Good post, plastic is not a sustainable or sensible building material. in 47 1/2 year our current house is the newest I've lived in having been built in '48. My old cottage was built in 1720 and made of rocks and trees, it'll still be there in another few hundred years, with a bit of care and...
I'm a draughtsman by trade, had to give it up though, my knees don't like it.
Our house front faces east and is well sheltered from most inclement weather, despite having a period 30's wooden/leaded light front door, my best suggestion would be to turn your house round.