How important is a south facing pool ?

[Tron[ADS]]

We are already booking again, for the 14th May next year. After staying in the same house for the last few years we fancy a change, and have picked a villa out that we like, but it does not have a south facing pool. It has a North facing pool.
This something Ive never even thought about, and I see that anyone who does have one are keen to list it as a selling feature.

So, in May, will a North facing pool be an issue ?

I appreciate that other factors are important, such as how far the pool is from the building and how much shade that will cast, but in general, should I be put off a property thats not got a South Facing pool ?

 

[UKDEB]

It depends when you're most likely to want to use it. It's never a factor we've considered when booking, but it has meant that we've ended up with some pools which haven't had day-long sun. Like you say, it depends on a number of factors. Those we book tend to have large lanais which helps, but, of course it depends upon the height and position of neighbouring villas, too. Basically, you'll get the sun from first thing in the morning right through the period when it's highest in the sky (which I'm guessing could be as late as 3pm depending on the time of year). From then, the pool are will progressively fall into shade. Based on the assumption that the sun will be highest in the sky in mid - late June (is that true in Florida? ), you could well get lucky in May.

 

[Tony Toon]

We have stayed in villas with what was described as having a south facing pool and have discovered that we have lost the sun at the very time we were looking to use it. Now we just ask directly "is the pool area in the sun all day?" and trust that the answer is truthful. Certainly a larger lanai offers a greater chance of success. It can be disappointing to return to the villa for a break from the parks to find that your pool area is practically all in the shade.

 

[Netty]

I personally am not bothered whether the pool faces south or not, the way i see it is that even if the sun isnt directly on the pool area you are still catching rays and its still just as hot.

 

[tttessa]

Hiya,
with young kids I find a shady pool to be best anyhow !! Dont have to put suncream on every 2 minutes or end up like a lobster.. We wanted to use ours one day (in April) after a lazy morning - it was just too hot for us out there at 90 deg F in the shade - in the sun it was even hotter and felt fierce on the skin , so would have preferred shade late morning and late afternoon.

Tessa

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Personally feel it's essential, and most of the villas we have rented are south facing.
You get the sun virtually all day and we do like to relax around the pool a lot on holidays, Joshua loves playing in the water.
We don't often get much time to sit back and enjoy the sun whilst at home, and Tron mate whilst you only live a few miles away from me as you know we don't get much chance to sit out in 'sunny Lancashire'
(just got back home from Fleetwood by the way, my mum and dad still live there and I take Josh to see them every Sunday).

At the end of the day we prefer a pool that has the sun on it most of the time.
The last villa we rented was advertised as south facing, but actually wasn't and more West, hence no sun on the pool until noon. Whilst naturally we are out a lot of the time it makes sense to me to have the sun there should we want to sit out in it.
I would rather have it than not need it than need it and not have it!

In my opinion therefore south facing is top of the 'must haves'. I know people who booked a North facing pool and had a bad week weather wise, when they wanted a change from the hectic theme parks and sit out in the sun they realised they couldn't see it.

We even ensure we get the full address and postcode before we book, so we can view the villa 'birds eye' style so we can see the pool area.

http://maps.live.com/

A bit over the top I know but we pay the money so want to know what we are getting. You will see many owners advertised as 'south facing' because it is a selling point.
No disrespect intended to any of our DIS villa owners but we have seen villas on websites advertised as 'south facing' when they just aren't.

If you want the shade you just move the sun lounger back a few feet and relax under the lanai area instead, or put a towel over your head!
Providing you sunbathe in moderation/short spells and ensure you have the necessary sun creams you and your children are prefectly safe irrespective of the time of year.

Julie my weather correspondant states confidently North facing = sun in the early morning and evening but a lot of the day will be in shade.

At the end of the day it's an active holiday, we are out a lot of the time anyway enjoying ourselves but if we choose to relax and enjoy some sun it's nice to know it will be out there for us.

Depending on the direction the pool is facing you won't get any sun at all on the pool deck at certain times of the day. West facing at 12noon you have a tiny amount of sun shining on the pool deck, I know because I was laid out it in at the last villa we stayed at, the rest was in shade.
The only way to guarantee catching the 'rays' is getting south facing.

 

[psharrock]

Try looking at these two threads from another forum

http://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=188830
http://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=201616

There is quite a bit of information about pool directions.

As you have said a lot will depend upon how far the deck extends past the house, and whether the house is 1 or 2 storeys. A single storey home with an average deck size will have the pool in the sun for the vast majority of the day during the April to October.

You need to remember that Orlando is much nearer to the equator than the UK, so the sun will be higher in the sky all year round eg

The angle of the sun at 12:00 is:-

Kissimmee

Dec - 38 deg
Mar & Sep - 61 deg
Jun - 82 deg

London

Dec - 15 deg
Mar & Sep - 39 deg
Jun - 62 deg

This basically means in June, on a north facing deck in Kissimmee with a 22ft 2 storey high home, the shade will be about 3ft, and depending what is to the east and west, the deck will be in sun ALL day.

Paul

 

[Tron[ADS]]

Thanks everybody...we've decided to go ahead and book it anyway, as the pool is a good few feet off the house anyway, the temperature will be in the 90's, and it will be good to not have to worry so much about sunscreen on the kids. Theres also a communual pool as well like at Terra Verde, so if its a problem, we can just go there....we're not really sunbathing type of people to be honest, so I think it will be fine.

 

[minnie29uk]

We are already booking again, for the 14th May next year. After staying in the same house for the last few years we fancy a change, and have picked a villa out that we like, but it does not have a south facing pool. It has a North facing pool.
This something Ive never even thought about, and I see that anyone who does have one are keen to list it as a selling feature.

So, in May, will a North facing pool be an issue ?

I appreciate that other factors are important, such as how far the pool is from the building and how much shade that will cast, but in general, should I be put off a property thats not got a South Facing pool ?

Having owned a villa myself - May is one of the cooler months and I had my pool heat on as there was not enough sun for my liking on my west facing pool.South facing pools are a better choice for all round sun.Possibly June - August not such an issue.But still nice to have all round sun,

lynn