Lanai - Day 2

We have come a long way since we first took pictures of Gladys back in 2011.  At that time, the back door lead to a 6 x 8 cement slab which lead to stepping stones amid a mud patch under a leaning, half-dead tree.

In 2011, the Florida Room and garage doors both lead to a
muddy pathway in the back of the house. 

The "ear" tree leaned too close to the house, and the tiny cement
slab outside the doors flooded with each storm.

That same year, we had the leaning "ear" tree removed before it fell on the house.  We put up with the mud and stepping stones for many years. Finally, we had the patio poured in preparation for a future lanai.

When we added the cement slab and the pavers around it,
we planned for our lanai.

Today, the lanai was completed.  The workmen arrived early, and in the course of the day, they sealed the roof, installed the doors, added flashing to the roof in preparation for gutters tomorrow, caulked every crack in sight, and they screened in the entire enclosure.

One man stands on the roof to seal the roof joints while the other
workman installs the doors.

The door on the far end of the lanai allows
us to access the garbage cans and the side yard.

The side door leads to the back yard.

We have wide overhangs on all sides to protect the lanai from rain,
and the gutters tomorrow will further help keep the lanai dry.

Tomorrow the gutters will go in, and then we will be ready for the inspector to sign off on the job.  We are happy with the results.  The room looks clean and neat, and we cannot wait for the weather to warm up a bit so we can enjoy sitting outside.  One of the workmen told us that if we sit in the backyard in the shade under our trees and then go into the lanai, we will find that the temperatures are even cooler under the insulated roof of the lanai.  As the weather warms, that is good to know.

Within the next couple of weeks, we hope to have the lanai completely tiled.  That will make the outdoor space look more like a part of our permanent home.  Gladys has come a long way in the back yard from having a muddy walkway now replaced with a structure that provides a new, inviting place to sit and to relax on a hot day.