[Aquilter]

In your opinion, is it better for your lanai to face east or south?
Thanks for any input.

[Bill-n-Brillo]

Here are a couple of prior threads on the topic that might be of some help to you. Much more to find by using the Search function at the right on the top tool bar:

Western Exposure in Winter

New here, and looking forward! Scroll down and start reading at post #8

Hope that helps!

Bill

[LynnDeb]

Originally Posted by Aquilter

In your opinion, is it better for your lanai to face east or south?
Thanks for any input.

East would be the early sun, south will be afternoon to evening sun...in my opinion too hot for me

[under55]

South. We didnt want West so we built on a pond with Bird Cage to the North but would be better for the winter months if we could have built with the pond to the south.

[Uptown Girl]

I asked about this on the forum too, when we were choosing our CYV. We made our final choice specifically because it faced east/northeast. We are very happy with that.

We get the sunrise view and full sun until about 10 a.m. Facing that way affords us the shade we want later, afternoon/early evening when we sometimes eat out there. We can look out our front door or sit on the driveway to view the sunset.
Our lanai is 1/2 under roof and 1/2 birdcage. Other lanai designs are totally different, so that is a consideration when deciding.

I also think that noting the window/room placement in your home is an important factor. The way our home is laid out, we avoid the late day sun in the bedrooms and they are cooler at bedtime in the summer months. We can keep our window coverings open all day if we want - we get light, but no heat. I like that.
There are other things to think about, like how much sun will beat on your garage or driveway and whether or not that is important to you.

Our garage door gets full sun from about 4 p.m. on, but that hasn't been a problem in keeping the garage cool.
This placement ALSO affords us a beautiful cross breeze when we open up the house on mild days. We especially love that.

[jimbo2012]

It is personal choice, but on the north it will be cool some times cold in winter making it unusable to a degree.
No sunsets or sunrises.

South is the best of all worlds especially if you plan on adding solar.
Sunrise sunsets and heat in the winter.
Summer not as hot as you may think because the sun is much higher giving shade.
Ideal is 175 D mag

Also the garage on the north makes that cool

second choice is east to south east.

[carol_piirto]

I think it is a misnomer that it must be one way or another. Our lanai faces north which is a godsend in the summer. The winter sun still reaches the lanai in the morning as it is so low, so we get the best of both worlds. So, how's that for confusing?

[jimbo2012]

Well if it's truly facing North, I don't see how that's possible, it may be NE???

[Jim 9922]

Originally Posted by Uptown Girl

I asked about this on the forum too, when we were choosing our CYV. We made our final choice specifically because it faced east/northeast. We are very happy with that.

We get the sunrise view and full sun until about 10 a.m. Facing that way affords us the shade we want later, afternoon/early evening when we sometimes eat out there. We can look out our front door or sit on the driveway to view the sunset.
Our lanai is 1/2 under roof and 1/2 birdcage. Other lanai designs are totally different, so that is a consideration when deciding.

I also think that noting the window/room placement in your home is an important factor. The way our home is laid out, we avoid the late day sun in the bedrooms and they are cooler at bedtime in the summer months. We can keep our window coverings open all day if we want - we get light, but no heat. I like that.
There are other things to think about, like how much sun will beat on your garage or driveway and whether or not that is important to you.

Our garage door gets full sun from about 4 p.m. on, but that hasn't been a problem in keeping the garage cool.
This placement ALSO affords us a beautiful cross breeze when we open up the house on mild days. We especially love that.

We agree 100% with all the points above. We have experienced a North and a West lanai. Our 3rd home is positioned East (back lanai) to West (front) With living area windows facing South and West. Thus sunny light all day long including a bright cheery breakfast-time lanai and no excessive daytime heat on the lanai. Spring and fall breezes trend mostly from the East or West so opening the front and lanai doors provide a wonderful cross breeze during the temperate seasons.

[gomoho]

Have to agree south would be my preference, than east (which is the direction I face)