Planning new House. Back porch faces North. Your opinions ???

[pharmvet]

Im planning a new home in the very near future. Because of the geography, I plan to have my back porch facing North. It will overlook a large bottom and a future lake. I want to have a very large, deep back porch with an outdoor kitchen area etc. I am in North East Texas. What are your thoughts on a North facing back porch where we plan to spend most of our time?? Any and all input welcomed. thanks

 

[westcliffe01]

For a hot climate, that does not sound like a bad idea. It would be shaded pretty much all the time. If you can close it in and provide a wood stove or other source of heat, you should be able to provide a comfy spot even in winter.

 

[murphy1244]

My back deck or porch faces North overlooking a pond and windmill with a pasture in the back round. Looks like a post card.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

For a hot climate, that does not sound like a bad idea. It would be shaded pretty much all the time. If you can close it in and provide a wood stove or other source of heat, you should be able to provide a comfy spot even in winter.

It's good that you give it some serious thought. We have a North facing back porch and deck...and we do spend a lot of time out there in the summer. I suggest you give a lot of thought to shade; perhaps the type and location of trees for shade both in the morning and in the evening; maybe even a covered patio or deck or at least some trellis work above. We lost parts of several of our shade trees on the West during a storm a couple years ago, and the loss of shade is considerable. I am considering some trellis work above our deck.

 

[murphy1244]

Yes now is the best time for these plans and a front door facing South is good Waa.

 

[JimRB]

Our front door faces south. The 8 or maybe it is 10 foot deep porch keeps the sun out of the windows in the summer and lets warming sun in during the winter. Our preferred view is probably the back porch as we can see the horses in the pastures while the view of the front south facing porch is dust from people driving too fast down the gravel road. Your porch should be wherever you get the most joy. Again you may get some energy savings if you also have a south faced porch.

 

[pharmvet]

Another Question - I really want our back porch to be deep. I mean really deep. I want an outdoor fireplace and kitchen area. How deep is ridiculous? I was thinking about 25 ft. What are your thoughts? I want it to be the place where we congregate. I want it to be where I shoot my rifles, clean my guns, shell peas, cut corn, do school projects with the kids etc, etc.

 

[pharmvet]

Another Question - I really want our back porch to be deep. I mean really deep. I want an outdoor fireplace and kitchen area. How deep is ridiculous? I was thinking about 25 ft. What are your thoughts? I want it to be the place where I shoot and clean my guns, shell peas, cut corn, grill and eat, do projects with the kids etc. I want a swing, hammock, table, etc.

 

[murphy1244]

I have two 440fot decks one on each wing connected by a covered porch of 30 feet long by 12 ft wide. I shoot out back on the pasture edge.

 

[EddieWalker]

Doesn't matter what way the deck faces, as long as you can block the evening sun coming in from the west. Nothing worse then having it shining in on you when you are trying to enjoy yourself.

Are you going to make the porch with an open ceiling? Exposed trusses are really nice, but the wider you go, the more engineering it is going to take. Depth is easy, span isn't.

Eddie