Garage Orientation
- Thread starter plow
- Start date
rburke65
Well-known member
So he could get to the street.
Steevo
Well-known member
Here in So. East Idaho, a South facing garage door/driveway means quicker melt-off after snows and less ice.
Then again, unless the street is to the South of your garage, having the doors on that side might not be quite so advantageous.
Then again, unless the street is to the South of your garage, having the doors on that side might not be quite so advantageous.
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matt_i
Well-known member
Steevo has it pegged. With an asphalt drive, scrape it down to the point where the base surface has a hint of the sky and the sun will bake the rest of it clear and dry, due to the black-body/radiant heat effect.
Also, with respect to windows, the sun is at a lower angle in the southern sky (USA) during the winter. So you get more solar radiation thru windows = free heat more or less.
Also, with respect to windows, the sun is at a lower angle in the southern sky (USA) during the winter. So you get more solar radiation thru windows = free heat more or less.
finn
Well-known member
Exactly: free heat and less snow.
coldh2o
Well-known member
csp
Well-known member
OP, I'm curious what direction you would have expected the doors to face?
My north facing garage's concrete apron turns into a skating rink if I don't clear the snow off of it.
My north facing garage's concrete apron turns into a skating rink if I don't clear the snow off of it.
Jagmandave
Well-known member
I was planning to build my garage with 2 doors facing south and east to take advantage of sunlight, in the summer the sun is high enough that the overhangs would keep the direct sun off the doors.
Schurkey
Well-known member
Around here, it's less a matter of sun load and snow removal, and more a matter of prevailing winds.
Strong enough wind, allowed inside the garage via a big door, is an invitation to Dorothy going to Oz.
Besides, a Garage's "orientation" is a matter for that garage to decide, on it's own. A "Bruce" garage can become a "Caitlyn" garage if it wants. Trailer homes put on skirts every winter, and garages should be able to do the same. And rainbow paint.
Strong enough wind, allowed inside the garage via a big door, is an invitation to Dorothy going to Oz.
Besides, a Garage's "orientation" is a matter for that garage to decide, on it's own. A "Bruce" garage can become a "Caitlyn" garage if it wants. Trailer homes put on skirts every winter, and garages should be able to do the same. And rainbow paint.
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I am planning on my two primary doors facing East to
1) Avoid the prevailing winds which blow pretty hard here (will have one roll up on the north side)
2) Avoid the afternoon sun which is BRUTAL in the summer.
Orientation varies by location and necessity.
1) Avoid the prevailing winds which blow pretty hard here (will have one roll up on the north side)
2) Avoid the afternoon sun which is BRUTAL in the summer.
Orientation varies by location and necessity.
dadsEH
Well-known member
Why don't you ask the cat?
I was wondering how a cat installed roll ups.
BTW mine face north-that's the direction of the street.
Crazy Man, Crazy.
csp
Well-known member
Understood that already from your location. It still doesn't answer what direction you would expect it to face or why.
You can find garage doors facing every direction anywhere you go for a variety of reasons. Most are just because of the side of the street they are on.
I'm not sure why you would even think it's weird for one to face south.
I didn't say it was weird. I asked why they were installed South. If it was to get to the street then by all means have a free shot at me. I ask dumb **** all the time.
My second post was to confirm that it was or wasn't due to some weather related issue, IE, sun, rain, wind or whatever.
I'm close to starting my own 40 X 60 and you may well know that one would want to get it right the first time and avoid any potential problems before concrete is poured. Theirs some smart CATS on this board and if I can learn something by asking a question I will.
Being that you are in LA, I would probably face my doors to the East, or ENE to keep a lot of the summer sun out of the shop to keep it cooler. You'd also have shade out front. You don't have much/any snow to worry about.
RivennHewn
Well-known member
SALIV8
Well-known member
my 30x48 has 3 overhead doors. 2 huge doors and one smaller door. the 2 biggins face east and the small faces south at the opposite end of the man door.
Not only does the orientation make sense for my uses of the shop, I also like to see that my doors are shut whenever i look out my front windows. i like to be able to verify all doors are secure when i glance at the barn.
I also thought it might deter would be robbers to know i can easily see all points of entry from the house.
win win for me.
Not only does the orientation make sense for my uses of the shop, I also like to see that my doors are shut whenever i look out my front windows. i like to be able to verify all doors are secure when i glance at the barn.
I also thought it might deter would be robbers to know i can easily see all points of entry from the house.
win win for me.
csp
Well-known member
It seems logical to have asked the cat whose thread you had read. Without knowing what you read everyone else is just throwing out random guesses or explaining why ours face the way they do.
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maybe just google "passive solar design" or something ... dependent on where you live.... you get cooler Summer wind and shade and warmer winter sunlight and less wind..... one of the corner of my house is facing north and west.... that room get a lot more colder even with insulation and the brick mortars deteriorates faster.....My parents house in CT faces South East... they don't even needed to turn on the Central AC at all if they open the front door and the back windows most of the times during a hot Summer day.......
some sciences to it...
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