Why do houses in the deserts have flat roofs?

Answer 1

Flat, or adobe style roofs are found mostly in the desert areas because they do not have to funnel snow, ice and water off the roofs. Also the reduced surface area of the roof helps prevent the house from heating up too much during the day light hours.

Answer 2

Several Reasons: because traditional hot climate houses are built in areas where it was popular to build with available materials using an adobe or stucco style exterior. This comes from a hot climate house is subjected to very little rain and doesn't need a pitch roof; only protection from the sun. Also a flat roof will reflect the heat up most efficiently as it is the smallest amount of square footage of roof to cover the structure therefore produces the smallest amount of heat into the house. A pitch roof adds square footage to the actual roof surface and that adds more heat. Historically the traditional method of construction of this style of house used wood poles horizontally, spanning the walls of adobe or brick using the least amount of scarce wood or lumber and then more clay, adobe or mud was applied over thatch material to form the roof's surface. This put the least amount of weight upon the spanning wood to hold it up. So all answers point to efficiency and the least amount of weight, wood, and square footage producing additional heat.

Answer 3

Deserts = not much rain. Less need for a roof that's good at draining water. Also, with a flat roof, and no rain, the roof becomes an extra room.