Eaves, Awnings, and Shading
Eaves have definitely come back into fashion with new home buyers. Even better, they’re one of those rare fashion trends that are actually good for you. Eaves protect windows and walls from the sun. How well an eave does this depends on its size, position and the time of year.
Eaves are terrific for north facing windows. They stop the high summer sun coming in, but permit the low winter sun when it’s needed for heating.
The benefit of eaves on eastern and western facades is a little more complex. Early and late in the day, when the sun is low, eaves are still going to let the sunshine (and the heat) in, because they only protect glazed areas from vertical, not horizontal rays.
However, its worth remembering that many new estate and local governments design controls insist on full perimeter eaves, so you my not have the choice of only adding eaves just above north-facing windows.
The value of eaves can be lessened if you’re building a two-storey house. Eaves on your second storey roof will do a great job of protecting your upper floor windows, but their shade isn’t going to extend down to the ground floor windows. The big problem with this is that most big glazed areas- like your sliding or bi-fold doors, or full length living rooms windows- are going to be on the ground floor.
This is where you need to get a little creative with shading. If you’ve got an outdoor entertaining area attached to your new home, the pergola you use to cover it could also protect the big sliding doors you use to exit your family room. Pergola slats can be angled specifically to protect windows in summer, but let the light in during the winter months.
And awnings aren’t just mouldy brown and orange striped fixtures any more. For instance, there are metal louvered awnings available that you can install above windows that look fantastic and can be angled to suit the different seasons. They can even be electronically controlled to suit the weather on any particular day. Awnings are also available in tinted carbon sheeting.
Finally, don’t just think about the things you’re going to build when it comes to shading – you should also think about what you’re going to plant. A tree next to a window can provide excellent protection, and deciduous vines provide a naturally seasonal cover for pergolas- the leaves protect you in the summer, than fall away to let the sun in as it gets cooler
Glazing
Not all glass is created equal. As well as locating windows in the right position, and shading them correctly, you can choose to install windows made of glass that will let in less heat than average.
The first and least expensive option is tinted glass. This looks a bit like the lenses of your sunglasses, and comes in different colours, offering different looks and different levels of protection. Just like sunglasses, it shields the certain rays from entering the house. Just like sunglasses, it can also look fantastic.
Your next option is laminated glazing. The extra layer of the laminate reflects the heat. As with tinting, you can select different colours, including clear. This can be useful when you want a uniform look to all the windows in your new home, but don’t want to laminate all the windows. Choosing to laminate only certain windows can ensure that you still allow the sun’s heat into you home in winter, and keep costs to a minimum.
The most extreme way to improve your windows’ performance is to double it. Double glazing is usually used to keep noise out in areas near train lines or highways or under flight paths. However, it can also keep the heat out. Interestingly, its not the two layers of glass that provides the benefit – it’s the air trapped in between.
