[graciegirl]

I would call it a lanai if I knew for sure it was a lanai. I am not clear whether a screen porch is a lanai or the room with a lot of windows is a lanai.

Anyway, we now own a lovely home in Hadley with a screen porch that faces the west in the evening (Ohioese) It abuts the shuffleboard courts and Sweetie and I would like to sip our cold drinks in the evening without folks eying the olive and without the sun in our eyes. How have you other villagers solved this problem?

I sew. NOT well but enough that I could make duck draperies to pull closed. The screen porch is 28 feet long.( Whew.)

The exterior roll down blinds that are available are a little see through and I don't think they would offer much protection from the hot evening sun in Florida.

I would plant something. What? A large....what?

Help!

[Lil Dancer]

How about a retractable awning? http://www.retractableawnings.com/gallferrara.htm
I think the architectural review committee will okay these, but you'd have to check. There is a distributor of sunsetter awnings in the Markets of Marion, on Route 27.

Otherwise, some sort of shade trees, you'd probably want to talk to a landscaper. I don't know about palms - they eventually grow tall, and might not be too shady. Of course, in the cooler winter months, you might not want the shade, because the sun would heat the porch for you. Maybe a shade tree like a crepe myrtle, that loses its leaves in the winter?

We have a west facing entryway and put in one of those koolaroo shades from Lowes. It keeps about 75% of the sun out which is a big improvement, but when the sun is really low in the sky, like right at sunset, you wish you had 100% sun protection. Our neighbors have the shades you described on their west facing lanai. When its in the 80's here, they've admitted they just can't use the lanai, its too hot, even with the shades down. But, they don't have any shade trees out back.

The awnings look really intriguing to me.

[graciegirl]

Thank you Lil Dancer. You are the best!

I checked Lowes site and did a little math and it will only cost $221 to install Cooleroo exterior shades on the 28' span.

At least a start until we can explore the retractible awning idea.

I love this place and the kind helpful Villagers who live here.

GracieGirl

[mom2five]

You should call it a lanai. I love telling people how I am enjoying my lanai. It just sounds so tropical.

Yours is a beautiful one too. The last week I was in TV my youngest son was visiting with a couple of his friends so since they are all under 30 we were hanging out at the Odell Rec Pool and I loved looking at your house and thinking how I would have a friend living there real soon.

I do agree you will need some kind of shade and privacy plantings. I think the best way of deciding what you want and like is to drive around TV and have a look at what others have done. There are quite a few houses that back onto Odell that have done some really nice screen plantings between them and the street. Some of the more mature areas of TV might also be a good place to see what is possible. Until you get there you could also have a look at some of the preowned house listings. The Virtual tours often have good views of the back yards.

Good luck

[chelsea24]

Thanks. Never heard of Cooleroo exterior shades, so I'm going to check into them also. :bigthumbsup:

[JohnN]

I researched retractable awnings and thought they were pretty pricey but quite nice.
The cooleroo may work, good luck

[chuckinca]

Lanai:
Etymology: Hawaiian lānai
Date: 1823
: porch, veranda


I wonder if Hawaiian's call their screen porches Florida Rooms? (Which is what screen porches used to be called in Florida)


PS: Hwy 27 in this area is Hwy 441/27. I have always heard it called 441 not 27.

[LB]

We still live in West Palm (unfortunately) and our Lanai faces west. Can get very hot and tghe sun goes all the way througth the house two time a year. We have a retractable awning and enjoy it very much. It adds some color and sun control, however it is good only until the sun start to go down. The sun comes under it. We also have a roll down screen that is great for privacy and sun control. My suggestion is the screen. They come in colors and different densitys. Be sure the roller is metal not cardboard. Ours is 10 years old and has been pressure cleaned and still looks great. Larry

[The Gray Hog]

We face south and west on the rear patio, so acrylic tinted windows fit the bill. Now the wind, rain nor sun affects us and when we open the front screened patio around the front door and a few of the acrylic windows in the rear of the house, it creates a breeze that flows through from front to back, whamming and slamming the interior door. Wonderful breezes up on Hadley hill, even when the temps are in the 80's. For the winter temps, it creates a 'solar' room of warmth that heats the living/dining areas in the rear of the home. A roman shade of some form may be needed for the super intense summer heated days.

[golfnut]

Here is a previous thread (hope this works)

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/sm....html#msg29991

If you look half way down this thread you can see what we did to screen our lanai, hope this helps. FYI, the large palm I believe is a double canary, the double is key as it makes it much wider. Plenty of privacy without feeling closed in. GN

[The Great Fumar]

If its screened , its a lanai
If its glassed , its a florida room

How do you know this you ask.... I have no Idea, It just comes in the night.............

restless fumar