Where should we put the house?

[LauraD]

My hubby & I are trying to figure out the best placement for our future house & barn. The property is in SW Missouri, so it has hot & humid summers and can get something relatively close to real winters. Any feedback/suggestions would be most appreciated!

General layout: The elevation is highest in the SE and falls to the NW (elevation lines in light orange). The property lines fall on the picture edges to the north and south, on the road in the east, and well into the trees in the west. It is approximately 540’ from north to south. The entire property is surrounded by deciduous trees, almost up to the property lines. The soil isn’t very porous, and the place can get somewhat waterlogged in the spring. Specific items of interest are noted on the picture.

Here are our considerations so far:

1. We plan to build a 1-story house with a separate storm/root cellar.

2. We want a good view, which would place the house north of the southern tree row (green) and at a higher elevation.

3. We want to keep the trees that are indicated in green, while those in red are locust trees and will eventually be going bye-bye.

4. We will be off-grid, so summer shade & cooling breezes will be very important. Earth-sheltered would be difficult due to the soil and no steep slopes in the field, though the house could be built on grade and then bermed.

5. We don’t want to be right on the road, which is dirt, but we also don’t want an extremely long driveway due to snow & mud considerations (not to mention the cost/labor for building/maintenance!).

6. We would like the barn to be close but (usually) downwind.

7. We do plan to put in multiple raised beds and fruit & nut trees, but those are easier to place than the house.

8. The well should be relatively close and on high ground; must be north and/or east of the “pit.”

9. We know that we “can’t always get what we want.”

[Ken]

Good job on the map.  Did you use a specific software or website?

We're also planning to do our well this year.

[Ken]

[ceresone]

You know, my Dad was a carpenter in the early 1900 s, one thing he insisted was that bedrooms be on the south side, both to get breezes in summers, then warmer in the winter. If I were you, I would want access to the storm shelter from the house, just figure where the winds would not drop the house on you, and make sure the door to the outside open in? Just common sense, but many don't think it out.

 Oh, and I would get as far from the road as possible!

[Jolly]

May 21, 2019 19:15:51 GMT Ken said:

Yeah, I think you've got it or are within a few feet. Without walking the property, I don't know if I'd take out a few trees or not.

I'd leave the house as is or turn it towards the main road, depending on personal preference. If I left it turned the way you have it, I'd have at least a six foot wide porch on the front to shade the south side and I'd limit my windows a bit on the north side of the house.

But that's just me...

[Maura]

I would think about putting the house on the high area just SE of the tree line. This should take care of any drainage problems. The wind is usually to the other side of the trees, where you could put the barn. Definitely porch with wide roof on the south side, but also something to block the sun on east side to keep the house cooler in the morning.

[LauraD]

Ken, I used PowerPoint to make all the markings on top of the photo. Hubby & I have been looking really hard at the spot that you placed the house. Having 4 seasons is a pain in this respect; what shelters you in the summer keeps out the sun in the winter - and promotes mold & mildew on the siding. Any idea when you'll put the well in?

ceresone, good thought on the bedroom location. I figure we'll decide on a house plan, then rotate/flip as needed to get the rooms facing the direction(s) we want. I'm considering building a square house and orienting it 45 degrees from true north. That way all walls get at least some sun (helps prevent mold/mildew problems). Great idea on the storm cellar location; probably puts it to the south of the house. Why do you want the house so far from the road? I know that we'll get dust from it, but there aren't a lot of folks driving on it - especially past our place.

Jolly, good idea on the windows & covered porch. We love porches and are thinking of covered & screened - let the air in & keep the summer sun & bugs (especially ticks ) out! Would you consider putting it on the other side of that clump of trees on the right? That would give a view of the road and provide summer shade...

Maura, the SE corner takes care of a lot of issue but blocks our view of almost everything (the only drawback). If we put it there we would eventually take out some cedar trees so we could see better.


What would y'all think of placing the barn to the W or NW to help provide summer shade/winter wind protection? Or would that be unfair to the animals? Another shade idea: berm the house on the SW-S-SE and plant sunflowers there - instant summer shade w/out blocking the breeze too much.

[ceresone]

Oh, Laura, yours words echo mine over 50 years ago.
When we bought our place and built, one car went by here every three or four days. Now, I can't walk across the yard to the mailbox without 3 or 4 going by. Farmer to the west broke up his place into 5"acre lots, they sold,to the north, after rural water came in, at least a dozen more houses. Between us and the blacktop a mile away is 5 new houses. While to the east of us is 40 acres of lovely old growth timber. All mine, and here I sit by the road

[mollymckee]

Living with a dirt in the dust blow area is going to be unpleasant, especially if there is much traffic. We are over three hundred feet from the road and sixty feet above it. We don't have a lot of traffic but we get more dust in the summer than I like. I would put the house on the higher ground, as far from the road as makes sense. I would try to have some trees between the house and road. When we build twenty five years ago there were 12 houses on our 4 mile dirt road. By the end of this summer there will be somewhere in the mid eighties, depending on who has planned ahead to build.

[Rustaholic]

When I was searching for a place to build my home I had a list of things I wanted and when I saw this place I knew it was right. 1. A South facing house for Winter sun. 2. A driveway that has a very slight slope down to the road. 3. A walk out basement location. What I wish I had done was add a complete property survey and have the soil checked out.

[LauraD]

I'm actually more concerned with cooling than with heat. We don't have any electricity on the place - no phone poles at the road - so A/C is going to be hard to come by.

[dustawaits]

I have a 40 ft porch on the south side and does it ever make for darkness.
In the winter lights are on all day. True it may shade in summer but other than
extra wide eaves on the south I would put the porch on the west with low eaves.
This south porch is hot in summer and I put shade screen up which cuts the heat
about 10%. On the west-end I plant vines. I think you live pretty much due west of me
maybe 30-35 miles.
What makes mold and high humidity is the closeness of timber to the house.