[Garywt]

We did not have any luck with Custom Windows so we went with Cook Aluminum for ours.

[jimschlaefer]

Originally Posted by Rich Iwaszko

hi,
contemplating this with Custom Windows. Any recommendations on type of glass to keep temp low so can use existing a/c which is 3.36 ton. Area is just under 200 sq ft
existing house is 1850 sq ft.......what kind of prices have you experienced for this size job.....thanks for the input

A few things to consider. What do you like about being in the lanai? The fresh air flow? Perhaps the view? Also, which direction does the lanai face? If it faces North, your cooling needs will be less than if it is facing West or South. Low E, multi-pane glass may not be necessary or desired if you want an unobstructed view facing North. The multi-pane glass will require more framing and you will loose some of that open view thing, but that may not be bad for your case. If the lanai faces West or South, you will get more heat from the sun, especially in the late afternoon. But in winter, that can be nice. So there's a tradeoff.. Lead times can be long if you look for multi-pane work. In part, that coincides with quality of work and ability to get the windows built. There are several companies servicing the Villages that come with great recommendations and a long list of references. Go with the best you can afford. Depending upon the size and extent of the job, figure starting costs around $10K and that goes up from there.

[midiwiz]

Originally Posted by Rich Iwaszko

hi,
contemplating this with Custom Windows. Any recommendations on type of glass to keep temp low so can use existing a/c which is 3.36 ton. Area is just under 200 sq ft
existing house is 1850 sq ft.......what kind of prices have you experienced for this size job.....thanks for the input

just going through this. it's over 12K double pane is the only way to go, the "low e" single just won't cut it. I already have 2 fans out there so with the sliders open the house air won't need to be extended at all. I'll actually be able to open up a vent that is currently closed.

Keep in mind that custom windows only does that so ifyou want anything else done you'll need someone else. we did CVS because of that. same pricing anyways.

[Travelhunter123]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

Not true per Sumter county inspector. Same floor level between house and Florida room makes the Fl room additional living space and adds to taxes.

Check again
I raised the floor and added a mini split without increased taxes
If you remove the sliding doors, or connect a vent in the lanai to your central air conditioning this is taxable
Double check as it is confusing
Mine was done 5 years ago in Sumter and inspected with no tax increase

[Nova Filtration]

Stay away from aluminum frames they get hot and generate heat into the room.

One on the largest manufactures of glass is in Ocala and make the best solar glass used their Solar 366 glass on my last home the lanai faced south, no extra AC added just open the sliders (in fact temp removed them).

LoĒ3-366 Glass | Cardinal Glass Industries

Custom windows was a rip at that time, can't recommend anyone I did the windows myself.

That glass made all the difference.

[PJackpot]

Originally Posted by Rich Iwaszko

hi,
contemplating this with Custom Windows. Any recommendations on type of glass to keep temp low so can use existing a/c which is 3.36 ton. Area is just under 200 sq ft
existing house is 1850 sq ft.......what kind of prices have you experienced for this size job.....thanks for the input

We went with "custom windows and exterior design" back in April of last year. We chose the glass that is slightly thicker and tinted, but it is also heavier. No problems at all so far. We spent $12,600 for a lanai area of about 250 sq. ft. We did not install any additional equipment for a/c or heating and our home is 1840 sq. ft. The temperature in the lanai tends to run a few degrees different from the rest of the house depending on the outside temperature; using our existing systems, but the difference is barely noticeable. This morning they are running the same temperature. The only recommendation I would make is to get removable screens, so you can wash the outside of the windows. The company we used could not install removable screens with the full length glass, and it makes cleaning the outside of the glass a little more tricky, as you have to spray wash through the screens. Our lanai faces south, by the way.

[PJackpot]

Originally Posted by Speedie

I paid for a lani to sit outside and enjoy fresh air without bugs.
I also paid for a house to sit inside in climate controlled space.

Why would you want to close off your lani and defeat the purpose?

Maybe you needed a bigger house??

Before we enclosed our lanai (250 sq.ft), it would absolutely flood with every rain storm. All the lanai furniture would have to be moved inside or got soaking wet. Too hot in summer, too cold in winter to even sit out there. Why would you pay a mortgage for space that you can only use 25% of the time? Now it is a usable, comfortable and enjoyable room all year round.

[Ltwise3500]

Do you have to get permission to enclose with glass?

[fcgiii]

we put up a sun setter awning that extends out behind our sun room and it makes an immediate difference. ours goes out 13 feet to shade the spa and cost $6000. a cheaper one that shades the sun room would be less.

[Bellavita]

Yes it will increase your taxes

Originally Posted by EdFNJ

Deep question:
If one encloses their lanai is it still a lanai?

Lees deep questions:
If you enclose your lanai in glass and put up shades and air condition it, isn't it just another room ? Can't you do the same things in the living room and even more in the bedroom?
Does this now add on to the square footage (feetage? feets?) of your home and increase your taxes?
Why do they call those "Mitsubishi Splits" dehumidifiers in all the advertisements and not air conditioners? Is there some sneaky reason to get around something?

[Blackbird45]

We enclosed our lanai with large sliding doors, there was a smaller set of sliders from the house to the lanai that already existed. We were told at the time as long as we did not put air-conditioning in the area it would not be considered a room. There is a step down, but not that big of a deal and since then my wife ended up in a wheelchair and I built a ramp. It was the best investment I ever made. We now eat all our meals out there and with the inner sliding doors always open there really isn't much of a temperature difference if any. Do it you won't regret it.

[valuemkt]

went with custom windows and their "Bella line" double pane tinted Low E.. Based upon experience with first Village home, immediately went with a ceiling (vs wall) mounted mini split. Installed quality shades. Also have two fans in the room and 8 recessed can lights. Did not take down original sliders as a large screen TV was mounted to allow for separate viewing preferences (esp during football season) which allows for some noise separation .. We get the morning sun in back. The product is manufactured in Florida, and IMO of excellent quality. They buy direct because of their volume. Most others go through a distributor. Only complaint was I feel we got the "C" install team and that required several call backs on minor annoying issues.

[ChicagoNative]

We had Aluma-tek enclose ours with low-e sliding glass windows almost 5 years ago. The lanai is 11x15. Sun Kool wanted to install a split ac unit for $5000, to which we said no. I asked the guy about tapping into the existing duct work and installing a vent in the lanai ceiling, which after much hemming and hawing, and talk about possible code violations, he admitted that they could do. They charged us $850 which included insulating the lanai ceiling.

Best decision we made as we can and do use the lanai 365 days a year.

[clossonjunk]

Originally Posted by Rich Iwaszko

hi,
contemplating this with Custom Windows. Any recommendations on type of glass to keep temp low so can use existing a/c which is 3.36 ton. Area is just under 200 sq ft
existing house is 1850 sq ft.......what kind of prices have you experienced for this size job.....thanks for the input

We enclosed our lanai (about 150 sq ft) but we went with First Choice Windows out of Ocala. Our neighbors used them, too. They were fantastic!!! They were also half the price of Custom Windows for better quality. We got double paned windows and a custom doggie door for around 7k last year. We had a company come out and shoot some insulation over the lanai (and garage while we were at it) for just a couple hundred dollars. That and double pane was the trick to not having to use a separate a/c! We keep sliders open and the lanai stays within 2 degrees of the house temp. No impact on electric bill that we saw. We were super pleased with the company and results.

[vintageogauge]

Originally Posted by patfla06

This is not true.

The only thing that raises your taxes is if you take out the original sliding glass door between the living room and lanai.

If you want a level floor you have to take out the sliding door rails so there you go, taxable.