More Florida people are adding a lanai to their house, but there are still many people who may not have heard of what a lanai is. A lanai is a Hawaiian word to describe an area outside your home. There are patios, porches, sunrooms, verandas, and now a lanai is an option. All of these are attached to a house somehow, and some are defined by where they are.
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What is a Lanai
A lanai is sort of a sunroom but offers even more of an indoor-outdoor type experience. Both are structures attached to a house. A sunroom provides a view of nature, but it is generally made of mostly glass. The difference between that and a lanai is that a lanai is often screened to give a true outdoor feel.
Both sunrooms and lanais are essentially additional rooms added to your home. A sunroom is fully enclosed, has electricity, and is like any other room. A lanai has screens instead of glass, and that is a major difference.
Another difference from a sunroom is that a lanai has a concrete floor and is on the house’s bottom floor. A sunroom may have a different floor surface and can be on any level. A lanai gives more protection than a porch and more of the combined outdoor and indoor feel than a sunroom.
You can also get creative with your lanai. It can be that extra porch with screens to protect you from insects. It can also be something like an enclosure for a swimming pool or hot tub.
Cleaning your Lanai
Cleaning a lanai is like cleaning anything else to some extent, but some things make it complicated. There is the floor, which is pretty much a patio – a flat concrete surface. You may have a rug or matt down to cover it, and those can be cleaned by taking them outside.
There is usually some glass involved, typically on the roof, which you may want to have cleaned regularly. A large part of the sides will be screened, which may also need to be cleaned.
Lanai Heat and humidity
A lanai is ideal for Florida. In some parts of the state, you could use this area year-round. You could use it most of the year anywhere in the state. But Florida offers some challenges as well as advantages when it comes to the weather.
Since there are screens instead of windows, air conditioning won’t be an option, but installing some ceiling fans would help move the air and make it more comfortable. The heat may make it more uncomfortable than those rare cold days do. Keeping the airflow going is essential. This would also help with the humidity that is always high. Humidity can be a breeding ground for mold, but it may take care of itself if the air keeps moving.
Saltwater spray and salt can also wreak havoc on an outdoor area, making the indoor part harder to care for. Insects, lizards, and other small creatures can also invade your lanai since it has open spaces, but these are just a few of the challenges that make Florida interesting.
On the positive side, Florida’s warm weather makes you want to be outside, and a lanai allows you to do that while protecting you from flying insects.
Professional Lanai Cleaning Services
The key to keeping your lanai looking good and in good shape is maintenance. Keeping it clean is a big part of maintenance, and it is always a good idea to have it professionally cleaned. You may keep it pretty clean by yourself with a broom, vacuum, and a hose, but a deep-cleaning done by professional window washers can reach deeper, and that will help your lanai stay looking good and in good shape both in appearance and structurally.
A professional cleaning service can pressure wash your floor, for starters. The service can clean your windows, including everything around them. The service can also clean screens, which is a little more complicated because they are not always removable. Professional cleaners have the tools to get screens and windows sparkling clean and have the know-how to do it fast and efficiently. If it has been a while since you had your lanai cleaned, you might be surprised by the difference it can make. A thorough cleaning each Spring, or once per year, is a great way to keep the Lanai in good shape for years to come.