[Hopeful2]

We will be making a decision on a lot very soon. I love a house that is filled with sunlight so I realize that I should stay clear of a northern exposure. My dilemma is that we're almost sure that we want to build a Gardenia, which has the kitchen in the front and the LR/DR in the back. If we can't find an east/west exposure, can anyone offer their thoughts as to whether it would be better for us to have the front of the house or the back of the house facing north? Thanks!

[Russ_Boston]

I think your best bet with the Gardinia would be South facing front of house to let the light in the 3rd bedroom/den, and the two windows in the kitchen area. This leaves your Lanai north facing. We have the same setup and love the north lanai since it is shady (and thus a lot cooler) all year long. Since we live here permanatly this is an ideal setup for our tastes. We do have a pool on the side of the house which is sunny all day until the sun sets in the west on the other side of my house. Best of both worlds and works for us.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by Russ_Boston

I think your best bet with the Gardinia would be South facing front of house to let the light in the 3rd bedroom/den, and the two windows in the kitchen area. This leaves your Lanai north facing. We have the same setup and love the north lanai since it is shady (and thus a lot cooler) all year long. Since we live here permanatly this is an ideal setup for our tastes. We do have a pool on the side of the house which is sunny all day until the sun sets in the west on the other side of my house. Best of both worlds and works for us.

I agree with this. We have a west-facing Begonia, which is the Gardenia minus one of the dinette windows due to the golf cart garage. While we love the east-facing lanai, there is some sun in the a.m. which gets in our eyes and makes it hard to read the computer. We are about to purchase Coolaroo shades for it, and things will be fine.

We like sitting on the front porch in the afternoon before the sun chases us back inside. And watching the sunset from the porch.

The only minus is that it is fairly dark inside in the afternoon. So I would think your south-facing front idea would be ideal. We'll probably cave and get a sun tube for the living/dining or add skinny windows on either side of the lanai.

[Jim 9922]

We've had several houses facing different directions, but our current Gardenia is the best. We like lots of light so are very aware of the shifting patterns. The only way we would go from now on (as is our current home) is West front and East lanai and South living room and guest bedroom windows. Gives the most light all day. Best of all is a cool well lit lanai for breakfasts and newspaper reading in the morning and a cool shaded lanai from 11AM on, which is especially especially great during the hot summers!
We like warm, not cool so a North facing lanai would never work for us during the winter months.
A suggestion; for a week or so, tour a few open houses facing different directions and tour different times of the day. You will soon get a feel for what is most comfortable for you.

[jimbo2012]

If you R here only in the hot summer get a north lanai, otherwise south to south east.

Look at the solar charts, it's really a simple decision, North lanai cold in the winter, garage will get very hot along with any rooms facing south.

I think U will have more lanai time in cold months with a south/southeast direction.

Solar is my hobby I did a lot of research on this issue but others will disagree, it's all about the correct choice for U.


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Now we find that we spend by far more time in the lanai than any other part of the house.

[Russ_Boston]

Let's remember this though - Unless your lanai is totally direct north facing and the west side is not open (blocked by my bedroom in my case) then you will get west sun in the summer.

North facing lanai does get cool in the winter but we still used it the majority of the days and nights.

[cgalloway6]

We have a Gardenia with a N-NW facing lanai. The nice thing about the Gardenia is all the light you get through the kitchen windows, side light by the front door and the window above the front door no matter which way you are facing. Depending on the elevation you pick those windows go all the way to the floor and the entry overhand provides shade in the heat of the day. We like the shady lanai but do get some morning and afternoon sun through the sides and you can still watch the sunsets without all the afternoon heat of a direct southern exposure. But as jimbo2012 says - "it's all about the correct choice for U"

[llaran]

All of the house with split bedrooms are darker, no matter what direction you face. We face south and have enclosed the lanai and added a patio, but the living room is dark er than I would like. I would look again at houses without split bedrooms.

[gomoho]

I agree - seems like most homes in TV are dark unless one adds a tube. Our lanai faces east, which we love; however, our home is dark because the lanai basically shades it - while the sun is passing over the south side has no windows which actually helps to keep the house cooler. Then the front western exposure gets light, but there is an overhang that also shades the house. So I guess a solar tube is the only way to "light up my life". In the heat of the summer (which lasts 6 months) you really don't want your house flooded with light - the idea is to keep it dark and cool!

[gurnee_steve]

What would be the ideal facing for the lanai if you plan on living in TV all year and have a pool?

[Russ_Boston]

Originally Posted by gurnee_steve

What would be the ideal facing for the lanai if you plan on living in TV all year and have a pool?

Since you'll want the pool in the sun most of the time I'd go south or maybe southeast. So at least you'll keep the low sun angle west sun off the covered area of the lanai.

My pool is on the side/front (east, south and north views) of my house and my covered lanai is north facing. Best of both worlds to me. Just don't like those westerly suns and heat. I see many, many lanais with shades on them that face west. Must be something to that.

[Hopeful2]

Thank you, everyone, for your most valuable information and insight.

[jimbo2012]

Originally Posted by gurnee_steve

What would be the ideal facing for the lanai if you plan on living in TV all year and have a pool?

175 degrees magnetic