First along the short side of the house

Hello everyone,

we are currently in the planning phase of our single-family house. We have a relatively compact plot. The drawing is already oriented according to the cardinal directions. We now had the desire to place the ridge along the short side of the house so that the roof surfaces face south:



This naturally creates a first impression that seems quite unusual:


Do you have any experience with this? At first glance, the house looks like half of a semi-detached house. However, we do not want to give up the southern roof surface due to photovoltaics. Unfortunately, we do (not yet) know whether this will lead to additional structural requirements from the house provider. Unfortunately, this cannot be communicated to us before the structural calculation.

Best regards

The east/west orientation is not ideal. But still consider whether you would prefer to take it.

At midday there is slightly less photovoltaic power (which helps the grid).
In the morning and evening when you are at home, there is more.
For self-consumption, east/west is usually better than south.

With your rotation above, you have a good amount of photovoltaic power at midday and in the evening, but not in the morning.

One would have to calculate (or have calculated) with specific values in photovoltaic sol.

Do you have experience with this? At first glance, the house looks like one half of a semi-detached house. However, we do not want to give up the southern roof surface because of photovoltaics.

It looks totally crap.
Your roof, completely normal, is also totally sufficient for photovoltaics or is perfect for a uniform power production throughout the day.
When the sun rises in the east and moves towards the south ==> photovoltaic modules capture a lot of sun
From noon and especially from the beginning of the afternoon until the sunset in the west, the other side of the roof takes over (of course, power is still produced in the east, just not as much) ==> photovoltaic modules capture a lot of sun

For me, the question is: Do I have the money for both halves of the roof? And not: How does the ridge run?

Would also recommend for the photovoltaic system East-West. Especially with the shutdown during overcurrent around midday, the production in the morning and evening is more valuable. I would build differently, provided the development plan allows it. Additionally, a relatively flat roof (~25°), then the west-northwest side is also good in production. We have such a house nearby, it doesn’t look good. And in your case, not practical either.

We have a relatively compact plot.

From a planning perspective, it looks like the beginnings of a hatch pattern, as if a neighboring building adjoins there. After a 1.15 m building setback, one would actually expect a distance waiver there. Please clarify this for us.

At first glance, the house looks like one half of a semi-detached house. [...] Unfortunately, we (still) do not know whether this will lead to additional structural efforts on the part of the house provider. Unfortunately, this cannot be communicated to us before the structural calculation.

Why should it be structurally complicated to orient the roof that way? – this is done with so many actual semi-detached houses, so I see no difference compared to a pseudo-semi-detached house.

However, we do not want to give up on the southern roof surface because of photovoltaics.

Apart from the fact that the roof appears steeper than optimal for photovoltaics: how unshaded is this roof surface at all?

On the right side of the plan, it looks like there are indications of hatching, as if a neighboring building were adjoining there. After a 1.15 m building setback, one would actually expect a distance transfer there. Please clarify this for us.

The property is located next to a 4-meter-wide private road; it is a large plot that has been divided.

Apart from the fact that the roof looks steeper than optimal for photovoltaics: how unshaded is this roof surface at all?

We do not know yet, as the entire "new development area" is not yet present. However, only the southern house could cast a shadow. We do not know how close it is to the boundary. We are currently planning with a 45-degree roof pitch.

I would build differently, provided the development plan allows it. Also a quite flat roof (~25°), then the west-northwest side would also perform well in production.

That is not possible, as we need 45 degrees roof pitch. We are planning with an attic expansion and must remain single-story.