The bungalow's roots in warm weather explain many of its heat reducing features. Bungalow homes usually have only one floor although some variations are one and a half stories tall. That is, they have two levels but the second floor covers less surface area than the ground floor. They possess low-pitched roofs with wide, overhanging eaves. The large foundation needed to create a whole house on only one floor translates to a roof with a vast surface area; the attics of these houses, therefore, absorb a great deal of excess heat in the summer. Large porches are considered hallmarks of the bungalow style; stone chimneys leading to substantial and prominently placed fireplaces are another favorite feature of the homes.