Why Do Roofs Need Overhangs

We will protect shade the west windows with cedar awnings grates.

Why do roofs need overhangs. On the front of the roof edges of the roofs the overhangs were extended to hide the thickness of the roof insulation photograph 10. Roof overhangs might look relatively routine but there is a lot of design thinking that goes into creating the optimal dimensions for each one. With the west east overhangs the main use is siding window protection and keeping rain snow from foundation. But there are a lot of reasons that go beyond aesthetics why one might not.

A house with improper overhangs can overheat in the summer and can suffer from water entry problems at windows and doors and can have premature siding rot or damage. With our house we are planning minimal east and west overhangs and ample south and north overhangs. Keeping rain water away from the building is not only good for the foundation it also gives the windows and doors less water and less direct impact from water so they leak less. These will also help shed snow away from the foundation in the winter.

Perhaps martin is right houses should have roof overhangs. Because it s easier to frame a wide eave overhang than a wide rake overhang problems from stingy overhangs are more common at rakes than eaves. And i thought a roof overhang would be really nice right now. A typical gable roof has two kinds of roof overhangs.

They are essential for framing and shading windows reducing splashback and getting rain to fall far enough away from the foundation. Roof overhangs have several important functions. Having a roof overhang protects the walls and the base of the shed. Doors and windows from rain.

A high quality gutter system is necessary for this as well but roof overhangs greatly increase a roof s productivity in this area. They can shade windows when solar heat gain is undesirable and they can help keep basements and crawl spaces dry. A roof overhang also protects the upper portion of your exterior walls that it is attached to from rainfall. One function of a roof overhang is directing water away from the foundation.

They can protect exterior doors windows and siding from rain. Even wind driven rain finds it difficult to enter a shed when protected by a relatively small overhang. Eave overhangs and rake overhangs. Overhangs protect the foundation and home walls from excess water and subsequent water damage by redirecting water runoff away from the structure attached eaves spouting can corral excess water and safely deposit it into the ground diverted from the foundation.

The original rafters are extended but original roof deck sheathing cut back to be flush with the original wall sheathing.