Browse Forums General Discussion Re: Anyone with living/alfresco areas not facing North? 21Jan 16, 2009 9:06 am Thanks Helyn
Thanks Joles! Great tips Custom European Cabinets - Melbourne Kitchen Specialist PM for business details as website currently being updated! Our Crazy Owner Builder Journey! Re: Anyone with living/alfresco areas not facing North? 22Jan 16, 2009 9:38 am agree Joles. without the west/n patios on our last house it would have been very unpleasant and too much glare in through the kitchen, games area windows but with them it was lovely. Sitting outside watching the sun set. etc. It really does depend on where you live. Re: Anyone with living/alfresco areas not facing North? 23Jan 16, 2009 1:39 pm . The place we rented faced north - so the lounge had the best light, and was nice in winter, but with no eaves it got pretty hot in summer. The family/dining/kitchen faced east. Cool on summer afternoons.... There was also a sliding door on the south side, leading to the unusable al fresco area. The clothes line was mounted on the back wall of the house, also facing south and never got ANY sun. Stupid idea.... I'd have put it on the back fence. Two bedrooms faced south, the other two faced west. Neither was great, but apart from sleeping, we didn't spend much time there. Blockout blinds and good heating/cooling helped make it liveable, except for the cold and windy outdoor part. Re: Anyone with living/alfresco areas not facing North? 24Jan 16, 2009 2:06 pm Thanks Kek, thats a great idea! I never thought of that - your a gem Custom European Cabinets - Melbourne Kitchen Specialist PM for business details as website currently being updated! Our Crazy Owner Builder Journey! Re: Anyone with living/alfresco areas not facing North? 26Jan 16, 2009 8:54 pm Bam Just wondering if there is anyone which has their house positioned in a way in which their living/alfresco area was not facing North, and could comment on things such as where your livings areas face, morning/afternoon sun, heat and cooling etc Thankyou This is the theory: West is the hottest side if not shaded. You need really large overhangs to protect that wall from the low hot summer sun. East can get hot too for the same reason but usually the outside temperature hasn't warmed up by that time. The north is the easiest to shade from the high summer sun with fixed eaves but can still allow the low winter sun to warm the house The south is the coolest side although will actually receive some direct sunlight on the long summer days. The classic passive solar recommendation therefore is: North should be where you put the main living areas where you spend most of your day. Maximise the window area on this side. Window area > 12% by total floor area. You will get free natural warmth and light even if it is cold outside. Avoid putting a major shading structure in front like an alfresco or pergola that stops sun getting into the living areas. West and East should contain the utility rooms e.g. laundry, bathroom, storage, garage. These are places where it doesn't matter so much if they are a bit uncomfortable. You may need to minimise the size of the windows to reduce summer overheating. < 4% by total floor area. If you need proper shading from heat you can use a deep pergola otherwise vertical shading structure e.g awnings, tall trees. Otherwise use heat reflective windows. South should be the sleeping quarters (we sleep 'cooler' than when we are awake). Again windows should not be too big otherwise you lose too much heat. Otherwise use double glazing. If you are in tropical area then these rules can be relaxed. But it will be important to have deep overhangs on all aspects to reduce solar gain. Re: Anyone with living/alfresco areas not facing North? 27Jan 16, 2009 9:08 pm hmm but i like having an outside roofed area (patio)so according to this going north for entertaining, living areas would not be good because i'd be blocking all that nice light.
hence why our last house was perfectly positioned for entertaining and main bedroom sleeping. entertaining under patio west&n and sleeping south. just a shame our kids had the hot rooms at the back.(north where they could't be easily shaded) Re: Anyone with living/alfresco areas not facing North? 28Jan 16, 2009 10:38 pm Thanks for the info dymonite Now your going to have me working out window %'s! lol Custom European Cabinets - Melbourne Kitchen Specialist PM for business details as website currently being updated! Our Crazy Owner Builder Journey! The warning is on the sticker on the door too. Second the aluminium powdercoat 6 18204 thanks. the above one is white Mat tiles and have gripness so going for this Mat tiles for both indoor and outdoor. Beaumont told it can be used in both indoor and… 2 1685 It might be a bit darker in the mornings but the light is still light, so you should be getting it. Similar to what you see from your western windows 3 19991 |