[donfey]

Originally Posted by Bilyclub

How do you clean the windows on glass sliders which have the fixed screens on the outside ?

Lift the windows out. Simple and easy.

[rnicholis]

Originally Posted by Packer Fan

I am asking a few simple questions as we are trying to decide - Please only answer if you have or have had a glass enclosed Lanai. I also don't want any mention of additional taxes or all that stuff. I don't care. The questions are -

1. Single or Double pane glass and why? Single Pane is $12,000 and double is $23,000.
2. Mini split air cond or not? Does it make a difference if you have single or double pane glass?
3. Knee wall or full height sliders? Any troubles with either?
4. Raise the floor or not? (again, not tax talk, I don't care).
I am in Sumter county. Please don't post an opinion if you don't have a glass enclosed Lanais in The Villages

I went with double pane windows and am glad I did. I have full height sliders as well and the higher quality glass has allowed me to keep my lanai open to our home with no significant temperature change in the lanai from our house without having to install a mini split or anything else. My home air conditioner and heat keeps everything comfortable with the use of our ceiling fans as needed. I would not have been able to do that with single pane glass. However, each situation is different, shape of the lanai, ours is octagonal, Boxwood model home; Lanai faces Northeast so gets some morning sun but is in the shade by 11am and I have a lot of insulation on top of the lanai. I have lived with these for 5 years and am so glad I purchased the higher quality glass, also warrantied for life, and needed to replace a large pane that got broken by a rock thrown up by our mowing service. Only paid about $80 for installation and that was covered by the mower.

[rsmurano]

If you are going to do this, simply end the money and do it right so it looks like it’s an addition to your home. We used double pane windows, put electric and cables in the floor and posts, raised the floor to make it even with the house floor, used the same tile as the house so the lanai looks like it’s part of the house, insulated the ceiling, got nice solar blinds, and waited 1 year before buying a mini split heat pump, it got uncomfortable in the summer. We put in the ceiling mounted minimum split for the looks, I just think the wall mount mini split is ugly.
Also remember there are 5 levels of a lanai conversion where levels 4 & 5 you pay sumter county taxes. With all the things we did is a level 3 so we don’t pay taxes on these mods.

Quick note. All the mini splits on the market are controlled by a remote which is a terrible way to control your heating and cooling. I wanted to control the mini split with some smarts so I bought the the Cielo which allows me to program the mini split to come on when the temps drop below a certain temperature and turn off when the temp rises above a certain temp for heat and vic versus for cooling. Plus I can operate the mini split with my iPhone/iPad. I think I’m going to start installing and programming these for a small fee.

[Aacosner]

Originally Posted by Bilyclub

How do you clean the windows on glass sliders which have the fixed screens on the outside ?

I slide them around in the opening and center the pane to be cleaned with the others fully off to one side. Then, I use a microfiber cloth wet with your favorite cleaner to reach behind and clean just half the window and then dry it with another microfiber cloth. If the pane is centered in the opening, the screen will have enough give to get your hand back and reach halfway across the pane without damaging the screen. Then go to the other side of the pane to reach back for the other half. You might need to step up on something to reach the top center.

[Packer Fan]

Originally Posted by rsmurano

If you are going to do this, simply end the money and do it right so it looks like it’s an addition to your home. We used double pane windows, put electric and cables in the floor and posts, raised the floor to make it even with the house floor, used the same tile as the house so the lanai looks like it’s part of the house, insulated the ceiling, got nice solar blinds, and waited 1 year before buying a mini split heat pump, it got uncomfortable in the summer. We put in the ceiling mounted minimum split for the looks, I just think the wall mount mini split is ugly.
Also remember there are 5 levels of a lanai conversion where levels 4 & 5 you pay sumter county taxes. With all the things we did is a level 3 so we don’t pay taxes on these mods.

Quick note. All the mini splits on the market are controlled by a remote which is a terrible way to control your heating and cooling. I wanted to control the mini split with some smarts so I bought the the Cielo which allows me to program the mini split to come on when the temps drop below a certain temperature and turn off when the temp rises above a certain temp for heat and vic versus for cooling. Plus I can operate the mini split with my iPhone/iPad. I think I’m going to start installing and programming these for a small fee.

That is your definition of "do it right". If I wanted to continue to live in Wisconsin then Maybe. I don't want an extension of my house, I want a florida room. Doing it right includes a 200 square foot screened Pergola and 200 square foot birdcage, and a hot tub. If I raise the floor to be even with the house, then I will have a step down to the Pergola and Birdcage. We would rather have all the outside on one level, deliniated from the house by the step down. Also, since all the single pane window voters said they loved it, I just can't justify 12,000 extra for double pane. I am doing all of this because I plan on spending most of my time outdoors, thats why I am moving to Florida to begin with..

[Packer Fan]

Thank you everyone for Voting, for giving me your honest opinions, and for not repeating all the sad tax information and the like. I really appreciate it. Based on all the feedback, we are going with Single Pane, not raising the floor. We are going to have custom windows install floor to ceiling sliders. We are also adding a 200 sq ft screened pergola and a 200 sq foot birdcage and a hot tub. Not raising the floor will keep it all on the same level. If we need to later we will add a mini split air conditioner.
We are going with Single pane glass because all the people with Single pane were happy, so why spend the extra 12,000. To be honest, the other reason is Skip Smith has the same single pane setup and likes it. My wife had breakfast with his wife Sue the other day, and she said they were happy even without a mini split, they didn't feel the need to add one. We will see how it goes.
Thanks again for all the advice.

PS, village tinker, we will run it by ARC before we build, figured I would add that because you always make that comment