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Originally Posted by golfgal44
I’m thinking about a new build. Just wondering if anyone has an opinion with benefits and drawbacks of getting either a closed in lanai for extra space, or just a cage. Costs of getting it through t.v. Does either one raise taxes? What about keeping the floor level with the inside floor, which I like.benefits vs. drawbacks.
Thank you.  : |
Do you have a view of something beautiful, or just of the neighbors? Will you be here all summer? Do you like sun, or do you stick to the shade? Where do you spend your time when you are at home? How much entertaining do you honestly plan to do? How often will people really be houseguests? (Honestly, not in your dreams.) Do you like to sit outdoors on hot evenings and read or chat, or watch TV in the AC? Do you need more room to do what you like to do?
For example, if you don’t have a view, does it make sense to build a large lanai with lots of glass and AC and insulation? Do you need the extra conditioned space? My lanai has sliding glass doors to the living room and kitchen, a large window facing a neighbor that is always screened so I can’t see out, and one missing wall into the birdcage and on to the view. But I never use it, except as storage for patio furniture and cushions. If I’m outside, I’m in the shade under the big awning over the outside table or in the pool. I spend most of my waking hours in my second bedroom “office” at my desk. That actually faces the street, not the view. I have a big living room I seldom use. The living room has two French doors onto the patio with a lovely view. I bought a comfortable chair where I can sit looking out one door, but I never sit there. So for me, a big lanai would not be a good use of my money.
When I look at photos of homes for sale in The Villages on Zillow, I see that a lot of houses that have lanais with windows don’t seem to use them much. Other people use them as living rooms, but does that mean that their living rooms don’t get used very much? Is it like those big houses back home that have a formal living room and a formal dining room that are almost never used, and a family room which is where people spend their time? Many of us essentially just have a family room now, which is a much better use of space.
I think my favourite lanais here are the big ones with columns where you can walk out into the birdcage. No screens or windows necessary because they are for shaded outdoor living, not for a second indoor living room. It essentially works as a big, sturdy, insulated awning. They are level with the patio and maybe have a tile or stone floor. There is a drain along the front edge so rain doesn’t run in, but if some rain gets on the floor, it will run out again without needing cleanup. It should be at least twelve feet deep and twenty feet wide. You can have motorized sun shades at the openings if the sun shines in. However, again, if you can’t stand to sit outside in the evening when it is 85° and humid, it might not get much use.