[swimdawg]

I am thinking of enclosing my lanai using glass sliders. I am wondering if those of you who have had it done could tell me the pros and cons. And those of you who considered it but decided against it... might tell me why. I would have HVAC out there.

[angiefox10]

For you to do it!!!

You go first... If it works for you... Then, I'll do it!

[jane032657]

We are in the process of doing it. We are also putting in windows. We have to get a permit. Make sure your HVAC is big enough to handle the extra room. And you may need insulation as well. We are also raising the lanai floor to be flush with the kitchen so it looks like another room meant to be there and not a change of room.

[getdul981]

Food for Thought!! I have a neighbor that just enclosed his lanai. They did it with French Doors all the way around. Looks great! I believe he told me that he did not have HVAC out there, because it would raise the property taxes. If you do not have heat and AC routed out there, they don't consider it living space, and don't increase you taxes. He told me he was going to use a portable heating and AC unit to heat and cool that area.

Again, I'm not exactly sure about this, but if taxes are of a concern to you, you might want to consider this.

[LittleDog]

Originally Posted by jane032657

We are in the process of doing it. We are also putting in windows. We have to get a permit. Make sure your HVAC is big enough to handle the extra room. And you may need insulation as well. We are also raising the lanai floor to be flush with the kitchen so it looks like another room meant to be there and not a change of room.

I believe that once you raise the floor you will be taxed for the extra room. We didn't do that for that reason. Also we had a Mitsubishi HVAC installed on the wall there and it works great for both heat and air. We did not install extra insulation.

John

[villages07]

We are finishing up a similar project right now. We went with full length, low-E, glass sliders. We already had a birdcage so didn't need to put any box screens on the sliders.

Pros: Low-E is better at retaining warmth in winter and theoretically keeping out too much heat in summer. Will certainly keep the lanai cleaner. Glass is also a better sound insulator...when all doors are closed it is very quiet and peaceful inside. It does echo inside. We did triple track stackable sliders so that we can open up in the summertime and preserve our view. But, even though the doors are lightlly tinted, our view is still nice with them closed.
Some vendors said they could not do a full length acrylic door...it would have to have a bar somewhere in the middle or void the warranty. That was one of the tipping points to going glass.

Cons: Glass is more expensive than acrylic. The area does feel a little more closed in. Time will tell if summer heat is better or worse with the glass (open or closed). We did not elect to do heat and A/C. I did use a space heater on a chilly morning.

Get several estimates.... costs we got were all over the map.

So far, I am really liking having the lanai enclosed and we resisted doing this for 5 years because we like being 'outside'.

[jane032657]

We are also doing the low E Glass stackable sliders as well as glass windows on one short wall that will open. We are using the HVAC from the house as we were told it can handle the extra room. We are having it wired for cable tv as well.
The reason we raised the floor as we wanted there to be a flow from the kitchen (we have a CYV in the new Haciendas at Mission Hills) to the Florida Room so it did not appear "added". We are taking out the glass slider from the kithen which goes out on to the lanai. We are also putting brazilian wood floors throughout including the lanai (Florida Room to be) except in the kitchen area, laundry room and bathrooms.
It is amazing how much money you can spend when you buy a new place and then try to make it more of what you want. We had all the new carpet taken out immediately. We also had window trim done and ordered more cupboards for the laundry room to match the rest. Two cupbaords above the washer and dryer are $855. I thought that was very pricey but it is the company who installed the rest in the villa and they will match.
We bought the villa for the magnificent views on two sides as it is a corner end villa and the huge back yard. We have two dogs. The view of all the villas on the water side are breath taking and the sunsets magnificent.
Ugh.

[LittleDog]

Originally Posted by jane032657

We are also doing the low E Glass stackable sliders as well as glass windows on one short wall that will open. We are using the HVAC from the house as we were told it can handle the extra room. We are having it wired for cable tv as well.
The reason we raised the floor as we wanted there to be a flow from the kitchen (we have a CYV in the new Haciendas at Mission Hills) to the Florida Room so it did not appear "added". We are taking out the glass slider from the kithen which goes out on to the lanai. We are also putting brazilian wood floors throughout including the lanai (Florida Room to be) except in the kitchen area, laundry room and bathrooms.
It is amazing how much money you can spend when you buy a new place and then try to make it more of what you want. We had all the new carpet taken out immediately. We also had window trim done and ordered more cupboards for the laundry room to match the rest. Two cupbaords above the washer and dryer are $855. I thought that was very pricey but it is the company who installed the rest in the villa and they will match.
We bought the villa for the magnificent views on two sides as it is a corner end villa and the huge back yard. We have two dogs. The view of all the villas on the water side are breath taking and the sunsets magnificent.
Ugh.

We have our carpeting cleaned periodically and the cleaners thought it was pretty good carpeting which surprised me. It still looks good after 6 plus years.

John

[jane032657]

You probably do not have an English and Irish Setter...we only have wood floors in our house now too. When the dogs rule, white carpet just does not cut it!

[mac9]

Had our lanai enclosed last year with sliding glass doors all around (low E glass with argon). Also had the floor raised to meet the living area floors. Did not add any new HVAC. The room is extremely comfortable year round with no portable heater or AC. As for the taxes, we were informed by Sumter county that taxes would be affected only if separate HVAC were added. Raising the floor or having glass did not affect our taxes. At the same time, we had a golf cart garage added which DID affect our taxes. Work was done by T&D whom I would highly recommend. They were here when they said they would be and finished within 3 days of the projected date. We had to wait for county inspection which delayed it the three days. They were also very neat and clean and made some good suggestions while the work was in progress. All in all a good experience.

[laryb]

I was told by someone (can't remember who, after talking to so many people), that removing the existing slider and/or adding heat and air during the construction of the enclosure would increase the taxes. I was also told that removing the existing slider and/or adding heat and air after the enclosure was completed wouldn't affect your taxes, as it's your business what you do to the interior of your home. I am contemplating enclosing our lanai and will research this more before proceeding.

[Bill & Carolyn]

The difference is that, in case #1 when they get the permit it alerts the County to reappraise your property because you'll have more footage under hvac, in case #2 the permit doesn't show that the space enclosed will be under hvac so the County won't change your appraisal. Theoretically you are expected to tell them when you change your footage under hvac......

[Biancarose]

Hello, I want to have glass slider windows put in my linai. I have read about T & D and heard good things. Can you tell me their phone number and did they install your windows?

[Biancarose]

Who did your windows? I want to have glass slider installed in my linai too.

[CarGuys]

Originally Posted by jrheydt

I believe that once you raise the floor you will be taxed for the extra room. We didn't do that for that reason. Also we had a Mitsubishi HVAC installed on the wall there and it works great for both heat and air. We did not install extra insulation.

John

John would that unit work in a Garage that has insulated walls ceilings and a insulated foam core door? Just cusious. Or would the code not allow it? Anyone tried this.

Swindawg Im thinking those doors would work out just fine. Maybe you could get them with the better insulated and UV glass. Internal blinds?