Explain why houses in tropical areas should have overhanging eaves
Answers
Explanation:
How is the roof of a house in tropical countries designed to keep the house cooler?
How is the roof of a house in tropical countries designed to keep the house cooler?
A properly oriented building will contribute enormously to keeping a house cooler. The best orientation would be to have an big overhang (eave) on the sunniest side of the house (usually the south or west). If building from scratch, find out at which latitude your house will be, and have an expert determine how far the roof should overhang when the sun is high (summer) and how much light it should let in when the sun is low (winter). The lower the latitude, the lower the overhang.
High ceilings keep the heat inside away from the living area, and an effective attic venting system will draw it away. Consider having abundant intake of attic air (soffit vents, gable end vents, whole-house attic fans) and plenty of egress points for the air to leave (roof turbines, passive ridge vents).
Using lighter-colored material on the roof is a great idea, too. I know many tropical-climate buildings use clay roof tile, but I can only wonder how much heat these store during the day. I’d say the best material might be metal (it gets hot, but releases heat fast), or thatch if it’s still used in your area. Turf roofs are super, too. Rubber membrane roofs for very low pitches can be white and really reflect away the sun.
Hope this helps.
Answer:
The eaves may also protect a pathway around the building from the rain, prevent erosion of the footings, and reduce splatter on the wall from rain as it hits the ground. ... The eaves overhang may also shelter openings to ventilate the roof space.