lanai shades
 

Anybody have any ideas for blocking rain on the lanai, aside from enclosing it? Any luck with roll down shades??

sunsetter awnings
 

how about a sunsetter awning?

as i'm a new poster, they wouldn't let me post a link, but you can search sunsetter.

don't have one, but thinking of getting one.

if you go through costco, you can get a big discount.

The problem with expecting awnings and shades to keep out the rain from an open lanai is ...rain is normally accompanied by wind and at times fairly strong wind especially during the summer 3pm downpours. That wind would tear your awnings and shades apart. and leave you a bigger mess.

We used Cool-la-Roo shades from Lowes. They come in and measure, order and install. All we had to do ourselves was to pick out the color. They block the sun but you can still see through them. Great for a lanai that faces the West in the early evening. They can be lowered during a storm but they must be secured on the bottom rail to hold them in place. Then after rains are over with, keep them down to dry thoroughly before rolling them up.

Rain is not too big a problem here for us. It does blow and rain in but having good quality cushions on outdoor furniture is the answer. We also have outdoor carpet and it is dry right away..amazing!

Our two lanai's have drained quickly although there are some folks who have said they get some puddles in corners after a rain.

Good idea!! will look into that!! Thanks

Nah....don't have cushioned furniture for that reason, but our table actually gets wet! We can't leave anything out there. And we have an outdoor carprt. Just tired of wiping everything down all the time. Had a much bigger lanai on old house and this frustrates me. Gonna check out coolaroo shades. Thanks for responding.

Yeah...moved up here from south fla...just had a bigger lanai! :( We'll keep thinking...thanks for responding

Thanks...having them out for a retractable awning for BBQ pad...will ask about the screens, too. Thanks for replying!