Preferred Lanai Exposure

[rccooper22]

We are looking to buy/build a home with a pool and trying to consider all the options. What is considered a preferred lani facing home with pool? What is the least preferred facing lanai?

[Lottoguy]

I would say a lanai facing north would be most desirable. Less sun to heat up that area. East facing is also nice too. South and west are at the bottom. People entertain in the afternoon just when the hot sun is hitting that lanai at that time.

[Stu from NYC]

I would say a lanai facing north would be most desirable. Less sun to heat up that area. East facing is also nice too. South and west are at the bottom. People entertain in the afternoon just when the hot sun is hitting that lanai at that time.

We live in a house with lanai facing west.

Great place to sit out in the morning and early afternoon and read but later in the day say 6 pm to hot to have dinner outside. A tradeoff for sure

[Tom359]

Our Lanai faces South West, and we love it. We can see sunsets, but don't get the direct heat. There is always some shade as well. The other benefit of this orientation is that our garage doesn't get direct sun, either. I've heard other have had to insulate their garage doors to try and mitigate the heat. We don't have that issue.

[wisbad1]

Our house faces south . Our pool is on corner of the West side. Sunshine all day. Don’t want to face west, your lanai will roast you. Be sure what you you do, gotta live with it.

[retiredguy123]

Don't buy a house with a west facing lanai.

[HiHoSteveO]

We are looking to buy/build a home with a pool and trying to consider all the options. What is considered a preferred lani facing home with pool? What is the least preferred facing lanai?

You'll likely find that responses are in direct line with what people have.

For me it's South facing.
Maximum even lighting during the day to help illuminate the interior. That's where the most glass is. The lanai is shaded all day, much of the year except for winter months when sun is lower in sky. Good during the spring/summer/fall as that's when we sit out there.

Another thought to consider is that if the lanai is South facing, then that means the garage is (usually) North facing and does not get overheated during the hot months. In fact, the sun never shines directly on garage doors with the roof overhangs as they are. You will read here that that is a complaint of many asking about ways to try to cool down the garage. Such as extra insulation, garage door insulation, garage ceiling fan, air conditioning, extra attic roof vents (usually solar), attic access hatch left open, vents cut into garage door.

[GoodLife]

Don't buy a house with a west facing lanai.

Absolute statements like this are usually incorrect. If you are a snowbird a west facing lanai is great for watching sunsets and enjoying some sun during winter months you are enjoying TV.

[Blackie]

We are looking to buy/build a home with a pool and trying to consider all the options. What is considered a preferred lani facing home with pool? What is the least preferred facing lanai?

The one that gives you the best view and the most privacy.

[Debfrommaine]

Luv west facing lanai

[VApeople]

We live in a house with lanai facing west.

Great place to sit out in the morning and early afternoon and read but later in the day say 6 pm to hot to have dinner outside. A tradeoff for sure

Yes, that is how our house is. We built a small patio in the front of our house and we usually sit out there in the evening.

Right now, my wife and I are going to have our morning coffee on our very comfortable and shady west-facing lanai.

[Swoop]

We chose our lot based on the rear facing south. We were putting in a pool and wanted the pool to be in the sun. The actual lanai area still stays in shade all day.

[vintageogauge]

Ours faces west and we enjoy mornings out there having coffee and starting the day, I prefer not having the morning sun blinding us as it comes up. It is quite useable 9 months out of the year in the afternoon and evening however June through August it get's hot in there starting around 5:00 so we just put the air on if we want to use it late in the day which is not very often, I doubt that we use our AC 10 hours per month, probably closer to 5 hours. We have it enclosed with double pane sliders and could have sunshades installed if we ever wanted to keep it cool.

[coffeebean]

We live in a house with lanai facing west.

Great place to sit out in the morning and early afternoon and read but later in the day say 6 pm to hot to have dinner outside. A tradeoff for sure

It is HOT in Central Florida in the summer months. It would not matter if our lanai faces due north, we do not do anything on the lanai at that time of year with the exception of me cooking dinner on the grill. We stay in the A/C during the summer. We don't even go to the squares to listen to music in the summer months due to the heat and humidity. But......that is just us. Thankfully, hubby and I agree totally with this.

BTW......our lanai faces NW and it is lovely at all times of the day in the cooler months.

[villagetinker]

You'll likely find that responses are in direct line with what people have.

For me it's South facing.
Maximum even lighting during the day to help illuminate the interior. That's where the most glass is. The lanai is shaded all day, much of the year except for winter months when sun is lower in sky. Good during the spring/summer/fall as that's when we sit out there.

Another thought to consider is that if the lanai is South facing, then that means the garage is (usually) North facing and does not get overheated during the hot months. In fact, the sun never shines directly on garage doors with the roof overhangs as they are. You will read here that that is a complaint of many asking about ways to try to cool down the garage. Such as extra insulation, garage door insulation, garage ceiling fan, air conditioning, extra attic roof vents (usually solar), attic access hatch left open, vents cut into garage door.

You nailed it, we have the same setup with the same results, we bought a lot and built, and i told the agent one of the requirements was a south facing lanai.

[rjm1cc]

The first question is how do you intend to use it? That is do you want the sun shining on it in the morning (face east) or afternoon and evening (face west). As mention South might be good for sun most of the day. North you will probably get the sun from the side, east in the morning and the evening from the west. If you are going to consider solar electric you probably want your big roof area pointing south.

[jojo]

We purposely chose a west facing lanai and love it, especially with the pool. The sunsets are spectacular.
We eat lunch and dinner out there except for the very hot days in June, July and August. However, I don't think I would use the lanai from 4:30 to 6:30 with any orientation in the summer.

[TomPerry]

Our lanai faces north/northeast and backs up to a villa wall which is fully landscaped on our property. Our easterly facing window and door get sunlight until about 10 AM, so we have a roll down solar screen on that window. Our lanai is also glassed in and we have a mini split ac/heat. We love our lanai and spend a lot of time in it and eat practically all our meals our there watching the birds at the feeders and anoles. We go in the house when we have something to do there like prepare meals, the wife playing music in the 3rd bedroom/music room and watch a different tv program.

[Diane F]

Our glass enclosed lanai and pool face southeast and we love it. The enclosed lanai was here before we put the pool in, and I wouldn't change it for the world. When it gets too hot, you can still be inside and feel like you are still enjoying the pool and waterfall. We were fortunate to have a large enough lot to be able to put a large decking area around the pool too.

[Oneiric]

We face West, BUT, the lanai was extended out 4 feet and this makes a big difference. The setting sun is pleasant to watch and is only really annoying for about 30 minutes.

[MandoMan]

With a south or west-facing lanai that is within the footprint of the house, you can install a retractable awning. A ten foot awning like that will keep the sun off the lanai, and often you will need only a few feet of it. With a south-facing lanai, you will get lots of sun on it in the winter, which can be nice. A north-facing lanai gets no sun at all in the winter. An East-facing lanai gets morning sun, which can be very pleasant, and then with an awning can be in the shade from 9 am on. But you might prefer more sun in January.

As for pools, afternoon sun can certainly be punishing. With a north-facing pool, in winter you may or may not get sun on it to warm it up. A pool expert can tell you. With a south-facing pool, you will probably have sun on it from morning to night. That’s nice in the winter if you think you will be using it then. An East-facing pool warms up from the sun all morning and mid-afternoon, but eventually, when the sun sinks below the roof peak, the concrete will cool a bit. A West-facing pool is the worst, in many ways. If you have a bird cage built, you can use a screening that cuts out a lot of the sun. If it’s white, it will reflect a lot of the heat. You will have less light and heat, but you still can see out.

I have a West-facing house with pool and birdcage, but there are trees about forty feet high behind the birdcage, and at this time of year, a quarter of the patio is in shade by 2 pm and nearly all of it by 4 pm.

For a similar house with shade trees behind and a west-facing pool, check out 222 Carrera Dr on the Tierra del Sol golf course. It’s in great condition and beautiful. It went up for sale this week.

[Villages Kahuna]

Agree with Northeast or East. Avoid West or South.

[Bay Kid]

Snowbirds love a southern lanai, frogs love a north lanai.

[Carl123]

We have had both east and west facing homes. Our current home is a pool home with the rear facing west and an oversized lanai. The mornings are nice and cool for coffee and newspaper and sunsets are absolutely beautiful and we don’t regret it at all. We did however install roll down shades between the pool and lanai that are usually lowered in the late afternoon for a couple hours, especially during the summer months. This allows use to stay outside most of the day...and if you get hot, jump in the pool. Problem solved!

[Chi-Town]

Back faces ESE. Sun on the lanai in the early morning when it's cooler and sun all day on the pool.

[ozark2000@icloud.com]

Face the east in the morning

[Juliebythesea]

South
In the winter when the sun is low in the sky you are shielded from the north wind and have more sun
In the summer you are shielded from the intense sun when the sun is higher in the sky
Oh, and get a solar heater it is magical ☀️and cost free once it’s installed 😎

[Villager2465]

Hi! We live looking over water & have a pool , but on partial back Lanai as well as side with pool Lanai. We do have afternoon & evening sun , but love the beautiful sunsets !! 🌅

[meridian5850]

Our lanai faces southwest. The only issue is during the winter months, the afternoon sun comes all the way into the house and is blinding to the point of having to adjust the shades on the sliding doors. We just solved that problem by having sunshades installed on the outside of the lanai. We're not using them much right now, have had them down partially when we're out there in the afternoon for a bit. Bonus is the lanai stays dry when it rains and the shades are down.

[zuidemab]

We are looking to buy/build a home with a pool and trying to consider all the options. What is considered a preferred lani facing home with pool? What is the least preferred facing lanai?

It depends on habits and use. But likely an East facing Lanai is best for much of the Year. It will have morning sun and then slip into the shade for those afternoon and evening activities and parties on the “cool” side.

[justjim]

If I was building a new house with a pool, the lanai and pool would face South. Off subject but I would also build a large 3 car garage. Good luck finding a reasonable cost lot.

[Lottoguy]

The vents cut into the bottom of the garage door is the key. So cheap to have done compared to the other options.

[DonnaNi4os]

I have a north-eastern exposure on my lanai. I get a sliver of sun in the morning and absolutely no direct sunlight in the hot afternoons. There is enough indirect sunlight for my plants to flourish. My neighbors across the street complain that they cannot sit on their lanai in the afternoon because it’s too hot.

[Suzanne0812]

New house just went on the market today. In Pine hills with a pool. It’s beautiful inside and out. 572 k. Look on villages website.

[NavyVet]

I always preferred North facing lanais for maximum shade. Our current house has pool and faces NW. We have solar panels on the SW side of roof, which heat the pool and extends pool season. We have both a huge awning and motorized screens to help with any afternoon sun coming into the lanai. Most lanais have ceiling fans. Front and SW side of house get very hot. We keep plantation shutters closed all day to keep out sun. A/C works hard and difference of 8-10 degrees between room in south corner of house and room in North corner. I find that mornings are even more humid and sultry than evenings most of the year. Hope that helps!

[greenflash245]

east

[JohnN]

My lanai faces northeast and it's about as cool as can be and mostly shady.
If you want more sun, aim south or west.

[DollyL]

I agree that a SOUTH facing lanai is best when a pool is attached. In the spring/summer/fall months, the sun is high & shines on pool/birdcage and the lanai is shaded by ceiling and darker privacy screen on sides & back of birdcage. Our 2 ceiling fans keep lanai cool & breezy. We hung outdoor curtains on the west side of lanai & only use them in winter when the sun is setting and is lower in the sky (if we need to). Also, we rarely get rain in our lanai, but if it happens to rain in from the West, only the first 6 inches of lanai floor gets wet (unless there are hurricane gusts, then everyone’s lanai gets wet) Front of house faces North and the sun doesn’t bake the front door or garage.

[Heartnsoul]

[QUOTE=rccooper22;1768278]We are looking to buy/build a home with a pool and trying to consider all the options. What is considered a preferred lani facing home with pool? What is the least preferred

Facing NORTH. always shade on lanai and sun in pool