I can answer part of your questions.
When we built our Jasmine (block Wisteria) in 2004, we did take out the master bedroom window and added a double sliding glass door. We extended the covered lanai past the bedroom, and we extended the slab to the end of the house. We haven't covered the slab with a birdcage, and have no plans to do so. We did have a gas line run to the slab and installed a natural gas grill. Sure is nice not to have to deal with propane tanks.
When building the house, the revisions to the original floor plan weren't terribly costly. To make the changes post construction, I wouldn't have a clue.
We've been very happy with the way those revisions worked.
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