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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be put off dream home because of aspect

83 replies

Heygirlheyboy · 11/08/2017 21:25

House is lovely, larger than ours with a big garden. Price is good. About to make offer but as I flick excitedly through brochure I see it's west facing.. They mean back east facing then which means no light there in afternoon/evening, doesn't it? I think it's worse than North facing? Anyone more experienced have any opinion on it? Should it really effect decision?

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NotaPantsTroll · 11/08/2017 23:06

It also depends on how big the garden is. We have a north facing garden. But at 400 ft long it really is not an issue. We have space for a 25 ft patio - yes some of this see little sun but the rest of it does. Kitchen has a huge east and north facing windows - so gets the sun in the morning and a lot of the day. Not so much pm though. Most of our main lawn area gets the sun. The middle bit of the garden doesn't because of some massive trees. But in our situation the fact we have a north facing garden in kind of irrelevant.

When I was growing up we had a south facing garden. 2 massive trees (one to the E and one to the W) meant that you constantly had to chase the sun around.

Btw not meant to be a stealth-how-long-is-my-garden boast - but just to show that how the garden faces may not be as much as an issue - particularly if it is big enough.

Original poster

Heygirlheyboy · 11/08/2017 23:10

These posts are really helpful, thanks all. How long is the garden....hard to say for sure. It's wider than it is long. How long would it need to be to get a bit of afternoon sun, for a paddling pool as app mentioned. We're actually North facing now, tiny garden, and get dun right up to 7pm nonetheless, in one section yes, but still, can eat out on our patio.

Just to clarify garden is east facing. Yes I like sun coming in front in evening but hate the thought of damp bedrooms at back, as a pp said!

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Original poster

Heygirlheyboy · 11/08/2017 23:11

Back garden east

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C0untDucku1a · 11/08/2017 23:12

If it has a large back garden, will it matter? Ive a north facing back garden atm but it is big and my house is much higher up than the houses than back on to us, so we still get sun moving around our garden.

We are buying a new build and have chosen an east facing back garden over a west facing back garden because of wanting some sun in the garden.

MarklahMarklah · 11/08/2017 23:12

I think you can look at streets on google earth at different times of day/night (in the settings) to see what sun/shadows hit the buildings.

TartWithTheCart · 11/08/2017 23:12

Are you sure that's what they mean? I've never seen a brochure state which direction the front of a house faces. They're always very keen to say if a garden is west-facing, and it could be just bad wording in the brochure. E.g if it says "spacious west-facing property", I'd guess they might actually mean west-facing garden.

mistlethrush · 11/08/2017 23:13

You don't get 'no light' in through windows just because they're east (or north) facing - and it doesn't mean that bedrooms will be damp either.

WanderingStar1 · 11/08/2017 23:16

As a pp said, it depends on trees, garages etc as well. You need to go and look. Our house is in the centre of a large plot and the field opposite has permanent sun (grr) but we get very little anywhere due to various shade-causing obstacles! The main bit faces east and there is a summer house and several trees at/beyond the end, so the garden has no sun at all after about 4pm in the summer holidays, though it stays a bit later in May/June. I wouldn't sell but it does make me sad.......

Harveypuss · 11/08/2017 23:16

I have a west facing garden, house front faces east. We get the sun on the front of the house in the morning and then in the garden in the afternoon. I think this is preferable to the other way round. It's nice sitting in a sunny garden in the afternoon with a glass of vino!

Original poster

Heygirlheyboy · 11/08/2017 23:17

tart, I thought the same! Usually refers to back garden..it says 'west facing site '...

Oh to hell, I'm going to attach a pic so those who have a clue about how much size matters might be able to help.

Thanks marklah I'm going to look at that. I'm a few hours away so lots of visits not possible.

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WanderingStar1 · 11/08/2017 23:17

Glorious sunshine through our bedroom window in the morning though...

Original poster

Heygirlheyboy · 11/08/2017 23:18

This is side view of back,

To be put off dream home because of aspect

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Adnerb95 · 11/08/2017 23:19

It would be a deal breaker for me but then I get S.A.D. so I'm obsessed with where the light falls on a property.

80sMum · 11/08/2017 23:20

Our house faces SSW, so the garden at the back faces NNE. We installed a large skylight in the flat roof of the rear extension in order to let in more light to the ground floor. It's been very successful.

Original poster

Heygirlheyboy · 11/08/2017 23:20

countduck as I understand East facing garden less favourable than North..

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viques · 11/08/2017 23:21

Tinkly, mine is the same, I love it, sun in the kitchen and garden close to the house in the morning, then for the rest of the day we can choose sun or shade in the garden . And I like the front being sunny in the afternoon is a great bonus.

Original poster

Heygirlheyboy · 11/08/2017 23:21

Oh that's helpful thanks 80sMum.

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milliemolliemou · 11/08/2017 23:22

I feel for you. Send us a diagram! Including height of the house, size of garden. Then those of us who know (and have the time) can tell you when you'll get sun where on every day of the season ... or at least in the quarters.

Seriously, I would ask the EA to ask the current owners what light they get when and say it's important for you to know. It also depends on local trees, hedges etc.

C0untDucku1a · 11/08/2017 23:24

Sorry op just read my post back. I meant i chose a west facing garden over an east facing one as im with you and think sun is important! Ive drank a lot of lager tonight...

Original poster

Heygirlheyboy · 11/08/2017 23:27

Is the photo I attached visible? 23.18

2 storey house.

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WanderingStar1 · 11/08/2017 23:31

Agree with Harvey - I wish ours faced west as we'd appreciate the sun more in the evenings not the mornings - although it's good for washing! I don't know about damp bedrooms. Some houses may be protected by trees or neighbouring properties but it depends where the weather comes in from, prevailing winds may vary in different regions.....? Fwiw the 'damp' end of our old cottage is the one which faces East (or ENE) and that's the window where the rain comes in if we leave it open. Rain never comes in on the south or north facing windows but we have lots of trees on the south side.

Tidythatmess · 11/08/2017 23:31

our back garden is east facing and in summer we have sun up to 7.30pm. it must be the way the sun moves to the front and shines down the side of the drive. There are no houses opposite blocking the sun. For us the garden is perfect, sunny from mid.morning with shady areas to cool off In, and we can still have dinner in the sun. Our garden is wide and short.
The only downside is that the rooms at the front are streaming with sunshine in the evenings which can be uncomfortable!

Original poster

Heygirlheyboy · 11/08/2017 23:35

Thanks tidy, is it a similar garden to pic a few posts back? Where would houses be that would block? We would have house attached on one side, and another house on far side.

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Tapandgo · 11/08/2017 23:41

Oh and the washing line - obviously a south facing garden can always ensure clothes will dry at an time of day. Our last west/east property - washing only got direct sun a portion of the day. It was a pain.
BBQ's finished earlier too as sun disappeared round the other side.
I've had 2 south facing gardens and 3 that were not. I'd never get one that wasn't south facing again as I realised the lack of constant light shining through affected how I felt.

There can sometimes be a premium on south facing houses - but for many people it's not an issue.

Original poster

Heygirlheyboy · 11/08/2017 23:43

I'd prefer South facing of course but none available in area and the one that was, was destroyed by a badly planned extension

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