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Why don't we use awnings anymore (2022)

(thecraftsmanblog.com)
413 points samclemens | 11 comments | 15 Oct 24 22:11 UTC | HN request time: 0.874s | source | bottom
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WalterBright ◴[16 Oct 24 06:39 UTC] No.41856214[source]▶
Houses also made use of the "stack effect". A cupola was put on the roof apex. The cupola was vented on the sides and was open to the attic. Wind blowing across the roof would accelerate because of the slope, then flow through the cupola, sucking the hot air out of the house and creating a cool draft through it.

I don't have a cupola on my house, but did design in the stack effect. You can definitely feel the breeze coming up through the house. It makes the house several degrees cooler without A/C.

The house also has unusually large eaves, which serve the same purpose as awnings.

The house costs half as much to keep comfortable as my previous home.

replies(1): >>41856412 #
1. pistoleer ◴[16 Oct 24 07:17 UTC] No.41856412[source]▶
What scares me about eaves and cupolas is that they seem attractive spots for bats and insects to nest. I have a covered sort of outdoor hallway leading to my home, and it's swarmed with all sorts of flies during the summer because it's not as hot as out in the sun. What's your experience?
replies(3): >>41856510 #>>41857838 #>>41862144 #
2. kreyenborgi ◴[16 Oct 24 07:32 UTC] No.41856510[source]▶
Is that necessarily a bad thing?
replies(3): >>41856546 #>>41856556 #>>41857069 #
3. pistoleer ◴[16 Oct 24 07:38 UTC] No.41856546[source]▶
Flies: they get inside and nestle in my fruit, annoy me and distract me, get in my face.

Bees and wasps: they settle and build nests in nooks and crannies of roofs. I don't have a problem with bees per se, although they can probably keep disturbing eating in the garden. Otoh they may pollinate flowers in the garden. Wasps on the other hand are truly a pest. I've lived in a house with wasps in the roof, constant wasps in the attic, leading to an unusable attic for about a year.

Bats: no idea, never had them so far. But I've lived in a neighborhood where they were nestled inside the outer layers of roofs. Just like other animals I imagine they "shit and piss all over the place" so to speak. But they're also protected where I live, so once they are there, you can't even get rid of them.

replies(2): >>41861960 #>>41862167 #
4. kelnos ◴[16 Oct 24 07:39 UTC] No.41856556[source]▶
Yes, absolutely.
5. circlefavshape ◴[16 Oct 24 09:12 UTC] No.41857069[source]▶
In Ireland at least most people who have bats in their attics don't even know they're there - there's only 1 species (out of 9) who make any kind of noticable smell (unless you already have problems with ventilation and/or damp)
6. rascul ◴[16 Oct 24 11:22 UTC] No.41857838[source]▶
In some cases screens may be installed to keep insects and animals out of areas.
7. kjs3 ◴[16 Oct 24 18:11 UTC] No.41861960{3}[source]▶
We have bats. IME, they're no big deal outside of the house (cute-ugly, but don't play with them), but if they annoy you putting up some bat houses away from where you don't want them seems to work. Inside your attic, otoh, they're a nightmare. If you suspect they're getting in, fix that ASAP. Most places (that I know of, ymmv) there are licensed pest management folks who can physically remove the bats.
replies(1): >>41862174 #
8. WalterBright ◴[16 Oct 24 18:27 UTC] No.41862144[source]▶
Screens solve that problem.
9. WalterBright ◴[16 Oct 24 18:29 UTC] No.41862167{3}[source]▶
I had a huge problem with wasps. Wasps, everywhere, for years. Eventually, my cedar shake roof needed replacing. The roof contractor said is was full of wasps, as wasps like to nest in cedar shakes.

Replacing the roof with asphalt shingles solved that problem.

10. WalterBright ◴[16 Oct 24 18:30 UTC] No.41862174{4}[source]▶
Bats keep the mosquitos under control.
replies(1): >>41862940 #
11. kjs3 ◴[16 Oct 24 19:33 UTC] No.41862940{5}[source]▶
I didn't feel the need to enumerate every advantage bats have. And where I leave, there are not nearly enough bats to keep the mosquitos anything like under control.