What does "Screened-in Lanai" actually mean ???
 

When you have a "screened in Lanai" does that mean that there are removable sections of screens that can be replaced with glass/acrylic panels?

I'm wondering because what type of furniture can you put in a lanai if it's always open?

What happens when it rains? Or in hurricane-like weather?

Are you limited to outdoor or waterproof furniture? I also see in the many real estate listings that there are usually fans installed - what happens to these? Are there "outdoor rated" fans you have to use?

Thanks,

Kevin

Sorta, the top pic is more the norm. The screens are fixed with a screen door. This is the way they are pretty much sold new. Some add glass sliders with screens or a wall with windows halfway up.

Bilyclub is of course correct. You will get rain in so outdoor furniture is strongly recommended. Some folks install Screen room drains to allow the water to exit more easily.

Some folks elect to enclose this area. Personal preference. I love the fact I have an outdoor screened in area to enjoy. My home is large enough that I do not feel the need to enclose this space...but many do. If you put in sliding windows you have the best of both worlds.

Some feel the need to mitigate the UV rays and sun coming in with Coolaroo shades.

The fans have plastic blades and are considered acceptable for in a roofed over Lanai. If you use an indoor fan, the blades will warp due to the outside humidity.

Know that typically the Lanai ceiling is regular drywall. Do NOT pressure wash it. It is no different than the ceilings in your house.

Also know that while the Lanai is screened in to keep some of the bugs out, you will get some bugs and lizards in the Lanai regularly. They were here first.

Hope this helps!

Frank D.

What's the ballpark estimate for sliding windows in a lanai? Is single/double pane important if they slide open vs. being permanently in place?

You will get lots of opinions on this, everyone has different wants. We chose to have double pane argon filled sliders with sliding screens. This give us the ability to have about 60% of the fresh air capability we had without glass. Having the sliding screen doors also allows for easy cleaning of the outside of the glass and gives several entry/exit points. The double pane of course is the only glass that has an insulating value. As far as bugs go, I spray around our home with Home Defense and it works very well, we do not get bugs in our lanai or inside our home and we live on a pond. If you don't control your bugs you will have lots of other creatures eating them and then snakes eating the creatures. One last point, if you don't enclose your lanai with glass be prepared to do a lot of cleaning of your furniture and floor especially in high pollen season and if a storm is coming and you don't want to get the furniture wet you either have to have covers or bring it all into your home. Double pane with sliders, 450 Sq. Ft., $16/22,000.00 depending on the company you choose to do it, those were actual quotes we received 2 years ago.

A lot goes into pricing such as size, tints, single pain etc. we had 2 doubles and a triple sliding door and a new entry door put in for about $5000. The remove everything that now exists and put in all new stuff.

Screen in porch. Lanai sounds more cosmopolitan.
:icon_wink:

Even plastic blades will droop over time.

Do you need to get TV architectural review approval for putting in sliding windows/doors in the lanai?

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You use Outdoor furniture because if it's opened it's outdoors. ... there a many places who sell many types of outdoor furniture that is made for use .... outdoors. Prices go from Walmart cheap to million dollar home expensive.

If it rains and is windy, it gets wet then it dries or you dry it off with a towel. Sometimes dirt blows in, same thing goes, wipe it off or pay someone to clean for you.


Hurricanes: if one is "predicted" I turn the furniture on the side or upside down if I can and hope my insurance covers what ends up on my neighbors :screen in lanai" :D You can tell from that ours isn't "million dollar home" outdoor furniture.


Fans: When we moved in to our home 3+ years ago it had a fan in the "screened in lanai" and it worked perfectly fine with no blade "drooping." I did change it because it was filthy dirty from 11 previous years of previous owners not cleaning it.

You need a permit and a final inspection.

Yes, get ARC approval, this is a change to the outside of the house....

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We need to replace 2 lanai storm doors. Recommendations are greatly appreciated.

We've lived here 11+ yrs. After about 5 yrs we got tired of a dirty lanai that we hardly ever used anymore. We did use it A LOT the 1st year we were here, but then learned it was very hot in the summer (east facing) and when it was chilly in winter we didn't go out in it. So, we decided to make it an actual room since our home is in the cottage series so the lanai was smaller. We got a few estimates before going with G&G construction. We had the sliding door moved to face the north, had the floor raised and tiled and have slider windows that have a knee-wall on the other two sides. The walls and ceilings are dry-walled and painted so now we have a sun-room. The original fan was removed since the blades had drooped from the heat/humidity. Because of the room size heat and air can come from our original source. Our contractors got the necessary permits (yes you'll have to go through ARC). The costs will vary depending on what you have done so a ball-park can't be given here except it will be several thousand dollars to complete. If you keep it as it is when you bought your place, you will need outside furniture, which even with time will show wear from the weather. We found that wood pieces don't fare well here and breaks down quickly. We'd brought adirondack wood chairs here that were on our covered porch and they soon deteriorated. But any outdoor place can help you make a selection. Cleaning of your lanai would be done as you'd clean any outdoor place---sweep and hose.

We were quoted $10,000. Full sliders, 16x6 ft.

Where do I put the Tiki Bar?

And probably added more square footage if enclosed for tax proposes.

I think of a screened lanai as what is also called a birdcage. It is all screen nothing to stop sun wind or rain. Everything is exposed.

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