if any material remains. When asked about the total expense for a 1,000-square-foot roof, Ritesh estimated the cost at around Rs 800 to Rs 850.
“It’s very inexpensive. The temperature outside is 44°C, while the roof temperature is around 30°C, and it’s 4:15 in the afternoon under direct sunlight,” he explained.
Internet Reacts To The Desi Trick
As the video spread online, many users discussed the science behind reflective roof coatings and shared similar experiences from their own cities.
A user commented, “White reflective coating is real science. It reflects most of the sun’s heat instead of absorbing it. Proper cool-roof coatings, or even a good lime-and-binder mix, can reduce roof surface temperatures by 10-20 degrees Celsius and lower indoor temperatures by several degrees.”
Another person suggested adding plants and pots on rooftops to reduce heat naturally. “These days, desi innovation is no less than technology. If roof cooling is done properly, the load on air conditioners can be reduced significantly,” a user wrote.
“लोग AC पर 20-30 हजार खर्च कर रहे हैं…
ये भाईसाहब ने छत पर जो किया, उससे 15 डिग्री ठंडक फ्री में!😱 pic.twitter.com/6wBRbBoJ5I— DINESH K SEN (@dks_230) May 27, 2026
Another comment read, “This desi jugaad of coating the roof with lime or reflective ‘cool roof paint’ reduces the home’s temperature by up to 15 degrees by bouncing back the sun’s rays.”
A person also shared, “I asked a mason about this who used to work as a mason in Chennai. He told me that it does a very good job, the heat of the roof reduces to a great extent.”
