For people living in tropical climates, choosing the right design is important. If your house plan is not tailored for tropical living, it is highly likely that you will be spending a fortune to keep it cool just wait until summer comes around!
Of all the investments you have made in your life, your home’s definitely the biggest one. For this reason, it is important that you put much thought on how you can add more value to your home, how you can decrease overall running costs and ways you can ensure that your home is as comfortable as possible for you and your family.
To achieve all of the above without really paying much more than you would for a typical house, do everything you can to ensure that your home stays cool. Doing so will also make it possible for you to spend lesser resources, allowing you to reduce your carbon footprint and this is definitely something that will make you feel good about yourself.
The main aim of this article is to guide you as you work along with your designer or architect, as you add new features in your home that are compatible with tropical living irrespective of whether your preferred home style is the Queenslander or modern block or whatever style for that matter. It is important to note that this guide hasn’t been compiled just for those building their own home, but also for homeowners renovating their property.
After all, the purpose is the same to keep your house cool!
The months between December and April tend to be wettest in Cairns, which means that from May to November, it’s usually dry. North-easterly and North Winds are common in Cairns during the hot and wet season, but the city is generally affected by south-easterly and south winds throughout the year.
The summer months tend to experience high temperatures with recorded temperatures ranging between 23 to 31 degrees.
Considering the temperatures, having a comfortable and cool home can be quite a challenge. That’s why it’s important to have a design that takes advantage of cool breezes while keeping the heat out.
For tropical homes with an outdoor living area that’s effectively designed, this space tends to be where people prefer spending most of their time. For this area to be effective, consider placing an insulated roof over it that’s coupled with a design that lets prevailing winds circulate.
For protection from both the sun and rain, outdoor living spaces should be shaded. Sails, pergolas, awnings and verandas are great options for doing this. Vegetation and plants can also offer a two-fold purpose as they can create an attractive environment while providing shade.
- Consider installing blinds in your patio. Blinds can offer good shade and protection, especially when used together with an outdoor fan. The best outdoor blinds Sydney are the ones that block out rain, wind and sunlight with weatherproof fabric. Also have a look at zip screens that are installed on guides that lock into position and allow for extra stability in heavy winds.
- Consider installing blinds in your patio. Blinds can offer good shade and protection, especially when used together with an outdoor fan. The best outdoor blinds Sydney are the ones that block out rain, wind and sunlight with weatherproof fabric. Also have a look at zip screens that are installed on guides that lock into position and allow for extra stability in heavy winds.
- Use large windows and doors that open onto courtyards and verandas to fuse the indoor and outdoor living spaces.
- Eaves provide excellent protection from the weather allowing you to enjoy your outdoor living space all year round.
- To maximize on prevailing breezes and to keep your outdoor areas cool, plant large shade trees.
- To properly utilize and further increase your outdoor living space while welcoming breezes to circulate in your house, employ a design that includes courtyards in-between pavilions.