Keeping your home cool in a Moroccan summer: insulation, shading, air con
Photo : Sharon Hahn Darlin · BY 2.0
Updated 2026-10-25
Summers in Morocco are getting hotter, and many newer homes trap heat like an oven, especially top-floor flats. Air conditioning helps, but it is expensive to run when heat gets in everywhere. Spring and autumn are the right times for the work: tradespeople are far less busy than in July, and if you only visit in summer, you can arrive to a cooler house. Here is what actually works, in order of impact.
Why so many homes overheat
Traditional architecture, with thick walls, central patios and shaded lanes, handled heat well. Many recent buildings dropped those ideas: bare concrete roof slabs in full sun, large unshaded windows and single glazing.
Morocco has had a Thermal Building Regulation (RTCM) since 2015, setting insulation levels for roofs, façades and glazing. According to experts quoted in the Moroccan press, it is only partly applied outside public projects. In practice, many homes have little or no insulation.
1. Start with the roof
On a top floor or in a villa, the roof terrace is the largest surface in the sun, and it is usually where you gain the most. This work goes hand in hand with waterproofing (étanchéité): if you are redoing the waterproofing, add insulation at the same time.
- Extruded polystyrene (XPS) 5 cm, used under screed or on roof terraces: about 45 to 70 MAD/m² for the material
- Spray polyurethane foam on a roof or terrace: about 180 to 280 MAD/m² installed
- A light-coloured roof coating or paint to reflect part of the sun
- Shade on the terrace: pergola, sail, plants in planters if the structure allows
- Have slopes and drains checked: insulation on a leaking roof fixes nothing
2. Stop the sun before it hits the glass
Indoor curtains block light but let heat into the room. External shading (shutters, awnings, brise-soleil, mashrabiya screens) stops the sun before it warms the glass. West- and south-facing windows come first.
- Manual roller shutter (volet roulant), PVC or aluminium: about 1,200 to 2,200 MAD/m²
- Motorised shutter: roughly 1,000 to 2,500 MAD extra per shutter
- Retrofit installation: about 350 to 700 MAD per shutter
- Awnings or shade cloth on balconies and terraces
- Double glazing when replacing windows, through an aluminium joiner (menuisier aluminium)
3. Ventilate at the right time
The rule is simple: close by day, open by night. Shut windows and shutters as soon as it is hotter outside than inside, then open wide in the evening and early morning to get a cross-breeze between two sides of the house.
- Ceiling fans use far less power than air con and are often enough in bedrooms
- Vents or high windows to let hot air escape
- Plants, a patio or shaded courtyard cool the air around the house
- Light colours on sun-facing exterior walls
4. Air conditioning last, and set sensibly
An insulated, shaded home needs a smaller unit and runs it for less time. If you install one, have it sized for the room and its orientation, choose an inverter model, and get the filters cleaned and the gas checked before each summer.
- Set it around 25 to 26 °C rather than as cold as possible
- Keep doors and windows closed while it runs
- Avoid placing the outdoor unit in full sun with no airflow
Which tradespeople to call
- Roof waterproofing and insulation: builder (maçon, bennay in Darija) or a waterproofing company
- Shutters, windows, double glazing: aluminium joiner (menuisier, mol l'aluminium)
- Light-coloured façade or roof paint: painter (peintre, sebbagh)
- Air con and ventilation: AC installer (climatisation, mol l'klima)
- Steel pergola or brise-soleil: welder / metalworker (soudeur, ferronnier, haddad)
Finding the right tradesperson with AloAji
On aloaji.ma, search by trade and city, for example "menuisier" in Marrakech or "climatisation" in Agadir. You call or WhatsApp them directly, free of charge. Ask for several detailed quotes and book the work before the heat arrives. Profiles marked "Non vérifié" (not verified) are businesses found on their own website that AloAji has not checked yet, so read reviews and compare.
FAQ
What is the single most effective fix against summer heat?
On a top floor or in a villa, insulating and shading the roof terrace usually gives the biggest gain. External shading on west- and south-facing windows comes next.
How much does roof insulation cost in Morocco?
As a guide, 5 cm extruded polystyrene costs about 45 to 70 MAD/m² for the material, and spray polyurethane foam about 180 to 280 MAD/m² installed. Waterproofing and protection come on top, depending on the roof's condition.
Do roller shutters really help?
Yes. External shading stops the sun before it reaches the glass, which indoor curtains cannot do. A manual shutter costs roughly 1,200 to 2,200 MAD/m² depending on material.
When should I do this work?
In spring or autumn. In summer tradespeople are fully booked, and working on a roof in full sun is hard and less careful.
Am I legally required to insulate my home?
The RTCM sets requirements for new buildings since 2015. For an existing home insulation is your choice, but it usually pays off in comfort.