Lanais are a type of outdoor patio and Florida is famous for them. Partly because we coined the phrase, the rest of the country referred to this area of their home as a patio, deck, or back porch.
Lanais combine a patio with a porch or veranda. They are typically roofed and are included in the home’s floor plan. Back in the day, the space was open—other than having a roof. These days, though, more and more homeowners are choosing to enclose the space.
Why do Florida homeowners enclose their lanai?
Actually, there are several reasons that homeowners choose to enclose their lanais, pool areas, backyard living rooms, and even their gazebos.
We mentioned that we coined the term lanai, but did you know that the rest of the country is starting to refer to their outdoor living space as the “Florida room?” It’s true.
No matter where you live, a space outdoors for your family to enjoy is sure to be a popular spot for hanging out on game night or entertaining.
There are other advantages too, of course. We’ll share them with you.
Privacy
The main reason that Floridians enclose their outdoor living space is that they want a greater sense of privacy. Enclosures provide that feeling for them.
Hopefully, your neighbors are the best! Still, it’s nice to have a space to gather everyone together without feeling like the entire neighborhood knows everything you have going on at any given moment.
Bugs can’t bother you
The second reason—which we believe is a close second—would have to be the fact that enclosures keep bugs out. Our subtropical climate is the perfect breeding ground for them. It seems they come out in droves when you want to enjoy time outdoors with family and friends.
Enclosing your outdoor living space, whether it’s the lanai or the pool, creates an entirely different experience. You can enjoy eating outdoors without constantly shooing flies off your plate. Night swims will get scheduled a lot more often too because mosquitoes can’t swarm you and your guests.
UV protection
Whether you decide to install a glass or mesh screen enclosure, you will gain some protection from the sun’s damaging ultraviolet (UV) rays. It makes a difference
Glass can be treated, of course, your enclosure becomes more costly depending on the amount of protection you’re looking for.
Mesh screen enclosures provide you with an element of protection as well. Many companies use screens that are treated with extra UV protection. It increases the lifespan of your enclosure overall.
They provide an advantage that glass enclosures don’t, too.
Mesh screen enclosures allow air to flow freely throughout the enclosure. This is huge if you’re enclosing the area around your pool because free airflow dries out the area completely. Glass enclosures trap moisture inside so you’re more likely to have problems with mold and mildew. Once it gets started, it spreads.
Left untreated, it can eventually cause some serious health problems that grow worse over time.
Moisture issues can damage the structural integrity of your home too. If it makes its way into the recesses of your home, over time, it continues to travel until it reaches the wooden frame. If that happens, repairs can be very expensive.
Debris stays outdoors
Even though we love our outdoor living space, it would be nice not to have to dust off a space to sit down nearly every time you’re out there, wouldn’t it?
Once you enclose your lanai, patio, or pool, storm and yard debris won’t be a problem. You’ll definitely notice that you’re spending more time relaxing and less time sweeping or skimming.
Living in the lanai
Back in the day, Florida families gathered on the lanai in hopes of catching a breeze. It wasn’t unheard of for them to eat, sleep, and relax there for days on end. Of course, air-conditioned homes are considered the norm today. Still, some families still choose to practically live in the space.
That’s because we don’t just stick up a hammock and throw in a couple of old chairs anymore.
Floridians love their outdoor living rooms and look forward to creating their own private getaway spots. Outdoor furniture, televisions, and lighting dress up the space. Water features are popular too. The sound of running water creates a sense of serenity and watching it cycle through the feature is relaxing for many people as well.
Lanais are great additions to Florida homes. We use them year around.
They add more living space and can make the perfect backyard getaway spot. They offer protection from the sun and rain, keep bugs and mosquitoes at bay, and provide a sense of privacy when you have it enclosed.
They increase your property value to some degree too.
Overall, it’s easy to understand why lanais are so popular here. If your home doesn’t have one, it would be an addition that you and your family are sure to enjoy for years to come.