[downeaster]

I have a thermometer on the east (front porch) and another on the lanai (west). On summer days there is very little difference but the lanai has a ceiling fan plus shade trees (and privacy) so until the temp hits 95+ I am happy on the lanai. Porch far too hot in the AM.

Neighbors across the street have west facing garages and they are no hotter than my east facing garage. Garages here are very difficult to cool. If I were picking out a lot I would consider the direction the house would face. If I were buying pre-owned, position would not be my first consideration.

If you take a ride around The Villages in mid afternoon you won't find many people on their lanais regardless of which way they face.

[Pturner]

We love our SE facing.

[swrinfla]

Deliberately chose a north facing lanai. I really like having my morning coffee and paper out there almost any day of the year - except those few days when there's "frost on the pumpkin!"

The end of the lanai does face west. I installed 1] a good sized shade tree and 2] a roll-down screen to reduce the afternoon heat.

But, over the years, I've found that it's just hotter than I like, even with an overhead fan, during the really warm months. So, I hide away in the cool!

SWR

[Taj44]

Originally Posted by Jim Straz

First you have to have your Garage vented and the door insulated no matter what direction you discuss. Once that's done, the Realtor's or Professionals in the business consider the East facing Lanai the best and list it that way in their Resale adds.

East does seem to be the preferred direction by the real estate people. Our lanai faces east, and we use it about 9 months of the year. This time of year, its is great all morning, and its in the shade in the afternoon. Sometimes we'll be out there with the fans going, but even in the shade we generally find it too hot to be outside when the afternoon temps are in the high 90's. In the winter, its too cool to be outside many days. Sometimes it does warm up into the 60's or low 70's by late afternoon, so we have fixed up our west facing entry area with an outdoor carpet and wicker seating, to take advantage of the sun from that direction late in the day. The angle of the sun is so low, however, that it can shine directly in your eyes, which is uncomfortable. We put in a pull down screen, but it still lets some of the sun light through. So we've found that there are just some days in both summer and winter, when it is too hot or cold to be comfortable on the lanai, but generally the east facing lanai works out pretty well for us.

[ddan32162]

Buy a lot with a 100 year old oak plunked right in the middle of your yard with a west facing lanai and voila ! You have morning/noon/afternoon shade and the best darn sunsets you could ever imagine. I love it here !

[joannej]

Originally Posted by Pturner

We love our SE facing.

Our villa faces southeast and we are quite happy with it too! :-)

[Leafpoker]

We have found a home with south facing lanai, Am I thinking correct about never really getting a cool breeze as the come from the north-NW and blow to the south-SW. This way most is in up north, is that true also in TV? We sure have got some great info from some of you.

[Russ_Boston]

My main covered lanai is northeast for morning sun and shade rest of day. My pool and side cage (soon to be built) will be open to sun until late in the day when the house shades the west sun. Obviously I have a side yard setup with the pool and the main lanai out back.

I think you can make any situation work but I would vote for no west direct sun if I had to make a choice.

[NJblue]

Originally Posted by Leafpoker

We have found a home with south facing lanai, Am I thinking correct about never really getting a cool breeze as the come from the north-NW and blow to the south-SW. This way most is in up north, is that true also in TV? We sure have got some great info from some of you.

I think in the winter there is more of a tendancy for a north wind, but when you are looking for a breeze in the warm months they can be rare and seem to vary but mostly from the East, South and West. You can check any date and time of day on this site:
http://www.wunderground.com/weathers...y=28&year=2011

I think you are better off relying on your lanai fans for a breeze than to plan a house around it.

[hedoman]

Our whole back of house is (designer) is under cage. One side the pool the other the lanai. Just returned from the warm July days and the breezes kept us comfortable, the pool even more. We bought because we have the whole wide open Stirrup Cup nine to look over as our back yard. West? OK, with that view and the sunsets...OMG