Which Way Should The Lanai Face?

[mak44070]

We're searching for the perfect home in The Villages. We intend to start off as 7 months in Florida, then the other 5 months on Sandusky Bay in Ohio.
My question is: to enjoy the winters and the warm breezes, which way should the lanai face???
Thanks for your help

[ssmith]

Definitely not West. Too hot. North is great and some say South some think East for early sun

[Bettiboop]

We've been giving that some thought ourselves as we plan on what house and lot we might want in TV.

We built our current home with the lanai on the south because that was where we would get the most sun for the pool/enclosure. If a pool is not a factor, then you might want to think about when you will enjoy your lanai the most...morning or the afternoon...and whether you like hot sun or shade.

I would agree that I probably wouldn't want it facing west, but others may prefer that.

Lots of things to consider.

[handieman]

We find south is the best for all seasons and if you have a blind side/end have that on the west end. Facing west is too unbearable in the summer in our opinion. North gets no sun and also gets the cold North winds.
Handie

[chuckinca]

We have North North East and get early morning sun but no direct sun in the afternoon. Hadn't noticed cold winter winds (thought wind came from the West?)

[mzmom3]

North is it. That's the best for us, for we did not want the sun in the afternoon........too hot and too much glare.......so you end up throwing money around trying to correct it. North for us is best.

[NJblue]

Given that you will be spending the hottest months up north, the hot west sun during the summer may not be too much of an issue. However, for year-round enjoyment, we find south facing to be perfect. During the winter when it is cool and you may want some sun to warm up the lanai, the sun is low in the southern sky and gives you plenty of warmth and light - plus great sunrise and sunset views since they both occur in the southern sky. Then, during the summer, the sun is very high in the sky so that the mid-day sun passes directly overhead, keeping the lanai shaded during that period.

Note that even a north facing lanai will get some late afternoon sun in the summer. This because the sun sets to the northwest during the summer. Conversely, a north facing lanai will get no sun at all during the winter.

[Army Guy]

See, I say West! Ours is actually South-West. Although we are in the redo stage so have not stayed actually in our Villa yet, we have been working cleaning during the day since June and do not find the heat, etc bad. But we LOVE the view in afternoon of the sunset from our lanai.

Army Guy

[mak44070]

Thanks everyone for your replies. They give us a lot to think about.

mary ann

[jeffy]

I guess with the many different replies we have not given you a definative answer. Our lanai faces east. This was by accident not design, however it turns out to be the way we prefer (especially since it would be hard to change:o). I personally would not want afternoon/evening sun. It is VERY hot here in the summer. My parents home has a west facing lanai and they had to put up blinds inside the lanai that they raise in the afternoon. This cuts down the heat but also eliminates the only advantage to the west facing which is pretty sunsets.

jeffy

[784caroline]

Dont forget the setting sun will change positions by upwards of 10 degrees between where it sets in December compared to June

[Xavier]

I'll second east. We just love to have breakfast and read the paper on the lanai every morning. We leave the doors open to the living room/dining room/master bedroom all day (and night) for much of the year.

[Green Sailor]

I found this post very interesting , as I am presently sitting on my sailboat in Battery Park Marina, Sandusky Bay. We are in the process of building a house in The Villages and have our lanai facing south west. I don't know what is the best but not being there in the summer does enter into the equation. Perhaps we will see you on the bay, let me know if you are on a boat up here.

[interested]

Our lanai faces west and I love it. We wanted an east facing lania but this house had everything else we wanted so we took it and with no regrets. We eat dinner out on our lanai offen and there is a great breeze most of the time. The sunsets with our late night glass of wine cannot be matched. Location and the actual house with its features are more important.

[jojo]

A vote for the west - the sunsets are spectacular and in the winter love the afternoon warmth. We eat almost all of our meals on the lanai - only twice this summer was it too hot. I have a bistro type table in the screened area that gets the morning sun so have the best of both worlds.

[army one]

Ours faces south. Seems to be a good compromise for all seasons.

[Ed & Marge]

Our lanai faces east and we love the morning sun. Especially in the fall and winter when you can sit out there and enjoy the sunshine. In the Summer it is too warm to sit out there but the sun coming in on that side of our house is nice.

[mak44070]

I found this post very interesting , as I am presently sitting on my sailboat in Battery Park Marina, Sandusky Bay. We are in the process of building a house in The Villages and have our lanai facing south west. I don't know what is the best but not being there in the summer does enter into the equation. Perhaps we will see you on the bay, let me know if you are on a boat up here.

We're up here in Marblehead, enjoying the last weekend of summer.....

[Opulence]

We find south is the best for all seasons and if you have a blind side/end have that on the west end. Facing west is too unbearable in the summer in our opinion. North gets no sun and also gets the cold North winds.
Handie


Hi Handiman,

I am really bad at figuring this kind of thing out, so here I go - I asked my Realtor which way the lanai was facing in a Villa that I like a lot & I was told it faces "north west" - so is that good or bad? I really don't have a clue.

Betty

[NJblue]

Hi Handiman,

I am really bad at figuring this kind of thing out, so here I go - I asked my Realtor which way the lanai was facing in a Villa that I like a lot & I was told it faces "north west" - so is that good or bad? I really don't have a clue.

Betty

As you notice from the above discussion, "good" and "bad" is very much a personal thing. However, in the summer, the sun sets in the northwestern sky. So, if you like to watch sunsets, that's a good thing. However, if you don't want the late afternoon heat from direct sun, that's a bad thing.

During the winter time, the sun is in the southern sky (rising in the southeast and setting in the southwest). So, during that part of the year, your lanai will likely receive no sun at all. If that is good or bad is up to you to decide.

[Opulence]

As you notice from the above discussion, "good" and "bad" is very much a personal thing. However, in the summer, the sun sets in the northwestern sky. So, if you like to watch sunsets, that's a good thing. However, if you don't want the late afternoon heat from direct sun, that's a bad thing.

During the winter time, the sun is in the southern sky (rising in the southeast and setting in the southwest). So, during that part of the year, your lanai will likely receive no sun at all. If that is good or bad is up to you to decide.


Thanks sooo much NJBlue - your explanation is very clear and is a such big help. I love to watch a sunset (saw the most beautiful sunset while eating out on the dock at the lighthouse a few weeks ago on my visit to TV) but I don't think I would want the heat of direct sun in the late afternoon. This villa has a such great birdcage so I imagine it would get very hot? And having no sun in the winter doesn't sound good at all to me - I would like some sun - after all isn't that what Florida is all about <g> What about breezes? Would breezes help? I have no idea if this Villa gets breezes or not, but I am grasping at straws here because I love that Birdcage! Again - thanks so much.

Betty