[grfmus03]

Love our screened in lanai! So true that it gives us a great place to be without worrying about bugs. Most important is the direction the lanai faces. Most of the ones that face the west need shading or get enclosed because it can get so hot in the late afternoon. Ours faces SE in the morning so we can sit out and have breakfast in the sun and after sunset we enjoy using an app to spy into the night sky for constellations, etc. Again - the direction the lanai faces is so important!

[Jdasta]

We enclosed our lanai because we got tired of mildewed floors and furniture. And, we wanted more privacy. We can watch TV on lanai without disturbing our neighbors or hearing noise of neighbors on their screened lanais. Double-insulated, low e glass with sliding windows and screens and the mini HVAC. Can slide open the windows whenever we want. We keep our sliding doors open from house to lanai, and it makes the house seem so much more spacious. To us, an enclosed lanai is a must have.

[Jdasta]

Originally Posted by Woodbear

We are building new (design in 2 weeks) and have been told if we ever think of enclosing in the lanai, raise the lanai floor NOW in design. Would anyone see a negative in raising the floor and in turn maybe someday leaving it a screened space? Our plan was to enclose the lanai but use sliders to maintain ability to have screen. FYI, we are facing NW in the lanai.

If floor is raised and you then decide to enclose it, then you will have to pay more in taxes. You can call the property tax office, and they will tell you about the 3 classifications of rooms.

[Malsua]

Originally Posted by Villages Kahuna

Whichever you choose, make sure the lanai faces east. Facing west or southwest and you’ll bake every afternoon.

This. We own two villas. In one the Lanai faces south east and the other faces Northeast. The Northeast facing villa is great, quite usable most of the time. The other one is ok and can kinda cook a bit during the midday. I cannot imagine a southern or western facing one without AC.

[cj1040]

It depends on how close you back up to other houses, what direction the house faces, and your tolerance for warm weather. Example..we are on a pond so no worries about nearby conversations, and we chose to build with the lanai facing south so we avoid the direct morning and evening sun that facing west would have... very unpleasant. We have an open lanai and pool and would never want to enclose it...that is what the living room area is for! The fans on the lanai are enough if needed. I would say to mainly focus on AVOIDING a western facing lanai, followed by eastern facing to maximize enjoyment of the room. I have heard that replacing the screens with windows and adding a mini split are insanely expensive. If you buy a pre owned you can bargain if that is what you want.

[pattik]

My lanai faces east and we're able to use our open lanai year round. We have cieling fans that we use this time of year. If you face north or east you should be able to enjoy your lanai. However, if your lanai faces south or west you most likely would want to enclose your lanai and add a room air conditioner.

[OhioBuckeye]

Originally Posted by ComingfromCT

We are looking at preowned homes and we aren't sure if we would be OK with just a screened in lanai or if it needs to be enclosed. If it should be enclosed what should we be looking for? Some homes have nicely enclosed lanais but they are more expensive. Some say you need acrylic windows and some glass and .......... on and on.

Is there some good basic wisdom from you all?? I know everyone is different but is there any general consensus? I would think that due to the heat that we would need an enclosed lanai to be able to spend time out there most or all of the year. I know I sound like such a rookie but we really are perplexed. Thank you in advance!!

We had a Lilac Designer home & the Lanai’s are long but very narrow. When it rained water would be all the way to the Linai door going into the house. If it’s got a big Lanai personally I like the fresh air. If it’s like the one we had, put windows in. Just my opinion!

[WelchNH]

Everybody's opinion is right for them. I purchased my home in the Villages in 2017: the house was built in 2001. A previous owner had enclosed the lanai, removing the sliders for a double wide entry into the main house. It was then tiled, added double paned windows, added an additional wall cutout into the kitchen, and a separate Mitsubishi heat/AC added, and two ceiling fans added. The work was legally permited and I'm not sure how much it added to the taxes ( I don't think it was much). The finished lanai is about 9' x 29' and the room is south facing. Since the lanai is open to the house, I have never used the Mitsubishi unit, but rely solely on my home's current heating/ cooling system. On very warm days, I often run the fan over the chair I use for reading. I can open the windows or the back door (to which I added a screen door)- I rarely do so. In the front of my house, the entryway is fully screened with patio furniture I installed- I've never used it. I live alone, the total sq. ft. of my house (including the lanai) is 1650 sq. ft. I spend most of my time in the lanai area, where I have my reading section and a home office. I moved to TV from NH and wasn't used to A/C, but I find most weather in FL to need A/C in the hot months. This enclosed lanai was a primary factor in deciding to purchase this house. As I noted, the key criteria is what is (really) important to you. You're welcome to contact me if you want to see the house. Good luck and try to remember that the opinions of others are just their opinions and may not be relevant to your needs.

[Jawskid6044]

We have had both glass & acrylic. Glass is much better if you’re going to add a mini-split. This will add an extra room to your house.

[Michiganders]

We moved from Michigan almost 4 years ago and still like our east facing screened lanai. We did install blinds on it which enables us to sit out there in morning with no problem. Even in the afternoon heat or evening, when you put fan on, its comfortable. We dont need more sq.ft.in our house to add enclosed lanai as of yet. We moved to Florida to enjoy the weather. We have outdoor furniture out there, so no problem with weather. We dont use it as much when weather gets real cold or if rain is coming from east. We have a tv out there so use it quite a bit. We looked for a house that the lanai does not face west. Have seen some beautiful enclosed lanais but not what we want at this point.

[butlerism]

Some quick points or feedback.

1- Do not by a house with a pool, many here are fed up with the pool service companies..... frankly we have over 40 pools here. It is a 365 day per year money pit if you own one that you will never use.

2- The use of your lanai can be quantified much easier by the lot you decide upon.
a- My house backs up to a preserve, the morning breakfast and coffee times are indispensible.
Gorgeous sunrises and sunsets. Then add in the wildlife.
b- Lake houses are equally nice. Mostly cause no one is right behind you. Keep in mind that for a
lake house, it is your responsibility to mow all the way to the lake. and then there are alligators.
c - I have my Lanai enclosed with acrylic windows and screens. Very good combination.
In the heat of the summer it makes for an excellent drying room for towels and swimsuits.
In the very very hot part of summer days, you can write off the Lanai. Mine was up to 102 degrees
with the windows shut.
d- golf course behind you? If you are a light sleeper, do you want golf cart noises and people chatter
behind you in early morning. I don't.

3- then there are the birdcage Lanais and the overhanging roof Lanai. I have an over hang. I simply use a box fan to push the cooler air into the Lanai for rapid air exchange.

4- In the cooler months the Lanai with windows is perfect, you will appreciate the windows to keep the cooler air and the ground smoke out (ground smoke is the creepy fog that rolls in as the day heats up around 5:00 am ish). I always say it is the spirits coming to get you.

5 - The rains. we get so much heavy rain, it will soak your Lanai. Hence the overhang with gutters.

6 - Grilling. The birdcage style will allow you to grill inside the Lanai. But I personally would not want to gunk up the screens with grilling effects.

7 - Happy hour is at 5

TTYL

PM me if you want pics. I can send via cell. Much easier.

Also small tid bit. I live on Madero in Santo Domingo. Everyone here is generation 1 residents. Hence many of the houses over here are turning over. My next door neighbors, both are in assisted living now. Broken hip and he had a massive Heart attack as his sweety for over 65 years was hospitalized. Sweet couple, makes me sad.

[Ben Franklin]

We just had a regular, screened lanai, when we moved here. When it rained the lanai would always get wet, and we could not use it, whenever it rained. So we had Custom Windows and Exterior Design, enclose our Lanai with sliding glass tinted windows, that slide all the way to one side. Now we can watch the great thunder and lighting shows from our Lanai and it doesn't get soak either, like it used to do.

Here's Custom Windows web site, so you can look at some of their glass enclosed lanais.
Custom Windows R Us – Custom Windows and Exterior Design

[butlerism]

Originally Posted by Jdasta

We enclosed our lanai because we got tired of mildewed floors and furniture. And, we wanted more privacy. We can watch TV on lanai without disturbing our neighbors or hearing noise of neighbors on their screened lanais. Double-insulated, low e glass with sliding windows and screens and the mini HVAC. Can slide open the windows whenever we want. We keep our sliding doors open from house to lanai, and it makes the house seem so much more spacious. To us, an enclosed lanai is a must have.

Too funny. With the hearing aids nowadays, the neighbors 3 houses away can hear a pin drop. It is true.

[donassaid]

Best of both worlds. We have a fully enclosed lanai with full length plexiglass sliders with screens that provides full ventilation, an awning to shield the afternoon sun and a portable air conditioner for when it gets too warm. If we open our screened front door, tge door to tge lanai and the sliders, we get full ventilation.

[Dorebea]

Originally Posted by Toymeister

We have had both. For the home without much of a view we enclosed it with floor to ceiling sliding glass panes (not true sliding doors). It was pleasant to read the paper there with coffee.

For the second the lanai is intricate to the pool bird cage and it has a view.

For the begonia that we are selling, screened lanai.

We are looking for a house. Where is your Begonia located? Can you DM me with details if still available?