Converting birdcage to lanai or Florida room
 

Currently there is only a 9' x 15' birdcage in rear of house, i.e., screens all around AND on top. Has anyone had such birdcage screening, including framing, removed, then installed a real roof over the existing concrete slab, and built walls for either an unheated lanai, or a heated Florida room? Anyone know the approximate cost or a contractor to recommend? It is a 3 bedroom Amarillo ranch.

First, contact ARC to see if this is acceptable. I believe that you will find significant additional work if you want a heated FL room out of this conversion. Sumter County updated the building code June 30th, not sure of the impact on you proposed project. In general, the aluminum structure of a birdcage is not rated for the additional loading a true roof would impose, both static (weight of roof) and dynamic (wind load).
One other word of caution, if you want to remove the sliders, I understand that you will be required to have a vapor barrier installed and to raise the floor of the current birdcage to be the same as the house.

Contact Sumter County and ARC and ask lots of questions, otherwise you may end up with a fine or having to have the project redone, or both.
Hope this helps.

Also suggest you contact the County Tax office and understand their rules. Tinker is right, if you remove your sliders things change.

We have a Bougainvillea model that is the same as an Amarillo (9 x 15 lanai). We will be removing our enclosed lanai that we had put up 2 years ago by Custom Windows as we have decided to enlarge the area and put in a regular room instead. These are full length slider windows (not acrylic -you can see cabana lanais at their website) - a wonderful enclosed lanai. If you're interested in "recycling" ours, let us know. Please send PM or contact elsamms@aol.com.

that is incorrect I believe, no need to raise floor.

See here


and

here' a thread on it

Thanks jimbo for those other threads.They are helpful, but so far no info from anyone who had to construct a real roof in place of a birdcage.

you will need to have a set of plans done and approved by the ARC then the building dept.

you should have your own plans prepared then shop your plans (not individual contractors plans) that way you're comparing apples to apples on bids.

Plans cost about $400-$500 I have a guy that can draw them up if need a name. permits about $200.

Then if you care to enclose it with glass heat etc it can all be done on the same plans and save a lot of $$