Spraying out your enclosed lanai? How do you get rid of the water?

[Troy8432]

Although we haven’t yet talked to a contractor regarding enclosing our lanai, I am curious to hear from fellow Villagers about how they keep their lanai clean. We used to live in New Mexico and we had an open (no screen) lanai on the back of our home. Almost weekly, I sprayed off the tile and was able to easily squeegee off the dusty, dirty water on to the lawn. Here in Florida, all screened lanais have a bottom rail attached directly to the concrete. Obviously, dirty water can’t get underneath that bottom rail.

Has anyone heard of, or seen, weep holes through that bottom rail with some sort of removable gate that can be used to direct water through? Or is mopping the solution? Curious to hear all ideas. Thanx in advance.

[davem4616]

you could keep the lanai screen door open and push the water out that way

we found that we didn't care for all the water in the lanai and had it enclosed after a few months...now we use
it year round no matter the weather

[Doctor Who]

There is a Villager who caters to your problems. He sometimes advertises in the paper on Monday under services. He cuts a hole in the lanai floor brace about 4 inches in length. He then inserts a plug with some tiny holes to let out the water. When washing the lanai you can take out the plug and reinsert it when finished so as to prevent unfriendly visitors...not a cheap install but effective.

[vintageogauge]

An enclosed lanai is a indoor room there is no need to hose the floor. Our floor is porcelain tile and we simply vacuum it when needed and sponge mop it if it get's too dirty for a vacuum which is only a couple times per year. There is a water dam that keeps any potential leaks from coming in so you cannot sweep water out the door. You won't get dirt and/or sand blowing in unless you leave your doors open for an extended period of time and even then just vacuum it.

[RobertWR]

Our lanai has a painted floor around the pool so there are drains. We occasionally hose this floor. More often we vacuum the area with our cordless Dyson. We purchased a second floor attachment for the Dyson and vacuum the outdoor space and also use it in the garage on the epoxy floor.

[birdiebill]

I used an electric pressure washer to wash the dirt off. The dirty water collected along the outer frame. I use my wet-dry vac to suck up the dirty water and then dumped it outside. We got tired of cleaning it, so we enclosed it recently.

[EdFNJ]

There is a Villager who caters to your problems. He sometimes advertises in the paper on Monday under services. He cuts a hole in the lanai floor brace about 4 inches in length. He then inserts a plug with some tiny holes to let out the water. When washing the lanai you can take out the plug and reinsert it when finished so as to prevent unfriendly visitors...not a cheap install but effective. I had a couple of them installed in my screened lanai. My opinion and actual experience with them is that they don't work very well unless you open them up (in come the geckos) a PUSH the water into them (yes they were installed at the low grade part of the lanai). It is just as easy (or difficult) to push the water out of the screen door. They really don't just drain with them closed (they are supposed to) since the drain holes are so tiny and too high up on the lid. That plus the hinged cover broke off both of them (but does still nap on and close) and they have only been opened one time. Had them installed about a year ago. Just my experience, YMMV.

[Topspinmo]

There is a Villager who caters to your problems. He sometimes advertises in the paper on Monday under services. He cuts a hole in the lanai floor brace about 4 inches in length. He then inserts a plug with some tiny holes to let out the water. When washing the lanai you can take out the plug and reinsert it when finished so as to prevent unfriendly visitors...not a cheap install but effective.

I just drilled some holes on slop sides even with floor through both sides of the rail.

[Topspinmo]

you could keep the lanai screen door open and push the water out that way

we found that we didn't care for all the water in the lanai and had it enclosed after a few months...now we use
it year round no matter the weather


Mine not that big and the floor sloped so water runs out naturally.

[Medtrans]

I had a couple of them installed in my screened lanai. My opinion and actual experience with them is that they don't work very well unless you open them up (in come the geckos) a PUSH the water into them (yes they were installed at the low grade part of the lanai). It is just as easy (or difficult) to push the water out of the screen door. They really don't just drain with them closed (they are supposed to) since the drain holes are so tiny and too high up on the lid. That plus the hinged cover broke off both of them (but does still nap on and close) and they have only been opened one time. Had them installed about a year ago. Just my experience, YMMV.

I agree with you. We have them as well. Didn’t need to waste the money. We enclosed our lanai so no longer have an issue as the old frame with the drains was removed. Our birdcage still has them, the water doesn’t really drain that much and there are plenty of geckos out there.

[Bethwill]

The water slowly drains under the rails. It will only stay clean and dry if enclosed. Well worth the money.

[thevillagernie]

weep holes works.or old vacum

[Colby]

We bought a plastic weep hole From the guy mentioned above and husband Installed. Only open flap when cleaning and works well though last amount of water needs to be swept through as mentioned.

[bruce213]

I have hot tub in my enclosed lanai, I discovered it leaked 200+ gals of water just before going to bed. When I got up ready to tackle the job it had all drained out. Water will leak out through the expansion grooves in the concrete.

[Rsenholzi]

I had severe pooling of water in one corner after the rain storms after enclosing mine. Had the drain holes put in $75 each and it immediately eliminated the problem. I open them up and it drain right out . Then I close them again . Works the same after washing the floor - use the squeezy and push it towards the drains . He put in 2 at the lowest level . Good luck

[DecaturFargo]

Those of us who have pools, need to clean the lanai flooring. If you have any small hills, the water washes down over the dirt and pools along the edges of the birdcage.

[cb1972]

if you have a builders grade lanai take a cordless drill/driver remove the aluminum threshold (s) and direct your water out the door. Very easy to do .

[justjim]

An enclosed lanai is a indoor room there is no need to hose the floor. Our floor is porcelain tile and we simply vacuum it when needed and sponge mop it if it get's too dirty for a vacuum which is only a couple times per year. There is a water dam that keeps any potential leaks from coming in so you cannot sweep water out the door. You won't get dirt and/or sand blowing in unless you leave your doors open for an extended period of time and even then just vacuum it.

Spot on. No need for gallons of water just a bucket and sponge mop.

[Marshaw]

I don't have an open lanai but I have seen weep holes on other lanai. Good luck

[seetshaw]

As we had a dog when lanai was built, we had a measure of grass put down, the rest in concrete which we tiled. That with a doggie door allowed us to spend time away from home and not worry about the dog. And later on a cat! As to water, drill holes through wall that encloses lanai and the door. Anoles come and go, water pours out. Only once had to open door in 20 years.

[perrjojo]

We bought a plastic weep hole From the guy mentioned above and husband Installed. Only open flap when cleaning and works well though last amount of water needs to be swept through as mentioned.
I agree. You are supposed to open the drain when washing off the floor. They work great and are easy to remove and replace with a small tool that you are given
Screen Room Drains - "One & Only Patented Drain" (https://screenroomdrains.com/)

[gnw52@aol.com]

Our maintenance mans father in law developed this item and he installs them for you.
Labor is reasonable as is the units they install.
Call for Tim Cox
+1 (352) 342-7696
His wife Deena can set this all up for you

[HogPilot]

Although we haven’t yet talked to a contractor regarding enclosing our lanai, I am curious to hear from fellow Villagers about how they keep their lanai clean. We used to live in New Mexico and we had an open (no screen) lanai on the back of our home. Almost weekly, I sprayed off the tile and was able to easily squeegee off the dusty, dirty water on to the lawn. Here in Florida, all screened lanais have a bottom rail attached directly to the concrete. Obviously, dirty water can’t get underneath that bottom rail.

Has anyone heard of, or seen, weep holes through that bottom rail with some sort of removable gate that can be used to direct water through? Or is mopping the solution? Curious to hear all ideas. Thanx in advance.

Before we enclosed our lanai here's how I got rid of the water.
Periodic cleaning - I'd loosen (don't remove) the 8mm bolts holding down the bottom metal rail. Insert plastic shims under the rails several feet apart. (Plastic shims work better than the wooden ones). That provides enough room under the rail for the water to drain underneath. Wash and rinse the floor, squeegee the water under the rails, then finish up with a leaf blower to get the rest of the water. Let it dry, then tighten (ratchet wrench) the bolts back to the floor.

[villagerjack]

1.Use your leaf blower
2. Unscrew the screw on top of the rail just enough to stick a coin under it and retighten it. The small space will allow water to drain.

[willbush]

you could keep the lanai screen door open and push the water out that way

we found that we didn't care for all the water in the lanai and had it enclosed after a few months...now we use
it year round no matter the weather
We have drains in new areas - I drilled small holes at the bottom of bottom rail where cement crack is located;make it easy for water to exit...

[dtennent]

I was not happy with the work done with this system. In addition, the flap has broken on one of my drains. Would look at a lanai where this has been done before proceeding.

[TimeForChange]

Once you fully enclose a lanai you have created a conditioned space. A mop and a bucket might be in order.

[JohnN]

Easy fix, I think I got this from Bob Vila online somewhere. I took a small wrench and loosened the bolt just a tad at the far corner where the water pools. I slipped a coin (I used a nickel) under the railing and re-tightened it. The water drains fine now. You still need to mop/clean it, but the water drains pretty nicely. Total cost, 5-cents, total time, 5 minutes.

[jump4]

We have a lanai + birdcage. Rainwater accumulates in the corners of the birdcage and does not drain out. During house design, we requested deco drains, but the builder did not install them. Now, T&D wants to raise the cage frame slightly and insert nails under it to create weep-hole space. I'm concerned about whether this is a good long-term solution (e.g. will some of the nails slip out over time). Has anyone had experience with this "fix"?

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Before we enclosed our lanai here's how I got rid of the water.
Periodic cleaning - I'd loosen (don't remove) the 8mm bolts holding down the bottom metal rail. Insert plastic shims under the rails several feet apart. (Plastic shims work better than the wooden ones). That provides enough room under the rail for the water to drain underneath. Wash and rinse the floor, squeegee the water under the rails, then finish up with a leaf blower to get the rest of the water. Let it dry, then tighten (ratchet wrench) the bolts back to the floor.

I loosened the bolts, and inserted plastic washers every two feet. Then I tightened the bolts back down to there is about a 1/8" space under the rail permanently.