Does It Matter Which Direction My Home Faces?

House orientation refers to the position of a structure on its site, and it’s typically described by the cardinal direction that the front facade faces—for example, a home with its main entrance facing north would be described as a north-facing house. While this is often an overlooked aspect of a home, it's a detail that can end up making a difference in your day-to-day life.

Which direction your home faces will affect the amount of sunlight the interior receives, heating and cooling costs, home maintenance, and more. However, there isn’t a “best” direction for a house to face. Each orientation offers a different set of benefits, but knowing their benefits and drawbacks can help homeowners make smarter choices.

South-facing and east-facing houses

In the U.S and the rest of the northern hemisphere, south-facing windows receive the greatest amount of sunlight because the sun shines from the south. It’s also important to note that, because the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, an east-facing home will receive the most morning sun and a west-facing house will get more afternoon sun.

One downside of direct sun exposure is the damage it can cause over time to siding, roofing, furniture, fabrics, and flooring. The south-facing side of your home will be most affected by sunlight, so you’d be wise to budget around completing home maintenance tasks like repainting or re-siding more frequently.

A home’s orientation is important not only for sunlight, but also for warmth. For instance, the southern exposure of a home (especially for homes with many south-facing windows) will collect most of the warmth from the sun, and this can be both a benefit and a detriment. Radiant heat from the sun can help reduce heating costs in the winter, especially in colder climates. But in the summer, that heat can lead to higher cooling bills.

North-facing houses may be easier to cool when temperatures rise

Homes that are oriented to the north typically receive most of their direct sunlight in the back of the building. As a result, a north-facing house may remain cooler in the summer than a south-facing house. In warmer climates, a north-facing home can have the benefit of reduced cooling costs when temperatures climb in summer. However, this means less natural light filtering in from the front of the house, since north-facing windows let in less sun. The one main drawback to north-facing homes is that they are more prone to icing in the winter, which is especially important to consider in Northeast Ohio.

There are pros and cons to either direction, and it's interesting to know which way you face. This discussion is usually important with new construction when you have the option of orienting as you please. This isn't quite the market where buyers can be picky enough to choose their home orientation, but that could change as the environment continues to shift.