A West-Facing House: What are the Pros and Cons?
Property purchases involve heavy investments, therefore, it is important to perform thorough research before spending your hard-earned money! People often save for a lifetime to buy the perfect household. It is a long-term investment and one needs to consider several factors before building or buying an already-constructed house. What should be the design and structure of the building? What is better- a west-facing or east-facing house? The questions are innumerable!
Heavy investments mean making well-informed decisions. You need to invest in the right place at the right time. It is important to consider factors like– how much sunlight is needed in the house? Where should the windows be placed? What construction materials are needed for construction? If the house is west-facing, is it feasible for me? What would be the advantages of residing in a west-facing home?
The concerns are never-ending, however, to help you make the right decisions, Agency21 International is here to guide you through one of your worries– Is a west-facing house good? What are the pros and cons involved?
West-Facing Houses
A house that has a front main door facing west is a west-facing house. If you are confused about whether your house is west-facing or not, you can easily find out by using a compass when you exit your main door.
A home’s orientation refers to its location or the direction in which it was constructed. Knowing which direction your house was built is simple, and can help you with making well-informed decisions.
You must be wondering– how does orientation affect the architecture of a house? The amount of light and heat that a home or apartment receives during the year is influenced by how frequently the earth revolves around its axis. The advantages and disadvantages of a west-facing home depend on the climate of the place one is residing.
Although west-facing houses can be advantageous depending on the climate in a certain location, people who live in hot climates might choose to construct west-facing homes so that sunlight only reaches the facade at dusk.
On the other hand, residents living in cooler areas can want a completely different orientation so that their homes receive the most sunlight and heat during the day to keep them warm.
There are always benefits and drawbacks to take into account with anything. Here, let’s look at whether west-facing houses are good or bad for residents.
Pros of Living in a West-Facing House
Here are a few pros of living in a west-facing house to see whether they are good for residents or not.
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Alluring Sunsets
If you have a thing for alluring sunsets, west-facing residences are right for you! You will have a clear view of the sunset with the rest of your family or friends. Barbeques and get-togethers will be adorned with a beautiful sunset background and light.
What is more appealing is that the front side of your house will continue to receive sunlight until the Sun entirely sets. The sun’s rays won’t be as intense as they are in the middle of the day, and the weather will be cooler as well.
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Early Morning Sunlight
What is better than having a beautiful view and early sunlight and that too in your own home? The back of the house i.e. the east-facing side house will get the sunlight at its earliest. The doors and windows at the back will welcome the earliest sight of light as soon as the Sun rises.
When we talk about whether the west-facing houses are good, this comes as a major advantage. The back of the house’s rooms (i.e. east-facing) will be full of light first thing in the morning. This is an advantage if you like to wake up to bright natural sunlight or if you want your favourite rooms to be lit up with the perfect light.
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Reduced Sunlight In The Front Rooms
If you are looking for reduced sunlight in the front rooms of your house, west-facing houses are the go-to. Reduced sunlight means reduced heat, thus the front rooms will be cooler than the rest.
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Better Use of Back Lawn
When you have an east-facing house, it is difficult to dry your laundry without having to display it to everyone in the front. However, when you have a west-facing house, you can easily use the backyard for drying out your laundry due to the access to sunlight. Your backyard can be used more efficiently even throughout the day if your house faces west.
Cons of Living in a West-Facing House
Here are a few cons of living in a west-facing house so you have your facts straight when making your purchase.
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Lack Of Sunlight
Sunlight brings with it heat, natural light, and a lot of other benefits like getting rid of germs, drying damp areas, and health benefits. West-facing houses are deprived of these benefits. The only natural way to get rid of germs in one’s home is through appropriate ventilation because the exposure to sunlight is less than in other house orientations.
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High Utility Bills
The way your house is positioned depicts how much sunlight it is exposed to. When developing a home with west orientation, keep in mind that your monthly utility costs will go up because you’ll need to utilise artificial lighting and heating. You will need to make a one-time investment, but you also need to budget for the house’s ongoing costs, which will undoubtedly rise.
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Not Beneficial For Cooler Climates
In winters, people prefer getting direct sunlight so that they can absorb the much-needed heat to feel warm and cosy. However, if you are residing in a west-facing house, and your room is situated on the front side of your home, it is important to know that the temperature will be colder on that particular side in comparison to other parts of the house.
It may get difficult for you to receive the warmth of the Sun, even during the daytime. Although there are many heating options available, we have to agree that there is nothing better than natural daylight coming into your room!
The Final Answer
We have stated the main advantages and disadvantages of having a west-facing house. However, the main question still prevails: is a west-facing house good or not? Well, the answer is completely up to you!
Depending on the area you reside in and the climate in your country, you would know better about your decision. Whether you require more or less sunlight in the front or back of your home, is your choice.
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