Upgrades to new Patio Villa
 

It’s time for me to begin upgrading my new patio villa. I need some direction in which sequential order to complete each project. Here’s what I plan to do:

1) Install gutters
2) Extend concrete on side of house
3) Build birdcage to side on house
4) Re-route sprinkler lines to accommodate extension of concrete / birdcage
5) Landscape side and front of house, including building small retention wall for plants/palms
6) Putting in pavers in driveway
7) Apoxy both interior garage as well as lanai/birdcage
8) Upgrade front door (glass inserts)
9) ** Maybe raise flooring height in lanai, to make even with interior of house**

I will be working with multiple contractors, so need advice where to start first.

Thanks as usual for any help provided.

GUTTERS = STIPES 352-390-7744. The Best!

Start with :
1 Reading your covenants
2 Request the ARC which of those projects are allowed in your neighborhood / your particular lot

I'd start with "Let's just live in the house for a while and see what we -really- want to do"...

Do NOT rely on contractors to get ARC approval, get it yourself. As for your projects, the irrigation will need to be done in conjunction with the exterior expansion projects. This should be handled by the main contractor, and if you plan on landscaping in this area make sure you know where the new pipes are located so you do not hit these when the new plants are installed. IMHO, I would stay away from pavers, search this site, typically lots of maintenance and cracking problems. I would go with concrete stain, HOWEVER, as I understand it there are restrictions on this in villas. As noted above look at your deed restriction very carefully before you proceed. Make sure you understand the restrictions shown on your plot plan, and consider the potential impact on your neighbor.
Good luck with your projects.

I usually agree with tink, but I think it's okay to rely on, but have the contractor give you documented proof of the approval.

Wow, is that ever great advice!

Definitely look into everything first. We have a courtyard villa and they are very strict on what you can do with your driveway. We can only paint with a solid light color, no design. Our villa came with gutters. We had our lanai, patio and garage floor painted and sealed and since ours came with a lot of patio space we didn’t add anything. We screened in our front entrance way the same time we enclosed our lanai. We used Cook Aluminum for that. Your homeowners book should list who installed your irrigation system so you can ask them when you have them out to explain the system to you. Check with the county to see if the lanai would become taxable space if the floor is raised, various things make it taxable. Our concrete painter was DECORATIVE CONCRETE OF CENTRAL FLORIDA, INC. and they were excellent.

Get ARC approval first before starting any project .But, I would live in the house for about 6 months first to make sure these things are exactly what I want and look around at other peoples ideas. Maybe theirs are better than yours.

Order
 

Don't install the gutters until after getting the birdcage. The birdcage attaches to the house with a super gutter so they would just have to rip out what you had installed.
Have the birdcage contractor arrange the concrete because they can have the anchors set into the concrete to avoid having to drill and lag them in.
Just my 2 cents.

Painted Concrete - Do NOT use Artisti-Crete.
 

I used Artisti-Crete to paint my lanai, sidewalk, and front porch. Very messy workman, the result was very blotchy, and the workman damaged my screen door handle. It took several weeks to get anyone to look at the damage and fix the handle. Their price was too expensive for the poor workmanship and headache.

Be careful with this!! Definitely talk to the ARC before you even get estimates about what you want to do to get their input! We, too, have a patio villa that dead-ends into a privacy fence which runs the entire length of the side of our property along the patio. We had one exorbitant estimate to screen in an area of the patio, with the salesman requiring half down and THEN he would go to the ARC for approval, which he was sure they'd give because "The Villages put the patio in up to the privacy fence." We called for a 2nd estimate from another company and that sales person refused to even give us an estimate because after looking at the plat map of our house, he pointed out the 5 ft deed restriction line that runs down the middle of the patio and said no way would the ARC give us permission to screen it in. Thing is, the realtor knew we wanted to do this and never said a word about it!! Our neighbor across the street from us also has a patio villa on a corner lot with the patio facing the street. The ARC gave them fits to screen in the patio, by implementing the screened area around their front door. They ended up with a most "interesting" screened structure. They also had issues with the ARC giving them permission to do landscaping with a stone/curbed wall because it also fell within the deed restriction area. I'd say for sure, talk to the ARC about your plans and wants before getting estimates so you know where you stand and what they'll approve. Good luck!!

too easy, we have been there done that on 7 houses so far....

Gutters #1 - NOTE - when doing this get rid of any downspout on concrete, also bury the others.

Lanscaping

reroute sprinklers - suggestion tuck them close to the house so that no mower can touch them if you need methods just ask

DO NOT expoxy the Lanai, just do the paint/sealer otherwise raise your insurance.

Front door

concrete pad

"bird cage" (down here it's called a screen in)

pavers

Have you scoped out the cost of this list ? Lots of people ask "why should I buy a preowned vs new when I can get new for the same price as a preowned".

Interesting your list did not contain the most popular upgrades by new owners
- enclose lanai
- plantation shutters
- upgraded flooring
- granite countertops

Get your ARC approval first