[shandy59]

We are building in Marsh Bend and our lot will have a nice view. Does anybody have any thoughts or advice about how big to build the lanai?
Is a birdcage a good way to go? Should it have a structural roof instead of screen? Are windows a better way to go?
We appreciate any feed back about what you like about your patio and what you might do differently.
Thanks!

[dewilson58]

Those are difficult questions to answer for someone else.


My experience has been.............live in the place for a while and see what you really want and would use.


A 16 x 24 lanai is huge, but by the time you put a seating area and a dining area in it...........it's about right.


I have seen a lot of summer kitchens (installed by TV for $20k to $30k) never used. Our next door neighbor took theirs out and put a fireplace in.


Good Luck.

[asianthree]

I would push the lanai as much as your lot will allow. It makes great entertainment space. Birdcages are important spaces, so add one to give you a sunny place to sit in cooler temps

[Chi-Town]

A large overhang lanai leading out to a large birdcage is the way to go.

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[vintageogauge]

Ours is 15 x 30 and is quite adequate and is not too big to keep clean which you will be doing at least weekly until all of the construction is completed in your area.

[graciegirl]

Years ago the original "Villages Kahuna" told us that making as much space as possible to enjoy the year around decent weather is a very good idea.

We love our birdcage.

Take a while as DWilson has said and all of the other comments are good advice as well.

Hope you love it here. We do.

[VApeople]

We have a 15x50 screened lanai and enjoy it very much. Since it is shaded most of the day, we and our guests often sit outside, but we do not usually see our neighbors with birdcages sitting outside.

On the other hand, other people can't wait to have their lanai enclosed to make more living space. I guess you gotta decide how you want to live your life.

[patfla06]

Having lived in Florida over 20 years I have a rule about outdoor living.
If it isn’t under shade or screen I will not use it.

I have seen a lot of people put in patios and they
NEVER use them. Too hot and too buggy.

[gomsiepop]

I'm building a home in Linden. When we met with our design consultant we thought 16 x 30 was the furthest we could go until we found out our lot allowed us to increase the depth by 5 feet. We will have a lanai measuring 21 x 30 and then we're going to enclose it with windows and doors. In our current home our enclosed lanai is 13 x 29. I would go the distance allowed by setbacks. Good luck with whatever choice you make.

[retiredguy123]

I think a covered lanai is much more functional than a birdcage. I would only build a birdcage to cover a pool.

[shandy59]

Thank you for your input. I get the feeling to go larger rather than smaller. I also like the idea of a covered lanai and then extending the birdcage.
Do you find the birdcage gets really dirty? Is it a huge job to keep it clean?

Thanks once again!

[retiredguy123]

It depends on whether you have a lot of birds and squirrels that like to hang out on top of the bird cage. I have a friend who is always inventing new gadgets to scare the birds away because of the continual bird droppings that fall into his pool from the top of the bird cage. Also, bird cages can be damaged by wind.

[sunny70]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

It depends on whether you have a lot of birds and squirrels that like to hang out on top of the bird cage. I have a friend who is always inventing new gadgets to scare the birds away because of the continual bird droppings that fall into his pool from the top of the bird cage. Also, bird cages can be damaged by wind.

We have been in The Villages 17 years. Our Lanai was screen when we first moved in, then after one spring of Pollen covering everything, day after day we enclosed with Vinyl Four Track sliders. We enjoyed them for many years (when it wasn't too hot or too cold out), but two years ago they needed replacement, so we put in Glass Picture Windows and a couple slider windows. We now can use the Lanai all year around (with heat and air). If we had it to do again, we would do Glass windows first! Because the weather is HOT for at least four months and cold for a month or two in the winter sometimes , the Lanai was not comfortable to spend time in. Now it's a year around room!

[VApeople]

Originally Posted by shandy59

Do you find the birdcage gets really dirty?

Maybe it depends on whether there are trees nearby.

One day we were driving on Conservation Trail in Pine Hills and saw a beautiful house for sale. I think the price was $1.4M. The house was locked but the lanai was unlocked and people were looking at it, so we went in as well.

The lanai and birdcage were huge and the pool was awesome. However, there were live oak trees nearby and the birdcage area was filthy.

My wife and I decided the house would only be acceptable if I could have a full-time Swedish maid to keep the house clean and she could have a full-time Latin pool boy to take care of the lanai.

[Chi-Town]

Originally Posted by shandy59

Thank you for your input. I get the feeling to go larger rather than smaller. I also like the idea of a covered lanai and then extending the birdcage.
Do you find the birdcage gets really dirty? Is it a huge job to keep it clean?

Thanks once again!

Certain times of the year pollen needs to be cleaned off table tops, and an occasional hosedown on the ground surface is necessary. Quick and easy maintenance. Once or twice a year I have the power wash company Egner's do their thing on the surface, furniture, frame, and screens. Very reasonable (under $100). The benefit of an all year outdoor bug and critter free area to enjoy the Florida sky while lounging is what a birdcage us all about.

There are several of them in my neighborhood that are 10+ years old and all made ut through Irma intact and undamaged.



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