North East Facing Garden

mrstemperton

We are looking to buy a house and the one we are looking at on a new estate has a north east facing garden. These are the site plans. The garden isn't big so I am worried it will just be in the shade all the time. I do like to be outside in the summer so would like to see some sun but we don't have children who want to play out, only small dogs. I'm more worried about the struggle it'll be to sell in the future. Opinions please?

https://ibb.co/egL6Qm
Plot 63

Davesnave

It's likely 63 -66 will interfere to some extent with sunshine in those gardens, as will your own house, but in the months when most people want to be outside, there should be sunshine in the rear half of the garden most of the time.

In the last two roads I lived in, houses with north or east-facing gardens didn't sit empty or cost appreciably less than those with other garden aspects. Some people don't really consider aspect, and if they do they'll have different opinions.

For example, I used to believe a sunny kitchen/diner was a great thing, till I had a north facing one! Also, atitudes to direct sunlight have changed so many people now keep young children sheltered from it.

tori.k

It shouldn't be a problem if you consider your outside space the same as your indoor there are plenty of flowering plants suited to dapple or even deep shade to bring colour into your garden. Personally if your prefer to bake yourself shades of orange in the midday sun then this isn't the outside space for your requirements, but quite lovely for a summer lunch or a reprieve from the direct summer heat, biggest problem would probably be drying washing outside in the winter but that's more down to airflow then sun this time of year,
If it's staged right at time of selling the direction won't matter its a new build estate nobody will be looking to live the good life there, just a usable outside space suited to there needs.

mrstemperton

Thank you I feel a bit reassured I just had visions of being in complete shade all summer lol!

tori.k

Just see the positive you don't have to give up space or cost for a arbor or planting to provide a shade spot for yourself and your dogs just find the sun spot and plonk your chair, job done.
Your also get the solar gain from the front of your property so will help with heating your main living area.so there are always pluses to be had regardless of direction.

Scotbot

I have just bought a house with a north facing garden. It never occurred to me to check as the garden is beautiful and one of the selling points of the house. There was seating halfway down so I am guessing this is the sunniest part. The other plus point for me is I like sun in the kitchen in the morning and living area in the afternoon which is what I will get.

bouicca21

My garden faces more north than east. It's sunny in the early morning (too early for me) then the shade progressively moves down the garden during the rest of the day.

I didn't think about it when I bought - though after I moved in I realised that the other side of the road is nearer a railway line so the price of the sun is noise. Besides I burn really easily so having a shady patio is fine by me. If I want to sit in the sun I can just take a chair further down the garden.

chappers

to be honest on a fairly dense housing estate, it's shading from other properties that will be the issue more than the orientation and during the summer the effect will be lessened until later into the day.

hazyjo

Mine's north facing, and I'm buying one with an east facing garden.


My north one is absolutely fine for me. It's still roasting in the afternoons in summer (although there haven't been many days like that this year!) as there's nothing blocking us to the west where the sun sets. If there were tall townhouses there, I expect it would affect us earlier in the afternoon. I like late sunshine. Not sure I'll get any in the new house as I don't see many mornings at weekends and the sun will be setting at the front!


I'm a bit of a ginga so can't be in direct sun for hours anyway without frazzling. I quite like it just being hot without having to squint or keep moving round the garden table to dodge the sun!

stator

My guess is that your garden will be fine in Summer,Spring and Autumn but in mid-winter you'll get no direct sunlight at all.

My garden is NNE and in the middle of winter the sun doesn't come above the roofline of the houses so the only sunlight I get is the 1hr when it's shining through the small gap between me and the semi next door. so 58-62 will block all your light.

SuboJvR

We're buying a north west facing garden. We didn't place too much stock in the aspect as we aren't exactly sun worshippers but every time we have visited through Summer and Autumn, the rear of the garden has been getting lovely sunlight, so we will be aiming to take advantage of that. Fortunately as well this is near an already paved area behind the garage that will form a perfect BBQ spot

We currently rent a house with a west facing garden, where the living room opens out onto the garden (main bedroom also faces it). It's awful in summer, I hate it. We basically close the curtains first thing in the morning and even if out all day leave them shut so the sun isn't beating down into the living room and making it unbearable. It gets so warm my TV has a meltdown too :P