[Coop63]

Looking at houses in TV and my wife is insistent that we only consider east and north facing lanai’s. I am hoping that an audience vote will help me confirm her concerns, or open up our search to more houses. We plan to homestead in Florida and travel north for the hot summer months.

We live in Michigan and our 3 season room is the favorite hangout during summer months. Sun shades are not very sophisticated here, given the climate. What do you all think?

[Laker14]

I suppose this is a very personal choice, but I disagree. When we rented we had an east facing lanai, which means the front of the house faces west into the long hot afternoon and setting sun. I wanted a south facing lanai (which we got). In the cool months it maximizes the sun exposure, and we like to alternate between the lanai and the front porch where we can sit, read, and wave to the neighbors.
We leave in mid-May for northern climes, but we notice that by the time we leave, the sun is high enough in the sky that the south facing lanai doesn't get as much sun as it does in the winter months.
That was our preference. Yours may be different.

Style of house and arrangement of lanai and front seating options would make a difference too. We have a Gardenia with an expanded lanai which provides screening and ventilation on three sides, so in warmer, breezier weather it's pretty delightful. Not all lanais are like that.

[JohnN]

We have been in Florida for 17 years now. The first 4 years we were in a patio villa as snowbirds, so didn't matter so much.
When we moved to our courtyard villa, the orientation was VERY important to us, that Florida sun is hot hot hot.
So, our lanai faces NE and we love it, shady all late morning and all afternoon. So is the rear of the house which is our living area and primary bedroom. The front of the house gets the south and west sun, fortunately it's the garage and a covered front porch.

I vote for the NE lanai , I wouldn't consider anything else unless you're a sun person. But it is hot, baby.

[gorillarick]

South facing is not all bad. Warm low-sun in the winter most of the day. No sun during most of the day during summer; but yes, sun from the west late in the day.
I like it.
SE facing would make it a little better in the summer, but you would get more early morning sun.

[oldyeller]

NE definitley!

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by JohnN

We have been in Florida for 17 years now. The first 4 years we were in a patio villa as snowbirds, so didn't matter so much.
When we moved to our courtyard villa, the orientation was VERY important to us, that Florida sun is hot hot hot.
So, our lanai faces NE and we love it, shady all late morning and all afternoon. So is the rear of the house which is our living area and primary bedroom. The front of the house gets the south and west sun, fortunately it's the garage and a covered front porch.

I vote for the NE lanai , I wouldn't consider anything else unless you're a sun person. But it is hot, baby.

We have fewer years but the same opinion of the NE-facing lanai.

If someone intends to be here only for only the cooler months then a lanai that catches the sun might be nice. In the warmer months we greatly prefer the shade in the NE lanai.

[Altavia]

West facing view lots can have nice sunset views and stay warmer in cooler weather.

Power shades can block the sun when needed and keep the lanai warm in cooler weather.

[vintageogauge]

We use our Lanai in the mornings and ours is facing a little south of west which makes it ideal having no sun in the mornings until mid afternoon. We don't have to put our air on until 4 o'clock or so and I get to enjoy working in the garage, washing my cars, or doing front yard work in the afternoon without sun beating down on me. Other than sitting in the lanai there is very little to do in the back of the house except watch the birds and alligators in the pond and that's in the comfort of the lanai. If we were to build again I think I would aim for the same set up. Just a personal preference.

[ResQme]

Southern lanai was always a priority for us when looking at lots because we always have a pool (only form of exercise we can do is swimming) and my wife always wants maximum sun exposure for the pool. Also, the front garage stays a few degrees cooler.

[villagetinker]

We have a Gardenia style house, with a due South facing lanai which works very well for us, and I highly recommend this orientation. We get some morning sun, as that side is open, very little direct sun during the day, and very little setting sun as that end of the lanai is a solid wall.

[Miboater]

Ours faces WSW and we love it. We just added a pool and enjoy watching the sunsets and having the pool in the sun most of the day. We do have a few cantilevered umbrellas for shade. Also had the 20/20 screen on the birdcage that knocks down the sun more than I expected. We had coolaroo shades on the lanai but installed the power shades from Shade Brothers once the pool was finished and those are great from 4 to 7pm when the lanai gets full sun. It's all personal preference but we are happy with our decision.

[jimhoward]

North facing Lanai's are nice in the summer. But, as has already pointed out, each orientation has its advantages.

I think it is quite restrictive to only look at houses with North or East facing Lanais. If what you want is 3BR/2BA home on an interior lot, and are not picky about location, then sure get house with a Lanai oriented how you want. There are many homes for sale. But if you have other considerations, like you want a location that is near something or other, or you want a pool, or you want a fenced in yard, or you want a view lot, or you want a big garage, or you want and oversized lot, or you want a 4th bedroom or 3rd bathroom, or you want a particularly favorable price (bank-owned, estate sale etc), or any of a host of other factors that some people want and some don't, then only considering one Lanai orientation will limit you.

There are lots of homes for sale in the villages. But, if you apply filters seeking particular features, you will find that lists dwindles very quickly.

[tophcfa]

We wouldn’t want anything except our beautiful southwest exposure and nightly sunsets : )

[rustyp]

Originally Posted by Coop63

Looking at houses in TV and my wife is insistent that we only consider east and north facing lanai’s. I am hoping that an audience vote will help me confirm her concerns, or open up our search to more houses. We plan to homestead in Florida and travel north for the hot summer months.

We live in Michigan and our 3 season room is the favorite hangout during summer months. Sun shades are not very sophisticated here, given the climate. What do you all think?

Given you are snowbirds from Michigan I'll assume you are not fans of the extreme summer heat here. If true your preference of East and north makes sense - IE cooler. However if you are not going to be here at the "put your head in the oven" months west and south will give you warmer afternoon / evenings in the coldest months. I also am a snowbird. My number one priority for a lanai far exceeding orientation is NO kissing lanais. That has the potential of destroying any and all orientations.

[oldtimes]

Originally Posted by tophcfa

We wouldn’t want anything except our beautiful southwest exposure and nightly sunsets : )

I agree. We enjoy our sw lanai. We have a roll down shade for the hottest part of the afternoon and then roll it up and enjoy the sunsets. One picture is worth a thousand words.