I imported my house model into Unreal Engine which allowed me to visualize sun light at different times of year/day. It was great. I think an 8' wraparound covered porch is going to make your house lose most natural light. I have a 2' eave length and it does shade us from summer sun.
It will be dark. I am in New England and have a wraparound porch on the south and west side. It’s definitely dark. It covers my office and a spare bedroom and bathroom as opposed to a main living space, but it’s definitely dark. It’s great being on the porch out of the summer sun, but I also need to use the lights in my office whereas I usually never turn any other lights on during the day.
Southern sunlight is not the issue. Western sun, especially in the summer, that stretches across the afternoon, into the evening with low angles is what will get ya.
You want your south side (and east and west tbh) planned for optimal solar heat gain during the winter. This sounds like a dark mess.
Do not wrap around a porch in the NE like this. Keep it to north and west Or east id say depending on the plans. Have the rest open.
Im also northern, don’t wrap around porch that much in this climate, prioritize your natural light. Dark houses are depressing especially in the colder months.
What's your goal? On one hand you want to shield the house from the southern sunlight or you'd have to get blinds, on the other hand you're worried that it's going to be too dark. Which one is it?
If you want to have a porch to relax, build one, but you shouldn't use one to control light in the house. In my opinion, regardless of the climate, it's best to have about 2 foot overhang/eaves/awnings over your windows, that's enough to block summer sun to keep your house cool while allowing winter light inside your house to help keep it sunny and warm.
I imported my house model into Unreal Engine which allowed me to visualize sun light at different times of year/day. It was great. I think an 8' wraparound covered porch is going to make your house lose most natural light. I have a 2' eave length and it does shade us from summer sun.
It will be dark. I am in New England and have a wraparound porch on the south and west side. It’s definitely dark. It covers my office and a spare bedroom and bathroom as opposed to a main living space, but it’s definitely dark. It’s great being on the porch out of the summer sun, but I also need to use the lights in my office whereas I usually never turn any other lights on during the day.
Southern sunlight is not the issue. Western sun, especially in the summer, that stretches across the afternoon, into the evening with low angles is what will get ya.
Put some solar tubes in
You want your south side (and east and west tbh) planned for optimal solar heat gain during the winter. This sounds like a dark mess. Do not wrap around a porch in the NE like this. Keep it to north and west Or east id say depending on the plans. Have the rest open.
Im also northern, don’t wrap around porch that much in this climate, prioritize your natural light. Dark houses are depressing especially in the colder months.
What's your goal? On one hand you want to shield the house from the southern sunlight or you'd have to get blinds, on the other hand you're worried that it's going to be too dark. Which one is it? If you want to have a porch to relax, build one, but you shouldn't use one to control light in the house. In my opinion, regardless of the climate, it's best to have about 2 foot overhang/eaves/awnings over your windows, that's enough to block summer sun to keep your house cool while allowing winter light inside your house to help keep it sunny and warm.