When we purchased our home 17 years ago, it was #1 on my list for priorities. I wanted my lanai to be facing the south. Today, the sun rises on the left of my lanai, and sets on the right. I knew I wanted to add a birdcage to our Lanai, and eventually an outdoor kitchen. We accomplished both and then added a canvas over the top of the birdcage which helps with the direct sun and keeps a lot of the rain out…Our garage is not bad heat wise and we have a couple trees along our fence line that have grown over the years that gives our house more protection. We have installed solar tubes in the laundry, the master and guest baths, and in the kitchen. We love it all… I think the answer is…where will you spend most of your time. We like our oasis on the back of our home…and some neighbors have made front patios and they enjoy that better. We like the privacy in the back. The morning sun on my lanai is so wonderful and in the winter, we get a lot more use out of it due to the way it faces. Our neighbors across the street where the sun is on the front of their homes, dont get sun til later afternoon….. Its all a matter of preference. I will say that many people on the other side of the street say they wish they were on our side of the street because of that. Hope this helps.
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