Eaves

The eaves are the edge of a roof that extends past the line of the external walls. On pitched roofs, the tiles and rafters run out beyond the facade; on flat-roofed buildings, a concrete or lightweight cantilevered slab does the same job. The deep, shadowy eaves of traditional Turkish houses show well how this element can be both practical and full of character.

Why eaves are built

Their first job is to protect walls and windows from rain. Water is thrown clear of the facade, so render and window frames last longer. Their second job is shade: in summer, when the sun is high, eaves shade windows facing the sun, while in winter they let low sunlight in. Gutters, ventilation gaps and soffit linings are all resolved in the eaves detail. Timber eaves need ends that can stand up to sun and rain, and concrete ones need a drip groove on the underside. In contemporary buildings, keeping insulation continuous where the eaves meet the wall is another point that needs attention.

Facade character and rendering

The depth of the eaves is one of the strongest elements in how a building looks. Deep eaves draw a dark, crisp band of shadow across the facade, and in a render that shadow directly strengthens the sense of three dimensions. Soffit lighting, meanwhile, finishes the facade with a fine line in night images.