How to rate a mountain view

[tsmw47]

Originally Posted by Booya

Yes! Purchase a previously used home. Don't plow down trees and put up a new house. This is the best form of recycling. The only true way.

Although I tend to agree it is hard to tell people they can't build a home, besides then you have to tell people they can't sell their land. Best answer, in my opinion, is controlling how much of a footprint your house will leave and protecting views of the mountainside. No body comes to W.N.C. to see the houses. House we purchased had many trees cleared so we have been planting them back. I don't want my house to stick out like a sore thumb on the mountain side. Respect the land, water, wildlife be a part of the mountains don't try to dominate them!

[flatwood]

In my opinion the land's orientation is of primary importance. I wouldn't want to be on the north side of a slope and receive no direct sun in the winter. My family had a summer home in WNC with the garage on the south side and although that was something that didn't seem to matter in the summer when the sun is higher, using the house in the winter was downright depressing. To say nothing of the total lack of solar gain on cold days.

[Above Average Bear]

Hadn't thought about orientation flatwood, good point! I tend to not do well when the days are shortened in the winter. I will give this consideration.
I will also try to purchase a home that has been built rather than purchase land and take a chunk out of the mountain. I am glad that I started this thread, it is really giving me an even deeper apreciation for the mountains of WNC!

[motordavid]

flatwood is right on, imo...sorry I didn't inject the site orientation previously, in this thread.

North facing/under the ridge is going to be dark, cooler to cold and will make that entire side of the house tomb-like.

We have friends right 'behind us', on the other side of Eagles Nest Mtn, (Maggie Valley side), that are on the North side, and it is 10+ degrees cooler and dark, 6+ months of the year. At our elevation(s), cooler isn't needed and dark isn't either.

Tuck a $5 compass in your pocket for viewing land sites, or house on land...
GL, mD

[tsmw47]

I totally agree. We face south west and have great solar gain in the house during sunny winter days and we installed solar hot water. Our drive melts off fast but our poor neighbors who also face west are right against ridge and don't get sun until late in the day. They keep snow on the ground forever and house is dark inside during the winter.
But we have more of a heat issue in the summer although higher sun in the sky helps. We have made several (non air conditioning) adaptations to mitigate heat. How and where house is situated is important to consider.

[Loves mountains]

We are renting a home in a lovely community while we build our house - and oh boy does orientation matter - this house get NO SUN directly on its roof - ever! The propane delivery guy referred to it as a "cold hole" where no sun shines! Thankfully, the spot we are building on has wonderful sun exposure in Winter and enough trees to block the hot Summer sun - it matters! Plus I like to grow things and flowers need sun!! Take your time and find the right spot for you!

[Above Average Bear]

Thanks Lm, I like to garden as well, so sun is a must! I will pay attention to the orientation of the house. Sorry to hear about your current predicament, hope that house goes up in a hurry.
Bear