West Facing Lanai - no-no or overblown?

[VillageIdiots]

We are looking at new homes in Fenney area. Some that we really like have west facing lanai's. However, they also have extended lanai's and even have room to extend a bird cage out for additional outdoor space. We've had a few people tell us to stay away from western facing lanai's, but we went and checked it out in the late day sun yesterday and the extended lanai really seems to help a lot before the sun finally gets to an angle where it is shining directly in. Thoughts?

[JSR22]

We are looking at new homes in Fenney area. Some that we really like have west facing lanai's. However, they also have extended lanai's and even have room to extend a bird cage out for additional outdoor space. We've had a few people tell us to stay away from western facing lanai's, but we went and checked it out in the late day sun yesterday and the extended lanai really seems to help a lot before the sun finally gets to an angle where it is shining directly in. Thoughts?

West facing lanais are extremely hot May through September. Multiple friends who have them enclosed the lanai and put in air conditioning.

[bluedivergirl]

Just my own observation ~ the sun's angle changes more dramatically through the seasons than I observed up North. What the angle is today may be very different in two months.

I would not purchase a west-facing lanai without budgeting for quality awnings or shades. You may decide you don't need them, but I would plan for the expense.

[jimnc]

There are so many homes for sale here in The Villages I recommend you stay away from the west-facing lanais. The previous response is accurate. The heat is intense.

[LuvtheVillages]

Our extended lanai faces directly west. We love all the light we get all day long. It is glassed, and the windows are low-e double pane. They were added after we moved in. We keep the ceiling fans on all the time. The heat difference in the lanai is not usually noticeable. If we are using the room when the sun is setting, we lower the blinds. Problem solved.

[justjim]

If a pool is planned, a west facing lanai would help keep the pool warm. A home with the front facing north is ideal IMHO.

[ditka41]

We have a glass-enclosed, west-facing, lanai and love it NOW. It was very hot during the summer months so we made a few additions that make it very comfortable. First, was the solar screen shades that still allow viewing from inside. Second, we added a Sunsetter awning that is not only attractive, but makes the patio area much nicer also. That awning is very effective in reducing the heat. It even retracts itself if the wind exceeds 35 MPH, preventing damage to the fabric if you're not home. It is easily controlled with a "remote" and lights up the patio nicely with built in LED lights that are also controllable. I would not rule out a nice place just because of the west-facing lanai.

[CFrance]

Our extended lanai faces directly west. We love all the light we get all day long. It is glassed, and the windows are low-e double pane. They were added after we moved in. We keep the ceiling fans on all the time. The heat difference in the lanai is not usually noticeable. If we are using the room when the sun is setting, we lower the blinds. Problem solved.
This kind of points to a few posts above. In order to enjoy a west-facing lanai in the constant 97* summer heat (103* heat index), you most likely would have to enclose it and install blinds.

Even with our east-facing lanai, there are summer days when, having not been raised in the tropics, it was too hot for us.

But this topic has been discussed before. Maybe you can do a search for it. People will swear by the whatever-facing one they have. Do you mind heat? If not, maybe you would be fine with west-facing. But I found even our east-facing to be too hot in the dog days of summer. I'm from the north, though.

[billethkid]

Buy the house you want.
All other issues can be remedied in one way or another. West facing lanai/bird cage? Too many options to mitigate the sun (IF needed at all).
Don't pass up the house you want because of it.

[Chi-Town]

A west facing lanai would be a plus if there were extended sunset views. Not too many of those here though.

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

[tophcfa]

Our birdcage and pool face west and we love it. Great free solar heat for the pool, we can lounge in the sun by the pool, and the sunsets over the preserve behind our house are spectacular. Obviously a birdcage is different than a lanai and I suspect it would get very hot in an enclosed space during the summer.

[graciegirl]

We have a west facing lanai with birdcage and pool. The sun warms our pool and the sunsets are lovely. We did keep the entire birdcage with screens open to ground level to take advantage of air movement. For about two hours a day we get direct sunlight on the roofed part of the lanai and we have sun screens that roll down and fans.

We love it. Buy the house you love and if you have questions give us a call, we would love to show you our lanai in the evening hours.

[Mleeja]

We have a west facing lanai. It is enclosed with windows. We have awnings over the windows that keeps out the direct sunlight. I will admit, it will get hot in the summer. However, if we are entertaining we can close the windows and open the sliders from the house to keep it cool. However, most of the time keeping the windows open and the ceiling fan going keeps the lanai comfortable.

My picture is our west facing lanai.

[vintageogauge]

Ours is facing North of West and our model has a bedroom wall at one end so we get half shade and had sun late in the day, enjoyed it most of the hot season last summer with no real problems. The worst part is it's hard to wash a car in the front of our home in the morning as there is no shade on the was side until after 12:00 and then it gets hot. I wanted an east facing lanai but when we found the house we wanted, also in Fenney, it didn't really matter.

[fw102807]

Buy the house you want.
All other issues can be remedied in one way or another. West facing lanai/bird cage? Too many options to mitigate the sun (IF needed at all).
Don't pass up the house you want because of it.

I agree, we have a west facing lanai and do not consider it a problem.

[Packer Fan]

So if I get this thread correctly, it seems to run like just about any other thread -

People who have west facing Lanais say they are not a problem, or the problems are minor and easily dealt with

The people who do NOT have west facing Lanais say they are the scourge of existence in TV, and should be avoided at all costs.

HMMMMM Wonder who we should listen to?

[crabbyannie1]

We have a south facing lanai with a corner of it facing west, in our house in Charlotte. We haven't sat outside in 5 years, and we've lived here 6. We are going to enclose it and put in a/c. It's too hot, as is our west-facing master bedroom. It's brutal May - early October.

[I Tango]

In our case we would've preferred a non-west facing lanai; however, TV was offering a reduced price that was too good to pass up on our Fenney courtyard villa. So we bought the villa and we'll just have to figure out the lanai as we go. Glad we did because our same courtyard model we bought cost almost $40,000 more in the next courtyard villa neighborhood they built (new villa had a few changes, but not $40,000 worth of changes.) Guess we'll have to use some of the savings to do something with the lanai if needed.

I think you can have the best intentions of the things you want when buying your home, but sometimes other circumstances come into play that you didn't plan on such as for us TV reducing the price of the villa we bought. You just have to decide what you can absolutely live with or without.

[fw102807]

I think a lot of it also depends on how much you like or hate the heat. For some no matter which way their lanai faced they still would think it is too hot. We don't mind the heat.

[VillageIdiots]

Thanks for all of the replies. Yes, I expected those with West facing Lanai's to mostly be in favor of them or at least say not a big deal, but that's okay. I know it's like asking which Village is the best. We are not bothered by heat and we love sunsets. This home is on a view site with water behind it, so the distance to the homes across the pond provide for a good view of the sunset in the evening without obstruction by another home.

[tomwed]

With an east facing lanai you can sit on the screened in porch in the morning and get fresh air and warmed up. In the afternoon, fresh air and you can see a laptop screen because the sun is not in your eyes.

If money is no object you can change anything. I wonder if orientation changes the value of the lot.

Spend a morning and afternoon at the house you are considering. If that's not possible go to a square and sit outside facing east in the morning and west in the afternoon one day and the opposite the next. Get a newspaper and coffee. It would be a shame to spend $200 - 350k and then find out.

I know we have an electrician that really knows about energy. If you are reading this thread can you comment on orientation and energy? All things being equal do utility bills vary by orientation?

[graciegirl]

With an east facing lanai you can sit on the screened in porch in the morning and get fresh air and warmed up. In the afternoon, fresh air and you can see a laptop screen because the sun is not in your eyes.

If money is no object you can change anything. I wonder if orientation changes the value of the lot.

Spend a morning and afternoon at the house you are considering. If that's not possible go to a square and sit outside facing east in the morning and west in the afternoon one day and the opposite the next. Get a newspaper and coffee. It would be a shame to spend $200 - 350k and then find out.

I know we have an electrician that really knows about energy. If you are reading this thread can you comment on orientation and energy? All things being equal do utility bills vary by orientation?

Tom. I would think that each home gets the same amount of sunlight every day whether it faces east or west or north or south it still gets hottest air around it in the afternoon and evening, unless you think the homes on the sides of it shade it significantly or the mostly glass lanai doors would impact the heat intake a lot.

[Cobh521]

We have a west facing lanai and we love it. Sure it gets warm at times but we have a ceiling fan and shades. We can see out but people cannot see in. Our lanai is not enclosed

[perrjojo]

We are from Texas and swore we would never consider a West lanai...guesswhat? Our perfect house has a west facing lanai. We love breakfast on the lanai and the backyard is shaded til about noon. We live here full time and our winter West lanai is great. In the summer we love having cocktails on our front porch.

[Inexes@aol.com]

Those who are responding to the query intelligently are taking into consideration the rising and setting sun and the difference between the suns location in the winter vs summer. And I have found the answers to be very informative. We built our home with the orientation based specifically on these facts. It has nothing to do with the houses next to us.

[JSR22]

Those who are responding to the query intelligently are taking into consideration the rising and setting sun and the difference between the suns location in the winter vs summer. And I have found the answers to be very informative. We built our home with the orientation based specifically on these facts. It has nothing to do with the houses next to us.

We bought our home because of the orientation. Front faces North and the back South.

[tomwed]

I keep an outdoor thermometer in my garage and moved it around.. At 5pm it read 83 in the east facing lanai and 88 in the front of the house.

I don't feel like reading all this now but if I was buying a house I would.
http://www.fsec.ucf.edu/en/publications/html/FSEC-gp-33-88/Energy-Efficient%20Florida%20Home%20Building%20Manual.pdf

Energy-Efficient
Florida Home Building

© Florida Solar Energy Center/University of Central Florida
1679 Clearlake Road, Cocoa, Florida 32922, USA

[tom_sjc]

For about two hours a day we get direct sunlight on the roofed part of the lanai and we have sun screens that roll down and fans.


Curious about your sun screens, are they installed between the lanai and birdcage? Hard to see where they are in your picture.

Thanks

[8notes]

I agree with those that commented on the heat of west facing lanai's. In the hot sun, the temperatures in the summer can easily be near 100 degrees. You can't imagine how hot and uncomfortable it would be to sit in such heat. Plus, late in the day, the sun is shining directly into your face. People we know that have that orientation either only use the lanai in the morning, or enclose it so they can have it air conditioned. And it may be a consideration as far as resale value as well. Many people in the know look for a north or east facing lanai when they are house shopping.

[jojo]

Another happy Villager with a west-facing lanai with large bird cage. Fantastic sunsets. Great for pool. We eat almost all of our meals outside with exception of cold, windy days and just a few hot days in summer. The fans in the lanai keep it comfortable most afternoons. I will admit that I much prefer heat to any cold.

[dsnrbec]

We’ve had 2 homes with west facing lanais. The first had great shade from strategically placed trees/shrubs and the second one has solar shades. We have loved both and would never let it stop us from purchasing a home that had everything else going for it. The sunsets here are spectacular!

[rustyp]

People who own west facing lanai's will swear to not making a mistake until after the house is sold. So many people love the summer heat and humidity. But then again don't they keep telling me how it is like staying inside for the winter in the north ? If you have money to burn - no problem. You will get it enclosed and air conditioned. Perhaps others who have gone this route can tell you how much this cost.

[graciegirl]

People who own west facing lanai's will swear to not making a mistake until after the house is sold. So many people love the summer heat and humidity. But then again don't they keep telling me how it is like staying inside for the winter in the north ? If you have money to burn - no problem. You will get it enclosed and air conditioned. Perhaps others who have gone this route can tell you how much this cost.

This is our second west facing lanai in The Villages. The first was in Hadley.

[Sgroemm]

I asked this question of lanais when I was buying also.....so many different pieces of advice. I ended up with a south facing lanai....no complaints. I get indirect sunlight all morning and early afternoon. Then in the late day after 4, I get a little sun coming in the right side which happens to be where the door is.....never caused me a problem. Temperature is always comfortable. Ask your realtor if you can visit the house you are interested in early and then again late in the day...see where the sun shines and note the heat you feel. You probably won't sit out there in July and August in the 10-2 hours of the day, no matter what direction it faces. Its too hot here in those months to leave the A/C or the pool!

[rustyp]

This is our second west facing lanai in The Villages. The first was in Hadley.

I tried to delete my post in missing lanai and move it here but you beat me to it. Unless I missed something your lanai has a pool. Not to many indoor polls around here. But again thanks for the dinner offer but I live in paradise for the summer and consider TV my second best purchase I ever made.

[tomwed]

but I live in paradise for the summer and consider TV my second best purchase I ever made.
v=ccZ317-05mE

[graciegirl]

I tried to delete my post in missing lanai and move it here but you beat me to it. Unless I missed something your lanai has a pool. Not to many indoor polls around here. But again thanks for the dinner offer but I live in paradise for the summer and consider TV my second best purchase I ever made.

Not indoor pool. I consider "lanai" to mean a "screened in porch" in Florida. Do you think of it as a closed in room? I thought that was called a "Florida room".

[rjm1cc]

I went East side for the same reason.
One problem is the angle of the sun. It might shine directly into your eyes for a little while as it sets.
If you find a home with one facing west sit there for a few hours and see how you like it. But remember the angle of the sun changes each day so this night not help.

[patfla06]

We have an East facing lanai and love it.
Gets very hot in the Summer so we enclosed and put heat & air in it.

I think every house can have something you need to compromise on. We only wanted a 4 bedroom house with a view and that’s what we bought. Had to compromise on a couple of things we didn’t get.

Our neighbors across the lake are West facing but they got a great view.

No house is perfect so just decide what you can and can’t
compromise on.

Good luck!

[rustyp]

Not indoor pool. I consider "lanai" to mean a "screened in porch" in Florida. Do you think of it as a closed in room? I thought that was called a "Florida room".

I'm referring to your house. Do you have a seperate lanai away from your pool that faces west or is the pool part of the lanai ? I understand why people would want a west facing lanai if it has a pool as previously discussed here. My lanai faces north and it is now a florida room because I can't handle heat. I then built an outdoor covered patio attached to enclosed lanai (florida room). Even facing north there are many times it is too hot for me to sit out there even with ceiling fans. I am trying to answer the original question pointing out that human nature is such that many people find it hard to admit to making a mistake when they make a major purchase. To convert that west facing lanai to a climate controlled florida room takes a bundle of cash. Make sure you love heat.

[Jdmiata]

Consider this.......
The front of my home faces west. In the summertime the door handle gets so hot you can’t touch it.That’s hot hot it gets.
You’ll need some shading if you want to use the lanai in the afternoon.

[VApeople]

We have a Laurel Oak with a large lanai (52 by 16) that faces directly west and we love it.

As to be expected, we gets shade all morning long as we sit in our lanai and enjoy our coffee. If the sun is too harsh in the afternoon, we pull down the shades which block the sun very effectively. In the evening, my wife and I have a contest to see who can be the first one to spot Venus. We also enjoy watching the sunsets.

We have been in our house for 1.5 years. I can't imagine us ever wanting to enclose our beautiful lanai.

[tomwed]

Maybe this is only my idea of what the difference is between a lanai and screened in porch.

If you sitting and looking straight ahead and see a screen, then look up and see a screen it's a lanai.

If there is a ceiling, it's screened in porch.

[8notes]

We have an East facing lanai and love it.
Gets very hot in the Summer so we enclosed and put heat & air in it.

I think every house can have something you need to compromise on. We only wanted a 4 bedroom house with a view and that’s what we bought. Had to compromise on a couple of things we didn’t get.

Our neighbors across the lake are West facing but they got a great view.

No house is perfect so just decide what you can and can’t
compromise on.

Good luck!

The thing with the view, is if you are facing the west, it is so unbearably hot in the summer you will need to pull shades down or somehow protect yourself from the direct sun. Consequently you won't see the view. And one more point - the concrete decking in the lanai will heat up tremendously and act like a heat sink during the day if the sun is shining on it. Even if you pull down the shades at 4:00 pm say, so you can sit outside, it will still be hotter than the east facing lanai that was in the shade all afternoon. Lastly, if you look at ads for pre-owned homes, the ads will feature "east facing lanai" if one is available, because it is an obvious selling point.

[rustyp]

Maybe this is only my idea of what the difference is between a lanai and screened in porch.

If you sitting and looking straight ahead and see a screen, then look up and see a screen it's a lanai.

If there is a ceiling, it's screened in porch.

If you sitting and looking straight ahead and see a screen, then look up and see a screen you are probably a parrot.

[Marathon Man]

If you sitting and looking straight ahead and see a screen, then look up and see a screen you are probably a parrot.

:a20:

[fw102807]

Maybe this is only my idea of what the difference is between a lanai and screened in porch.

If you sitting and looking straight ahead and see a screen, then look up and see a screen it's a lanai.

If there is a ceiling, it's screened in porch.

If you look up and see a screen it is a birdcage. A lanai is a screened porch where the screen goes all the way down to the floor.

[VApeople]

If you look up and see a screen it is a birdcage. A lanai is a screened porch where the screen goes all the way down to the floor.

Yes, that is exactly how we understand it.

We love sitting in our lanai when it is raining.

[EnglishJW]

A west facing lanai would be a plus if there were extended sunset views. Not too many of those here though.

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

We have a Gardenia with a west facing lanai. We can sit in our breakfast nook (which is in the front side of the house) and enjoy the early morning sun. We eat outside on the lanai for most other meals at home. The sunsets are wonderful. Heat is indeed an issue (isn't it everywhere in the peak summer?). We installed solar shades (yes, you still can see out and you still have a view). If you get a home with a west facing lanai, there are things to consider that you might not have to deal with otherwise. If there is no particular benefit to facing west (such as an open view for the sunsets or a pond or praire or golf course to see), it probably isn't an orientation to look for. If you find a home you love with a west facing lanai (as someone here said above), buy the house and decide if you need solar shades, an awning, or to enclose it with glass.

[CFrance]

If you sitting and looking straight ahead and see a screen, then look up and see a screen you are probably a parrot.
:laugh::laugh::laugh: That's funny!

[tomwed]

If you look up and see a screen it is a birdcage. A lanai is a screened porch where the screen goes all the way down to the floor.I forgot the word birdcage. I'm loosing it

[markos]

In our 3rd home with a S or W facing lanai (2 in S FL) - beautiful views & breezes with all 3 - we love them all. Master on W also means no early sun if you like to sleep in. OH born so opinion of another worthless nut...

[joldnol]

over blown

[fw102807]

over blown

Ding, ding,ding...you will the prize for the most straightforward answer to the post. :BigApplause:

[fw102807]

I forgot the word birdcage. I'm loosing it

You must have changed rooms and gone through a doorway :icon_wink:

[manaboutown]

Consider this.......
The front of my home faces west. In the summertime the door handle gets so hot you can’t touch it.That’s hot hot it gets.
You’ll need some shading if you want to use the lanai in the afternoon.

I prefer a more or less north facing lanai to minimize the heat which builds up throughout the day. Yet I love to watch beautiful sunsets over a body of water or a golf course fairway so...

Having lived in a few sunny localities I would not want a house with a west facing window over my kitchen sink. One of my aunts had that in her San Diego home and the late afternoon sun was tough to deal with streaming through the window as she was preparing dinner.

[TheWarriors]

:bigbow::bigbow:Buy the house you want.
All other issues can be remedied in one way or another. West facing lanai/bird cage? Too many options to mitigate the sun (IF needed at all).
Don't pass up the house you want because of it.

[rockyisle]

We love our West facing Lanai. Yes we've enclosed it with sliders on three sides. Today we have them wide open. Love those sunsets. I love the versatility of the enclosed Lanai. It's the best of all worlds. Enjoy the hunt for your new home. Welcome.

[patfla06]

The thing with the view, is if you are facing the west, it is so unbearably hot in the summer you will need to pull shades down or somehow protect yourself from the direct sun. Consequently you won't see the view. And one more point - the concrete decking in the lanai will heat up tremendously and act like a heat sink during the day if the sun is shining on it. Even if you pull down the shades at 4:00 pm say, so you can sit outside, it will still be hotter than the east facing lanai that was in the shade all afternoon. Lastly, if you look at ads for pre-owned homes, the ads will feature "east facing lanai" if one is available, because it is an obvious selling point.

That’s good for us.
A lot of our west facing neighbors put in pools so my guess is they like their west facing house.
(Not that I ever see anyone in those pools 😉)

[ColdNoMore]

So if I get this thread correctly, it seems to run like just about any other thread -

People who have west facing Lanais say they are not a problem, or the problems are minor and easily dealt with

The people who do NOT have west facing Lanais say they are the scourge of existence in TV, and should be avoided at all costs.

HMMMMM Wonder who we should listen to?

Well, let me give you a perspective...from someone who has both. :ho:

I have a wrap-around lanai of which part faces west...and part faces north.

Even with blinds, the west facing portion is almost uninhabitable during the summer due to the heat...and the north portion is plenty warm with even the fan going.

If I had a choice, I would have preferred the entire lanai facing north...and a south facing front of the house (which I have).

[ColdNoMore]

The thing with the view, is if you are facing the west, it is so unbearably hot in the summer you will need to pull shades down or somehow protect yourself from the direct sun. Consequently you won't see the view. And one more point - the concrete decking in the lanai will heat up tremendously and act like a heat sink during the day if the sun is shining on it. Even if you pull down the shades at 4:00 pm say, so you can sit outside, it will still be hotter than the east facing lanai that was in the shade all afternoon. Lastly, if you look at ads for pre-owned homes, the ads will feature "east facing lanai" if one is available, because it is an obvious selling point.

Yep.

[CSilvestrucci]

I have had 2 west facing lanais here inTV. I prefer them and enjoy beautiful sunsets 🤗

[8notes]

Well, let me give you a perspective...from someone who has both. :ho:

I have a wrap-around lanai of which part faces west...and part faces north.

Even with blinds, the west facing portion is almost uninhabitable during the summer due to the heat...and the north portion is plenty warm with even the fan going.

If I had a choice, I would have preferred the entire lanai facing north...and a south facing front of the house (which I have).

I agree. I guess it depends on a person's preferences as far as heat. Judging by the responses, some people like sitting outside in in the sun in 100 degree heat in the summer watching the sunset. Good for them. And many people don't. Our neighbors across the street had a west facing lanai, and sold the house because of it. She said it was something she hadn't thought of when they purchased, and it was just brutal out there in the afternoon sun. This is a link to an article about Florida lanai's that may be helpful: What’s up with a Lanai? | New Floridians (http://newfloridians.com/florida-living/whats-up-with-a-lanai)

[Wiotte]

Having come from the oft mentioned east facing lanai which btw was unbearably hot in the summer we now have a NW facing which should be hot but isn’t. Is actually pleasant during the hottest days. What’s the difference ? The depth of the lanai is 6’ wider, is fully open on three sides, is not situated within ally like backyards. We benefit from any breeze and the sun never reaches the rear block wall to radiate back heat.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[fw102807]

Having come from the oft mentioned east facing lanai which btw was unbearably hot in the summer we now have a NW facing which should be hot but isn’t. Is actually pleasant during the hottest days. What’s the difference ? The depth of the lanai is 6’ wider, is fully open on three sides, is not situated within ally like backyards. We benefit from any breeze and the sun never reaches the rear block wall to radiate back heat.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Good point, it does depend a lot on how it is constructed. Ours also is open on 3 sides and has space on all 3 sides for air movement. We also have a large ceiling fan which moves the air.

[graciegirl]

There are many things to consider when building or buying a house here in The Villages. When we were looking for a homesite here, the second time, we had chosen a model that was a bit wider than others and could only be situated on certain lots that were available at the time. All of the view lots in The Village that they were building in at that time had been snapped up in seven hours. This lot has a pretty good view between houses of the golf course and the sunset. We had a west facing lanai before in Hadley so we were aware it was gonna be hot in the afternoon evening. We purchased and built and bought Coolaroo Sun shades that cut down on the heat and you can see through but it is still hot in July, August and September, but now we have a pool and it is doable. We have thought about trying to install an awning inside the birdcage to block the sun, but can't think of an attractive way to do it. So we focus on all of the pluses of our home and don't use the back yard during the hottest part of the day. We have a front porch we can use at that time.

Compared with other challenges in life the west facing lanai isn't too big a deal in the scheme of things.

[asianthree]

It really depends on the person. Our first house had north facing lanai, while still warm in the summer, it was cold during January February March. Second house the same, however had burm planted and helped with the cold.

Third house has southern facing lanai, with birdcage at east side. During summer months our grands and other half sit in the birdcage with full sun, any time of the day. I on the other hand hate the heat, and only sit in the lanai and bird cage in fall, and winter. We will be adding some type of shade this year.

[FenneyGuy]

I have had 2 west facing lanais here inTV. I prefer them and enjoy beautiful sunsets 🤗

Exactly.

[GoodLife]

Judging by the responses, some people like sitting outside in in the sun in 100 degree heat in the summer watching the sunset.

Nobody is watching sunsets in 100 degree heat from their west facing lanais.

Here is a temp graph for TV on July 19, 2017.

74843

As you can see in the top graph, highs for the day were in low 90s which lasted from 1 to 6 pm. Sunset was at 8:23pm. By Prime sunset watching time of 8pm, temp was down to a pleasant 75 degrees. Typical summer temps are at their peak from 1 to 6 pm, during that time you deploy solar screens on west facing lanais which you can lift when sunset time arrives.

[biker1]

July 19 was a poor day to pick if you are trying to make the point that 75F is typical at sunset. It appears that a gust front came through before some rain that started at about 8:30, which dropped the temperature significantly. I can show you numerous days during the summer where the temperature is in the mid to upper 80s (F) at 8:30PM. Also, temperatures rarely get to 100F here. Also, there is something wrong with your graph as it shows a constant 87F for 5 hours. The high for that day appears to be around 92F at about 5:30 but had also dropped to about 86F at 4:00 (depends on your exact location).

Nobody is watching sunsets in 100 degree heat from their west facing lanais.

Here is a temp graph for TV on July 19, 2017.

74843

As you can see in the top graph, highs for the day were in low 90s which lasted from 1 to 6 pm. Sunset was at 8:23pm. By Prime sunset watching time of 8pm, temp was down to a pleasant 75 degrees. Typical summer temps are at their peak from 1 to 6 pm, during that time you deploy solar screens on west facing lanais which you can lift when sunset time arrives.

[rustyp]

Nobody is watching sunsets in 100 degree heat from their west facing lanais.

Here is a temp graph for TV on July 19, 2017.

74843

As you can see in the top graph, highs for the day were in low 90s which lasted from 1 to 6 pm. Sunset was at 8:23pm. By Prime sunset watching time of 8pm, temp was down to a pleasant 75 degrees. Typical summer temps are at their peak from 1 to 6 pm, during that time you deploy solar screens on west facing lanais which you can lift when sunset time arrives.

To show a temperature graph without a humidity graph Vs how hot do you feel is almost meaningless. I will illustrate. We used to environmentally test our products for certification worldwide. Three zones are pretty much considered within normal ranges for to get the certification
1- standard = 72 degrees F and 45% relative humidity
2- cool = 60 degrees F 20% rh
3- hot = 80 degrees F 80 % rh
We had operators paid to run the equipment usually in 10 - 12 hour shifts. When at 80/80 the operators got paid a differential like shift workers would get paid for a night shift.
90 degrees F 10% rh is very comfortable 90 degrees F 90% rh unbearable to me.

[fw102807]

When it's 100 degrees it is hot no matter which way your lanai faces

[New Englander]

When it's 100 degrees it is hot no matter which way your lanai faces

Bingo!!! :pepper2:

[manaboutown]

To show a temperature graph without a humidity graph Vs how hot do you feel is almost meaningless. I will illustrate. We used to environmentally test our products for certification worldwide. Three zones are pretty much considered within normal ranges for to get the certification
1- standard = 72 degrees F and 45% relative humidity
2- cool = 60 degrees F 20% rh
3- hot = 80 degrees F 80 % rh
We had operators paid to run the equipment usually in 10 - 12 hour shifts. When at 80/80 the operators got paid a differential like shift workers would get paid for a night shift.
90 degrees F 10% rh is very comfortable 90 degrees F 90% rh unbearable to me.

:agree:

Humidity plays a huge role in how hot it feels. Heat Index (https://www.weather.gov/arx/heat_index)

[EnglishJW]

When it's 100 degrees it is hot no matter which way your lanai faces

This is a point I attempted to make earlier. I completely agree.

[tomwed]

A house is a big investment. Find a street that is north and south. Walk down the street and look down the row of houses and the lanais in the back will be facing east and west. See which ones have more enclosed lanais or if they are equal. Let us know what you find out.

[rustyp]

A house is a big investment. Find a street that is north and south. Walk down the street and look down the row of houses and the lanais in the back will be facing east and west. See which ones have more enclosed lanais or if they are equal. Let us know what you find out.

I did the walk. l looked down the row. I found the west facing lanai cousins - kissing lanais.

[fw102807]

I did the walk. l looked down the row. I found the west facing lanai cousins - kissing lanais.

This is an entirely different issue than whether they face east or west. We have a CYV so it does not come into play at all.

[tomwed]

This is an entirely different issue than whether they face east or west. We have a CYV so it does not come into play at all. Do owners enclose lanai's on a CYV?

[JSR22]

Do owners enclose lanai's on a CYV?

I know a number of people who enclosed CYV lanais.

[tuccillo]

Relative humidity is not a very useful measure because of it's temperature dependency. Dewpoint is a much better quantity to work with. 90 and 90% relative humidity is not common as it translates to a dew point of 87, which is pretty rare (at least around here). Dewpoint is a measure of the actual amount of evaporated water in the air. Relative humidity is "relative" to the maximum amount of water vapor that the air can hold and has an exponential relationship to temperature.

For example, 95F with a relative humidity of 50% doesn't sound too bad but it is actually very miserable with a dewpoint of 76F. 70F with 90% relative humidity is pretty comfortable because the dewpoint is in the mid 60s.

Dewpoints above 75F: pretty muggy
Dewpoint below 50F: very comfortable


To show a temperature graph without a humidity graph Vs how hot do you feel is almost meaningless. I will illustrate. We used to environmentally test our products for certification worldwide. Three zones are pretty much considered within normal ranges for to get the certification
1- standard = 72 degrees F and 45% relative humidity
2- cool = 60 degrees F 20% rh
3- hot = 80 degrees F 80 % rh
We had operators paid to run the equipment usually in 10 - 12 hour shifts. When at 80/80 the operators got paid a differential like shift workers would get paid for a night shift.
90 degrees F 10% rh is very comfortable 90 degrees F 90% rh unbearable to me.

[tomwed]

I know a number of people who enclosed CYV lanais.Would you know in what direction the lanais face? I have a theory.

[rustyp]

Relative humidity is not a very useful measure because of it's temperature dependency. Dewpoint is a much better quantity to work with. 90 and 90% relative humidity is not common as it translates to a dew point of 87, which is pretty rare (at least around here). Dewpoint is a measure of the actual amount of evaporated water in the air. Relative humidity is "relative" to the maximum amount of water vapor that the air can hold and has an exponential relationship to temperature.

For example, 95F with a relative humidity of 50% doesn't sound too bad but it is actually very miserable with a dewpoint of 76F. 70F with 90% relative humidity is pretty comfortable because the dewpoint is in the mid 60s.

Dewpoints above 75F: pretty muggy
Dewpoint below 50F: very comfortable

////

[fw102807]

We had friends with a 2 br CYV who enclosed their lanai because they needed the extra room, I am not sure what direction it faced. We have a west facing lanai that we just expanded.

[JSR22]

Would you know in what direction the lanais face? I have a theory.

Interesting! South and West

[tuccillo]

As I stated, this combination is rare as it translates to a dewpoint of 87 (which is rare, as the sort of density stratification that this causes is very conducive to thunderstorms in the absence of a strong capping inversion). We occasionally will hit dew points in the low 80s but dew points in the upper 80s occurs in a limited number of locations around the world.

Full disclosure: undergraduate and graduate degrees in atmospheric science, developer of numerical weather prediction models for NASA and the National Weather Service.

As stated in my post 90 degrees F and 90% RH =RELATIVE HUMIDITY.

[fw102807]

As I stated, this combination is rare as it translates to a dewpoint of 87 (which is rare, as the sort of density stratification that this causes is very conducive to thunderstorms in the absence of a strong capping inversion). We occasionally will hit dew points in the low 80s but dew points in the upper 80 occurs in a limited number of locations around the world.

Full disclosure: undergraduate and graduate degrees in atmospheric science, developer of numerical weather prediction models for NASA and the National Weather Service.

And in this scenario an east facing lanai would be just as uncomfortable as a west facing lanai.

[tuccillo]

Except for the case of a westward facing lanai where the sun is shining directly on you. In that case it would be even more miserable ;-). I have lived in the south for 25 years and have only owned homes with east or northeast facing lanias (by design).

And in this scenario an east facing lanai would be just as uncomfortable as a west facing lanai.

[fw102807]

Except for the case of a westward facing lanai where the sun is shining directly on you ;-)

Touche! On those days I am sure I will just stay in my air-conditioned rooms and enjoy my lanai on another day.

[tuccillo]

Bingo, AC is good! We have 6 months of terrific weather and 6 months of "AC weather".

Touche! On those days I am sure I will just stay in my air-conditioned rooms and enjoy my lanai on another day.

[rustyp]

As I stated, this combination is rare as it translates to a dewpoint of 87 (which is rare, as the sort of density stratification that this causes is very conducive to thunderstorms in the absence of a strong capping inversion). We occasionally will hit dew points in the low 80s but dew points in the upper 80s occurs in a limited number of locations around the world.

Full disclosure: undergraduate and graduate degrees in atmospheric science, developer of numerical weather prediction models for NASA and the National Weather Service.

Yes I have relied heavily on your NASA weather models to determine if I needed to wear a jacket when it was 90 degree 90 % RH outside. (that was a joke - I understand your obsession with technical accuracy being an anal engineer myself). No weather degrees under my belt but I did stay at a Holiday Inn once.

[tuccillo]

NASA doesn't run operational weather models to support daily forecasting. The National Weather Service does. Just trying to educate you a bit - it looks like I failed. Par for the course on TOTV ;-)

Yes I have relied heavily on your NASA weather models to determine if I needed to wear a jacket when it was 90 degree 90 % RH outside. (that was a joke - I understand your obsession with technical accuracy being an anal engineer myself). No weather degrees under my belt but I did stay at a Holiday Inn once.