Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Aug 14, 2008 10:56 am Matt Walker I already know your opinion on eaves!!
I've been doing a bit of reading and I'm just wondering about this. I've read that east and west eaves don't effectively block the low sun anyway so are quite pointless. Other measures need to be employed to give adequate shade. This information is from government and sustainability websites. South are pointless and it's really only north that is important. I'm wondering why the big extra money for eaves if they are not effective. We will have a shading portico for all north windows except for one. That will have a deciduous tree in front of it. Our west windows are where the site cut is, so small shrubs up on the bank will provide shade. Our east windows provide views, but again the use of selected deciduous trees will provide shade. I guess I'm thinking that eaves for east and west may be giving the false belief that they are adequate, when in reality, other measures would be far more effective in protecting from low morning (east) and low afternoon (west) sun. Are eaves giving people the false belief that they will be reducing their energy bills? I'm just wondering whether eaves are false economy for east and west elevations?? Really interested in everbody's opinions on this. Jo I leave you to fend for yourself, figure things out yourself. Terrence Malick Re: Are eaves false economy for east and west? 3Aug 14, 2008 11:36 am Paula I realise that!!!
I'm meaning that rather than getting eaves, should we be adding something specific for the north elevation and other options for other elevations rather than just saying eaves all round!! Jo I leave you to fend for yourself, figure things out yourself. Terrence Malick Re: Are eaves false economy for east and west? 4Aug 14, 2008 11:41 am Only option I could think of would be a verandah for the north - this really does limit you house design. Dont think too much into these things - just let the eaves be.... Paula Re: Are eaves false economy for east and west? 7Aug 14, 2008 11:56 am We have 600mm eaves, all the way around the house, which we added, so you can guess my view! We actually thought the cost to upgrade was quite reasonable on this one! Solidarity, not solidity.......The Lexicon of Life Re: Are eaves false economy for east and west? 8Aug 14, 2008 11:58 am Paula you didn't read the intro very well did you?
Front is north and we have a portico. It's not so much specifically about my house, more just a general discussion. I leave you to fend for yourself, figure things out yourself. Terrence Malick Re: Are eaves false economy for east and west? 9Aug 14, 2008 12:02 pm I just like the look of them, it had nothing to do with...anything, other than the "look" of the place ....(I was going to say "it's just the Vibe of the thing... ) Solidarity, not solidity.......The Lexicon of Life Re: Are eaves false economy for east and west? 10Aug 14, 2008 12:11 pm joles I guess I'm thinking that eaves for east and west may be giving the false belief that they are adequate, when in reality, other measures would be far more effective in protecting from low morning (east) and low afternoon (west) sun. Are eaves giving people the false belief that they will be reducing their energy bills? I agree with what your saying Jo. I've read quite a few times people saying how their eaves on the western side will block the sun! It aint going to happen. The only way to block the western sun is to either not have windows on that side, or some sort of external screening, as you said Jo...a tree or even external shutters. Personally I don't mind the morning sun, but the evening sun is so hot. In Hobart there are a lot of houses that face west (my parents house is one) to get views of the river and mountain, but they are so uncomfortable in summer and you don't get to look at the views as the curtains are always closed. The other thing that I think is odd, are the eaves on a 2 storey house, with living areas downstairs. The eaves on the north side will not shade the living areas downstairs. They need some sort of other shading for the downstairs windows. I could go on and on about this...but I won't...mind you Steve has been very quiet lately so someone has to go on about it. 'chelle We have a hand-over date...15/10...but I won't hold my breath! http://people-in-glass-houses.blogspot.com/ Re: Are eaves false economy for east and west? 11Aug 14, 2008 12:26 pm Sorry Jo, I can't help you on this one....... Our house will be facing West and we have a small eave on the front of the house. I plan to have heavy drapes in my room which will face the afternoon sun. The Study downstairs/under our room with have a nice big tree planted in front of the window. We only have bathroom and a small toilet window at the back which will get the morning sun. The two girls rooms will get the winter sun as they face north. I suppose the windows on the south side won't get much sun at all so hopefully they will be cool rooms. To be honest we don't actually have many windows at all!! We only have one window downstairs that will face North and that's in the meals oh and a small one in the pantry.
I always said I'd never live in a house without eaves.....well that was in Qld. We (DH and I) had a 2min discussion on them for Mernda and we decided No. I think with some people it's more of a personal choice to have them not necessarily having them for the sun. With you being a single storey you'd be able to block with sun in other ways, trees, awning blinds etc. Told you I wasn't much help, just needed a ramble...... going now Happy at Home Re: Are eaves false economy for east and west? 12Aug 14, 2008 12:30 pm I know a few people that are saying they will have eaves when they build as though it will be effective for everything.
Petal yeah it's the general vibe of the thing! I agree eaves can be really good for cosmetic reason on a house and really enhance some facades! 'chelle I was hoping you or steve would have something to say about this. Mmm it's interesting isn't it? I'm wondering how many people are upgrading to eaves thinking that there will be a true comfort enhancer/energy saver when the money could be better spent on other measures. Maybe we should have been listening to Matt Walker all along. Jo I leave you to fend for yourself, figure things out yourself. Terrence Malick Re: Are eaves false economy for east and west? 13Aug 14, 2008 12:44 pm I don't have eaves in my house currently and i have only spent the money on double galzing and extra insulation to help cooling the house, i am not sure if i add eaves will make the house more energy efficient or not, but my budget is not allow me to add anyway
To avoid the sun, i will just use curtain or blind Blog - http://clageonewhouse.blogspot.com/ Building Thread - viewtopic.php?f=31&t=10886&hilit=milan I am in, with my husband and my beautiful bunny Re: Are eaves false economy for east and west? 14Aug 14, 2008 12:45 pm Don't get me wrong, I'm all in favour of eaves. I just think some people may think they have been duped when they find their houses uncomfortable with all the western sun coming in. People need to consider their aspect first, and yes I know that isn't always possible, especially if you have great views to the west.
Some one I was talking to a while back was suggesting that more needs to be put at the feet of the developers who put in the subdivisions. The subdivision needs to be designed taking aspect into consideration. And if you can't make the most of the aspect, then you do what you can to make the most of your block and try to put shading in where necessary. We were just really lucky with our block, which DH inherited. We didn't deliberately choose it because of it's aspect. I didn't start thinking about that sort of thing until much later on, so I don't have a high horse to stand on, and who knows what we would have bought if we had had to buy something. Actually, when DH and I first started to think about building (10 years ago ) I really loved designs that had no eaves. I'm so glad that we didn't build back then . 'chelle We have a hand-over date...15/10...but I won't hold my breath! http://people-in-glass-houses.blogspot.com/ Re: Are eaves false economy for east and west? 15Aug 14, 2008 1:06 pm afraid i wont be much help either! hehe...we have to get eaves for estate covenences, but even if we didnt HAVE to, i think we would have gotten them anyway....purely for the fact that i think houses with eaves look nicer...hehe
thats just personal preference though... hope there is someone on the forum that can help! hehe Thuy Re: Are eaves false economy for east and west? 16Aug 14, 2008 8:32 pm joles Paula you didn't read the intro very well did you? Front is north and we have a portico. It's not so much specifically about my house, more just a general discussion. I was doing too many things at once this morning!!! Paula Re: Are eaves false economy for east and west? 17Aug 14, 2008 8:59 pm It's not just the hot summer sun that should be taken into consideration when a choice is to be made about eaves. When the rain falls straight or almost straight down it provides enough shelter around the house to walk around without getting wet, e.g. putting rubbish in the wheelie bins if you have them placed handy to the back door etc. During such times Fido will always be able to find shelter too. Also, wooden framed windows which some prefer as a feature tend to rot pretty quickly if they are continually exposed so they will last longer too. But when wet weather blows in from any direction, eaves will provide you with additional shelter on the lee side.
Similarly when the summer sun is at its highest in the middle of the day, all windows will be shaded, and when the sun is not directly overhead, there would be more shade around the house than if there were no eaves. Each to their own I know, but to me a house with no eaves makes as much sense as wearing a cap with no peak. The choice of eaves for me has never been an economic one, hoping to save a few sheckles on cooling costs, but rather a common sense one. Geoff - Decophile. Re: Are eaves false economy for east and west? 20Aug 14, 2008 10:09 pm Ditto eaves - mostly aesthetic (is that spelt right, lol) decision for us but I think Eager also makes some good points. 'We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.' - Winston Churchill The two 15mm holes are obviously not compliant. The Dept of Fair Trading would love to see this one! Do the gutters pool water after it stops raining? Although it's… 4 7872 Update from me! Couldn't find the trimmer - not sure if there isn't one simply because the eave is so narrow. Went ahead with the spring toggles and it all worked out… 7 5879 The warning is on the sticker on the door too. Second the aluminium powdercoat 6 18204 |