House buying
"This compass is a dream for homebuyers, and a nightmare for estate agents." - The Sunday Telegraph
Beware the cold shady house or garden...
Most sellers put their houses up for sale in the spring and summer. As a buyer you have to be careful not to be seduced by the sunny conditions. In the colder months of the year it will be shadier - perhaps a LOT shadier.
Be aware of the effect of sunlight on buildings and how it varies across the seasons. In the UK, at around 50 degrees north, at midsummer the Sun rises approximately in the north east and sets in the north-west. This means that although the house in the diagram has a south facing garden, it will be partly in shade both first thing in the morning and last thing in the evening.
It’s important to consider which garden areas and rooms you will primarily want to utilise and at what time of day. The Sun compass will reveal all this even if you view a house in the middle of the day.
Be aware of the effect of sunlight on buildings and how it varies across the seasons. In the UK, at around 50 degrees north, at midsummer the Sun rises approximately in the north east and sets in the north-west. This means that although the house in the diagram has a south facing garden, it will be partly in shade both first thing in the morning and last thing in the evening.
It’s important to consider which garden areas and rooms you will primarily want to utilise and at what time of day. The Sun compass will reveal all this even if you view a house in the middle of the day.
Shadows will be longer in winter - MUCH longer
The Sun’s height in the sky changes from high summer to deepest winter and becomes more marked further away from the Equator.
By using the angle scale on the back of the Sun Compass, we can determine the Sun's height at noon and work out the lengths of shadows from buildings, trees or fences at different times of the year.
One key factor to consider is the solidity of the obstruction. While buildings or solid fences will throw complete shade, deciduous trees allow a lot of sunlight through in the winter months.
By using the angle scale on the back of the Sun Compass, we can determine the Sun's height at noon and work out the lengths of shadows from buildings, trees or fences at different times of the year.
One key factor to consider is the solidity of the obstruction. While buildings or solid fences will throw complete shade, deciduous trees allow a lot of sunlight through in the winter months.
How deep is your valley?
It's not only direction that's important, but altitude and aspect too. In the diagram below, house A on the coast will benefit from sunshine all year, as does the house C high on the hill. However the maximum height of the Sun, particularly in the winter months, means that house B located lower in the valley, will never receive direct winter sunlight.
We used to live in a house just like C, looking down in the winter on shady houses like B, just a few metres or so below us. That little bit of extra height made all the difference.
We used to live in a house just like C, looking down in the winter on shady houses like B, just a few metres or so below us. That little bit of extra height made all the difference.
In cold areas this small difference can have a significant effect on annual heating bills, mean more frequent heavy frost on cars and a shorter growing season for plants. The heating power of direct sunlight, even in winter is extremely significant.
Let’s hope House D was good value and has nice views! We've sold a huge number of Sun compasses to property seekers in the Alps, for these exact reasons.
Let’s hope House D was good value and has nice views! We've sold a huge number of Sun compasses to property seekers in the Alps, for these exact reasons.
The Myth Of The South-Facing Garden
This south-facing house will have very good light all day for the pool until around 18.00 in the high summer, then the pool and garden will be in increasing shadow.
Many of us have been to garden parties that were fine and warm until the sun went behind the house.
Clearly sunlight is only one aspect to be considered, but an important one. It is surprising how many get their calculations 180 degrees out!
Many of us have been to garden parties that were fine and warm until the sun went behind the house.
Clearly sunlight is only one aspect to be considered, but an important one. It is surprising how many get their calculations 180 degrees out!
The Ideal South-West Facing Garden
At European latitudes, the Sun rises in the north-east and sets in the north-west. Few of us are up at dawn when a south-west facing garden would be in shade, or are likely to want to breakfast in the garden when it's cooler. Many of us however love to spend warm summer evenings out of doors and a south-west orientation ensures a sunny microclimate and perhaps even a view of the sunset.
