in addition to helping provide shade from unwanted sun, roof overhangs (commonly known as eaves ) can also be designed to help support cable net structures etc which can be used to grow seasonal vines on ,which provide further shade, protection and insulation to external walls . vines can also be supported on lattice attached to walls, but they function better if an air gap is provided between the vine and the wall. hence the separation from the wall provided by the longer eave is a great benefit.
additional benefit conferred by generous eaves
(2 posts) (2 voices)-
Posted Tuesday 6 Mar 2012 @ 4:02:15 am from IP #
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termite
MemberWide eaves (in my case, 95cm) make it possible to leave windows open during wet weather - even when it's fairly windy. Allows better ventilation - especially when you're out all day (presuming the window's in a secure position). I find better ventilation, in a poorly-insulated house (such as mine, being retrofitted in fits and starts), beats keeping the windows and blinds shut on a hot day.
I hate stuffy, stale air. Some of my furnishings off-gas VOCs; this is far worse on a hot day. I would rather it vented sooner than later.Another benefit is to support and shelter external blinds, which are generally more effective than blinds within the glass.
Thirdly, my gutters did not have a correct 'fall' until recently; they overflowed in a storm via a dip in the middle of the run. Having wide eaves combined with a raked ceiling meant that water did not seep back into the ceiling space. In other words, it acted like flashing to divert water away from water-permeable parts of the house. The gutters have been fixed for now, but they may distort again in the future, as there is little room for adjustment.
Ideally, seasonally-adjustable eaves would be best, but only if low-maintenance were possible. Having just seen a badly rusted Vergola (one of the most expensive adjustable shade structures generally available), I suspect the cost would be prohibitive.
Posted Tuesday 6 Mar 2012 @ 10:38:15 am from IP #