I show you how to know the orientation of your house using the cadastre, Google Maps or simply using your mobile phone.
Know the orientation of a house:
The easiest way to calculate the orientation of a home without plans is using an online compass.
When checking the orientation of your house, 2 things can happen:
- Let the façade be parallel to the North: Your home faces north.
- That the façade not be parallel with any cardinal point: Then keep reading.
My orientation does not coincide with cardinal points:
Arrow between North and East: Then your home points to the Northeast.
Arrow between East and South: Then your home faces Southeast.
Arrow between South and West: Then the orientation of your home is towards the Southwest.
Arrow between West and North: So your house faces Northwest.
Two other ways to know the orientation:
If you do not want to use the mobile compass, you can also rely on the cadastral reference of your property .
You can use the cadastre orientation:
Physical offices: Going to the physical offices of the cadastre (slowest option).
Virtual cadastre office: Through the virtual cadastre office: you can access the website of the Cadastre Electronic Headquarters, in the ‘Descriptive and Graphic Consultation’ section, for See the plan of the house.
Whether through the virtual cadastre office or by going to their nearest offices, this institution has the plans for your home.
Remember that the plans are facing north (up). Pit may be that even having the plan in your hands you are not clear about the orientation of your home, so the next option will be easier.
You can use Google Maps orientation:
In this case you will use the map that Google offers us:
Step #1 Enter your address: Enter the address of your home to know its orientation.
Step #2 Activate the compass: On Google Maps there is a symbol with a red and white compass at the top-right of the screen. If you press you will know the north direction of the map.
Step #3 Measure the orientation of the house: When comparing the Google Maps compass with the facade of your house, it should match its orientation.< /span>
Knowing the orientation of my house is essential, since it will affect the temperature of the house, the light that enters through the windows and the energy expenditure living in it.
To find out how to know the orientation of my house and get it right, it is best to take into account the geographical area in which the property is located: if it is a territory with a humid, warm, dry, cold climate , etc.
House facing North:
Have the home facing north:
✔️ Advantages:
- It will give you good lighting all year round.
- It will prevent sunlight from entering directly into all rooms but you will have good lighting.
❌ Disadvantages:
- It is not very convenient in places with cold climates.
The ideal option in places where it is hot.
Also, if they are offices, you should have them oriented towards the north, because the light will enter in the morning and afternoon in summer evenly.
House facing South:
Having the house facing south offers us:
✔️ Advantages:
- It is perfect where it is cold because the sun will enter the home for much of the year.
- Allows you to reduce heating consumption and have a much warmer home.
- You will have a warmer environment at night.
- In the morning and afternoon the home will receive direct natural light.
❌ Disadvantages:
- In the eastern area you will experience very hot summers even inside the house.
- In summer air conditioning consumption will increase.
- You may need to put awnings on the windows.
The ideal orientation for houses located in cold places.
House facing East:
When the apartment or house faces east, we have:
✔️ Advantages:
- Entry into the sun is limited only during the morning.
- The house is heated until midday and cooled in the afternoon..
- Heating savings in the morning.
- Air conditioning savings on summer afternoons..
❌ Disadvantages:
- It is somewhat colder in the afternoons.
- Less recommended in cold climates, although it does not affect too much.
The east orientation of the home is one of the best options for reducing electricity consumption both in winter and summer. This is due to a more moderate temperature.
House facing West:
The west orientation of a property offers us:
✔️ Advantages:
- Rooms illuminated from midday to dusk.
- Light especially in the hottest hours of the day.
- It is advisable for mountain or very cold climates.
- Air conditioning savings on summer afternoons.
❌ Disadvantages:
- It is not the ideal option in hot areas.
Conclusion:
The best orientation of a home is usually towards the southwest, both in hot and cold climate areas. You will be able to enjoy natural light and have a pleasant temperature at home.
A correct orientation can help provide a larger visual effect to a room. At the same time, it will give us a greater sense of well-being and help us save energy.
The orientation of a home is an important characteristic that can affect the comfort and energy efficiency of a home.
- The orientation of a home refers to the direction in which the main façade of the house is oriented.
- Homes that face south tend to receive more sunlight during the day, which can make them warmer and brighter. They can also be more energy efficient, as they can take advantage of sunlight to heat the home.
- Homes facing north tend to receive less sunlight during the day, so they may be cooler and have less need for air conditioning. However, they can also be darker and less luminous.
- Homes facing east and west may have more balanced sun exposure, although they may also be more prone to heat problems during the morning and afternoon.
Depending on the layout of the home, you can have more light, save more on the air conditioning of the house, etc.
Use this tool to know the orientation of any home.
Bonus: Roof orientation (you should know)
The orientation of roofs is important as it can affect the amount of sunlight that enters the home, the amount of energy needed to heat or cool the interior, and the durability of the roof.
- A south-facing roof will receive the most sunlight during the day, which can be beneficial in increasing the energy efficiency of the home.
- A roof facing north will receive less sunlight, which can be beneficial in reducing heat in summer and increasing the durability of the roof.
- A roof facing east or west will receive a medium amount of sunlight and may be a good option depending on location and climate.
- A properly pitched roof can also be beneficial for energy efficiency and durability. A higher pitch can help prevent rainwater from accumulating on the roof, while a lower pitch can be beneficial for making the most of sunlight.
- If you are considering replacing or installing a new roof, it is important to consider the proper orientation and pitch for your home and climate. It’s also a good idea to talk to a professional for more advice and advice.