With summer just a few months away, you may already be thinking about how to survive the increasing temperatures. There’s more than one way to beat the heat, especially if you have a home that’s designed well. If you’re planning a new build or a renovation, keep these tips in mind for a home that’s naturally cooling.
Shading
Shading can block up to 90 per cent of the warmth before the sun heats up your home. If you have eaves or horizontal shading, this will shade your windows from the high summer sun. Horizontal shading can include shade sails and pergolas with louvres. On the east and the west sides of your home the sun will be at a lower angle, as that’s where the sun rises and sets. Vertical shading works well on these sides of your house. Vertical shading can include deciduous trees or vines, deep verandahs or adjustable vertical screens such as awnings or external blinds.
Roof
The roof is the surface of your house most exposed to the summer sun. A white roof will reflect the heat from the high summer sun overhead and help keep your home cool. Whirly birds or vents in your roof attic space will help exhaust the build-up of heat in your roof, and keep your home cooler.
Windows
Keeping windows on the east and west to a minimum will also help reduce the summer heat. Consider glazing these windows with a low solar-heat gain coefficient (SHGC), particularly if the windows are large. These windows use toned glass or tinted films to reduce the amount of solar heat transmitted through them.
Air flow
A cooling breeze can make the difference between a room that feels overly warm and one that is comfortable. Fans can help facilitate this air movement, and make a room more comfortable during the hotter months.
The types of windows your home has also makes a big difference, as they can either block or help direct air flow through a home. A casement window that opens into the path of a cooling breeze can direct air through a home. An awning window in the same location may block the flow of air, and reduce the amount of cooling breeze that can enter the home.
Want to book in a site visit, ask a question about our building process or talk through your project? Call SE Building Solutions today on 0415 772 983