Have you ever wondered why house designs differ from region to region with changes in weather? For instance, why do you think most houses in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) use materials with a higher thermal mass, like stones and concrete?

Weather plays a huge role in house design since architectures consider changes in temperature, heat conductivity, robustness, and longevity. Keep reading to know the different ways in which weather affects house design and the specific adjustments that architects use to accommodate the changes and differences:

High Temperatures can Cause Houses to Shrink and Crack

The UAE is infamous for its unforgivable summers since the temperatures get as high as 50 degrees Celsius. High temperatures suck the moisture out of surfaces, including houses. The drying promotes the shrinking and cracking of everything, including soil, caulking, and wooden surfaces.

Besides, the shrinking causes instability in the building, making it susceptible to collapse when switched to wet weather. It is why builders in Dubai pay attention to the foundation design.

Architects and builders in the UAE design robust foundations to support the house during drying conditions. Building foundations often contain steel overlapping with concrete, thick plaster, and stone. The former enhances structural support and heat conductivity, while the latter has a high thermal mass, meaning they absorb and release heat gradually.

Such a robust house foundation in a hot region thwarts shrinking and cracking since the steel and stone structure allows for even contraction and expansion during heating and cooling.

High Humidity Causes Mildew Growth, Rusting, and Corrosion

Coming in second position globally after Singapore, Dubai is known for its high humidity. Its high humidity results from its close proximity to the coast. This explains why areas like Abu Dhabi or Dubai, which are closer to the coast, have higher humidity than their farther counterparts.

High humidity promotes a conducive environment for mold and mildew to breed. They can also promote rusting and corrosion, destroying walls and paintwork, and costing you more for renovations.

Therefore, architects in such hot areas use stainless steel or galvanized nails and mildew-proof paint coating. Also, combining high humidity and high temperatures forms a deadly combo. Experts discourage building using mud in such areas since mud is a poor conductor of heat but may dissociate due to high humidity.

Windy Climates Can Result in Up-lifting and Raking

The desert has little vegetation, making it difficult to slow down and disintegrate potent air movement. It means that winds in such areas gather mass and become mightier since there are rarely any structures or vegetation to break them. In return, buildings in the way of such potent wind and sandstorms are at risk of uplifting and raking.

For instance, sandstorms in the desert parts of the UAE destroy buildings and detach roofs. It is why they use robust building materials like stone. They also have well secured roofs to keep them intact during sandstorms.

Architects in the UAE ensure that the exterior house walls are denser and steadier than houses in typical conditions to withstand the occasional strong winds.

Rainy Weather Could result in Water Damage

Even though it hardly rains in the UAE, architects need to plan for the dangers of rain to house designs and their inhabitants. Such areas are prone to flooding, especially if there is poor drainage. With this, architects design robust foundations to sustain the structure during possible flooding and to prevent the foundation from shifting during landslides.

It is also common for architects and builders in ordinary weather conditions to use sealants such as caulking. Unfortunately, caulking expands, desiccates, and erodes over time, forming openings for rain damage which could form cracks. Such is why they are not common in the UAE.

The Type and Color of Building Materials

Building materials that are too dried out often experience faster aging than those in typical weather conditions. The roofs in hot areas also depreciate faster than those in cooler areas.

For instance, metal roofing is prevalent in hot climates like the UAE since it performs well in high temperatures. Most are reflective in nature, bouncing off light and the accompanying heat, promoting house cooling. Metal roofing also has a longer lifespan of more than double that of Asphalt shingles.

Also, framed or lightweight construction is ideal for hot and humid climates since it maintains cooler temperatures in hot times. It naturally cools your house at night to promote restful sleep. Darker colors have a higher absorption rate of color and light. Applying reflective colors on the exterior surfaces of houses in hot areas dissipates heat, promoting cooling, hence saving energy consumption.

The Need for Proper Ventilation and Usability

There is no point in building a beautiful house not to use it. For instance, it is almost impossible to stay in a building in Dubai with high walls and microscopic windows unless the air conditioners are on. It means that the house becomes inhabitable if, by any chance, there is power loss.

Therefore, most architects design houses in such areas with large windows to promote ventilation. They also have shaded exterior spaces to promote usability under the scorching sun. Such areas also have robust steel doors and thick stone walls to protect the inhabitants from sandstorms and high temperatures.

Conclusion

Knowing the effect of weather on house designs allows you to make an informed decision during construction. For instance, it lets you note house design longevity, usefulness, and energy efficiency. Please email us at info@agoratechnical.com for more information on how weather affects house designs.