Opinions on Orientation of Home

[sdduuuude]

What a great question.

Have to consider heating, light (solar energy, livability), views, and gardening. Many things affect these characteristics other than home orientation so it is truly a case-by-case thing. Identical houses with identical orientations can be totally different if one has a tall neighboring house to the West. Which rooms are in the front ? Which are in the back ? Is there more space in the back or front ? How much side space ? How far away are neighboring houses ? To you live at the top of a slope or at the bottom of a canyon? Can you fit an awning on some windows or not ? Do you live in San Diego, Anchorage or Tucson ? Breeze direction matters, too.

A good architect can manipulate the interior to make good use of any orientation, I think.

Also, personal preference plays a part. Do you want to hang out in the front yard or back yard? Pool ? Are you home all day or out? Do you watch a lot of TV on the weekend or spend time outside? At home or away on weekends? Do you like bright rooms or cozy rooms ? Do you know how to manage a shade-tolerant garden ?

The seasons have a way of making the orientation a zero-sum game. West-facing bedrooms that get afternoon Sun can be too hot in the Summer but are more comfortable in the Winter. East-facing rooms are too hot in Summer mornings but are nicer in Winter mornings.

I have a North-facing back yard with grass. I wouldn’t exactly call it a “frozen tundra” in the winter but the shadow of the house on the lawn causes goofiness. You just need some winter seed in there that will grow nicely when cold and wet. Also, zoning the sprinklers so that you can put less water on the shaded areas in the winter helps.
We have a concrete patio between house and lawn to reduce the effected lawn area as well. I wouldn’t consider it a deal-killer for a northern back yard.

Northern light is the nicest light, especially for desk work.
TV watching is a consideration. You don’t want a bright window behind the TV during the times you watch TV.

I guess, optimally you would want a house with a nice view to the north so the major windows would face north in as many rooms as possible.

[sdrealtor]

Portions of my backyard face northeast. I turn my sprinklers off in the winter and it is still a frozen tundra/swamp. I would never buy this orientation again. I can pay to cool my house with A/C in the Summer but I cant buy sun in my backyard in December.

Like the dude says, it all depends upon what you like.

[sdrealtor]

Portions of my backyard face northeast. I turn my sprinklers off in the winter and it is still a frozen tundra/swamp. I would never buy this orientation again. I can pay to cool my house with A/C in the Summer but I cant buy sun in my backyard in December.

Like the dude says, it all depends upon what you like.

[sdrealtor]

Portions of my backyard face northeast. I turn my sprinklers off in the winter and it is still a frozen tundra/swamp. I would never buy this orientation again. I can pay to cool my house with A/C in the Summer but I cant buy sun in my backyard in December.

Like the dude says, it all depends upon what you like.

[sdrealtor]

Portions of my backyard face northeast. I turn my sprinklers off in the winter and it is still a frozen tundra/swamp. I would never buy this orientation again. I can pay to cool my house with A/C in the Summer but I cant buy sun in my backyard in December.

Like the dude says, it all depends upon what you like.

[sdrealtor]

Portions of my backyard face northeast. I turn my sprinklers off in the winter and it is still a frozen tundra/swamp. I would never buy this orientation again. I can pay to cool my house with A/C in the Summer but I cant buy sun in my backyard in December.

Like the dude says, it all depends upon what you like.

[mike92104]

In harsher climates than here, a north facing back yard works well. In the summer the sun tends to travel directly overhead, and if you have a good roof with good insulation, it will help to keep your house cooler. In the winter, the sun is much lower on the southern horizon and will hit the front of the house helping to warm it. I grew up in west Texas, and it makes a HUGE difference. In San Diego, there is also the coastal breeze to think about (if you’re in a location to take advantage), but it may be a wash with the sunlight in the afternoon.

[mike92104]

In harsher climates than here, a north facing back yard works well. In the summer the sun tends to travel directly overhead, and if you have a good roof with good insulation, it will help to keep your house cooler. In the winter, the sun is much lower on the southern horizon and will hit the front of the house helping to warm it. I grew up in west Texas, and it makes a HUGE difference. In San Diego, there is also the coastal breeze to think about (if you’re in a location to take advantage), but it may be a wash with the sunlight in the afternoon.

[mike92104]

In harsher climates than here, a north facing back yard works well. In the summer the sun tends to travel directly overhead, and if you have a good roof with good insulation, it will help to keep your house cooler. In the winter, the sun is much lower on the southern horizon and will hit the front of the house helping to warm it. I grew up in west Texas, and it makes a HUGE difference. In San Diego, there is also the coastal breeze to think about (if you’re in a location to take advantage), but it may be a wash with the sunlight in the afternoon.

[mike92104]

In harsher climates than here, a north facing back yard works well. In the summer the sun tends to travel directly overhead, and if you have a good roof with good insulation, it will help to keep your house cooler. In the winter, the sun is much lower on the southern horizon and will hit the front of the house helping to warm it. I grew up in west Texas, and it makes a HUGE difference. In San Diego, there is also the coastal breeze to think about (if you’re in a location to take advantage), but it may be a wash with the sunlight in the afternoon.

[mike92104]

In harsher climates than here, a north facing back yard works well. In the summer the sun tends to travel directly overhead, and if you have a good roof with good insulation, it will help to keep your house cooler. In the winter, the sun is much lower on the southern horizon and will hit the front of the house helping to warm it. I grew up in west Texas, and it makes a HUGE difference. In San Diego, there is also the coastal breeze to think about (if you’re in a location to take advantage), but it may be a wash with the sunlight in the afternoon.

[bubble_contagion]

Regarding value the best advice is to avoid being upside down.

[bubble_contagion]

Regarding value the best advice is to avoid being upside down.

[bubble_contagion]

Regarding value the best advice is to avoid being upside down.

[bubble_contagion]

Regarding value the best advice is to avoid being upside down.

[Author]

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