[villagetinker]

Originally Posted by Shadywood

Great tip. I didn't realize White Aluminum would sell the materials to do it yourself. After all the crazy quotes and lead times I got to enclose my lanai, I've been thinking of doing it myself, too.

But what about the permits? For some crazy reason, the county seems very concerned that the double-pane windows I might choose for myself might not be up to the high hurricane standards of the single sheet acrylic "windows" that most people seem to buy. And I was told that I had to have engineered drawings for my specific lanai conversion, to make sure that I'm not using sub-standard screws or something, for this, apparently, highly experimental project of installing actual windows into the lanai of a Villages "Lantana" floorplan.

I would go directly to the building department, Pinellas Plaza (copper topped building), go in main entrance and make a right, building department on the left as I recall. Ask them what is involved with this type of project. Florida has some stiff building codes due to hurricanes, etc. From what I have seen in terms of comments, etc., this is probably beyond the normal DIY project.
I am guessing you need a building permit, an electrical permit, at a minimum. Things get more complicated if you are planning on taking out the sliders.
From what I have seen all of the trades are way behind schedule as it appears they cannot get the workers.

Good luck with your project.