West facing lanai
 

We ended up buying a home in St Catherine with a west facing lanai, not our original intentions but did so because of several other factors.
Suggestions or comments? Our realtor suggested solar screens? We will be snow birds for awhile, not sure how impacted we will be by the setting sun. At least we can sit out there in the mornings!

Don't make a decision until you live there for at least a few months. A tempory solution could be a roll down curtain.

I would not go cheap. I would buy an electric automatic programmable screen to block out the afternoon sun on a regular schedule.

It will be brutal in the summer, but if you're snowbirds, probably not an issue right now.

Our house came with a western exposure and after living here a year decided to go with a Florida room with double pained glass.

Early was ok but in the summer too hot out there.

pergola

We're also building on a lot with a west facing lanai. Luckily it backs up to the preserve so as the sun gets lower it gets blocked by the trees. We spec'd out the darker/denser 20/20 screen for our birdcage. If that isn't enough we'll have roll down screens installed in the lanai openings.

We are originally from Texas. A south or west exposure is brutal. I swore we would not consider a western facing lanai. Guess what? We have a western facing lanai. I love mornings out there. In the summer we have a lovely east front porch where we enjoy evenings with a cocktail. Some one has to Live in the houses with a west lanai.. if you love the house you can make it work. It’s all about being adaptable and attitude. .

We have a west facing lanai. We installed screens that we can pull down manually.

We also had a patio built in the front of our house so we can sit outside in the evening.

We have a west facing lanai and motorized shades are the best money we've spent on this house. (CoolBreeze Screens) They work for sun control, wind control and even rain control unless it's blowing really hard. I was worried about the lanai direction, but the house had too many other plusses; now it's pretty much a non-issue.

Our west facing lanai has more positives than negatives. We love the views 24/7, added double pane glass (Custom Windows) and blinds, plus a mini split for the summer months. It's great! Good luck.

If you don't enclose it with double pane glass you won't be using it from mid-afternoon until sundown during the summer. Without the insulated glass if it's 95 outside it's going to be 95 or hotter on the lanai with shades and even hotter without. You will have an east facing garage, you won't believe how hot it will get in the garage as soon as the sun starts shining in early morning if you have your door opened. You will however really enjoy your west facing lanai in the mornings with coffee or tea and early afternoon. Your neighbors across the street will be just the opposite so it all depends on which half of the day you want to use your Lanai.

Great view!!

Great view!

Ours faces west as well, I would suggest getting a good blender and making up some frozen margaretas around sunset time.