[REDCART]

As many have said, earlier there are tradeoffs with every orientation. A South-facing lanai will usually have a North-facing garage, which will keep the garage cooler than an East-facing garage. We also have no windows on the West side of our home which significantly reduces our AC use. Good luck with your home search.

[VApeople]

Our lanai faces west, so the front of our house faces east. We knew this when we bought our lot and designed our house.

In the morning, we enjoy sitting in our lanai to have our coffee.

We also have a small patio in front of our house, and enjoy sitting out there in the late-afternoon shade.

We have been here for 9 years. I guess we all find our own way to enjoy our life.

[Topspinmo]

With all houses on market now you should be able to find exact house you want.

[Ropnrose]

When I was home shopping, I was more concerned about what I had to look at from my lanai.

[Dotneko]

We love our west facing lanai. Beautiful sunsets. We expanded our birdcage to give us more outside living. Sure, it gets hot between 3 and 6 pm but the view of the pond makes up for the discomfort.

[asianthree]

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?

So our 3 homes in MI all have south facing entertainment decks, sunrooms, because summer isn’t that long. We usually travel north for June/July summers,

In TV first house lanai faced west, however we had great breeze and shade.
2nd lanai north east facing great in summer but cold in the winter.
3rd lanai south facing. Hot as a match in summers, but great for spring/fall/winter.
4th lanai North East facing.. great for spring summer, early fall but winter can be cold.

Unless you rent during different times you will either be wrong to suggest “south works great”
Or possibly selling a year later. It also depends on your view and how much breeze you get. I don’t think any couple can agree 100% on a location.

[Calisport]

I have an east facing with a hot tub. Best for evening use and part of the birdcage gets the sunset view in the west.

[rsmurano]

3 houses ago, we had a west facing view from our patio, never again in the south. Before we bought our last 2 houses, we made sure the backyard never pointed west. Since we double paned enclosed our lanai, if it pointed west, it would be a sauna in the summer.

[beckylou152]

The answer is - it depends. We have a west facing lanai. We enclosed it, put in a mini-split, and it is our favorite room in the house. We also have motorized shades, which are great because in the summer the sun comes in that room quite strongly. We have a patio outside, which I love in the mornings. I do think my attic and garage stays a lot cooler than my east facing lanai friends’ homes because it is in the shade in the afternoon. So my answer is that if you choose west facing, make sure you plan to enclose it OR you have a nice big overhang.

[Mrmean58]

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?

You want the masses to voice their opinion and have them gang up on you wife? How brave of you.

[Remembergoldenrule]

If you want a patio home (kind with white picket fence) perfect for snow birds, I have the perfect lanai. Shade all day! Grill area is in afternoon shade! No kissing lanais behind you to hear neighbors at night or barking dog they leave out! Plus new two stage AC, LVP throughout, low bond, Sumter County taxes, Great central location Dunedin! We are moving to our permanent TV home in June. To be honest hoping new home is not a mistake leaving this one. PM me and I will send you flyer I made.

[Just jimmy]

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?

We have a west facing lanai and we love it. It is fairly large as we have a pool. But we love to watch the sunsets. Best view ever.

[Diane M]

Our home has a SW lanai on a corner lot. We enclosed the lanai to expand our living space and added a “dehumidifier” which we rarely need to run. I only use light sheers to cut down the suns rays on the western doors around 4-6 pm. The sunset views on the western side of our home (all windows face west) are one of my favourite features of this house. Our home was the last house to sell on our street. Most likely for the reasons your wife feels are important. But for me, those features were a selling point. Enjoy your search.

[Wing-nut2]

South or East? Go for the South first, then East. I grew up in South Florida and my family would never consider a house with the back of the house facing West.

[MX rider]

The first home we bought had a west facing lanai. Great in the morning, too hot in the afternoon. We put in a paver patio in the front so we could sit outside in the afternoon.

The home we're in now has a north facing lanai and we love it. If we were to ever buy again we would stick with north facing.

We love the fresh air so we have no desire to enclose our lanai. But that's just presonal preference. As some have said, there's no perfect orientation. Just depends on whats the most important to you.

Pluses and minuses, just like everything in life.