What Is a Lanai? Lanai Sizes at Preserves at Park Trace

A lanai is a covered outdoor room attached to the back of a house. It has a solid roof overhead, a floor at ground level, and open sides or screens instead of full walls. In Florida, a lanai is where people eat, relax and spend time outside while staying out of the sun and rain. Every floor plan at Preserves at Park Trace comes with a covered lanai finished in pavers.

That is the quick answer. Below, we explain where the word comes from, how a lanai differs from a porch or a patio, and how big the lanai is on each Park Trace floor plan.

What Is a Lanai, and Where Does the Word Come From?

"Lanai" is a Hawaiian word for a covered porch or veranda. The idea spread to Florida because the weather is similar. Both places are warm, sunny and rainy for much of the year. A roofed outdoor room makes sense in both.

In Florida real estate, you will see the word on almost every floor plan. It usually means the covered area off the back of the home, reached through sliding glass doors from the living room or great room.

Lanai vs Porch vs Patio

These words get mixed up all the time. Here is a simple way to tell them apart.

So a lanai is like a patio with a roof, or a porch that sits at the back of the home and feels like part of the living space.

Is a Lanai the Same as a Screened Porch?

Not always. Some lanais have screens around them to keep bugs out. Some are open on the sides. Many Florida owners add a screen enclosure later.

If screens matter to you, ask on your visit what screen options are available. Do this before you buy, not after.

Why Florida Homes Have Lanais

A lanai solves three Florida problems at once.

1. The sun. The roof gives shade during the hottest part of the day.

2. The rain. Summer storms often pop up in the afternoon. You can sit outside and stay dry.

3. The heat indoors. A covered area on the back of the home shades the glass doors behind it.

For many people, the lanai becomes the favorite room in the house, and it is often the first place they show guests. It is where you drink your morning coffee, grill dinner or watch the kids play in the yard.

How Big Is the Lanai at Each Park Trace Plan?

This is where the plans really differ. Here are the sizes from D.R. Horton's plan sheets for Preserves at Park Trace.

A few things jump out:

• The Avon has the biggest lanai, even though it is the smallest home. It is the best pick for someone who lives outside.

• The Cali has the smallest lanai. It gives that space to a fourth bedroom instead.

• The Delaney is the best of both: a large lanai and four bedrooms on one floor.

See how the whole home compares in 4 bedroom house plans at Preserves at Park Trace.

What Comes With the Lanai at Park Trace

D.R. Horton's features sheet for Park Trace includes a paver driveway, entry walkway and lanai. Pavers are individual stones or concrete blocks set in a pattern. They look nicer than a plain concrete slab.

The sliding glass doors that open to the lanai are impact-resistant glass, which is part of the standard package. See the full list in our D.R. Horton Emerald Series guide.

D.R. Horton also says each homesite at Park Trace backs up to either a preserve area or a pond.

How to Use a Small Lanai Well

If you pick the Cali or the Robie, the lanai is smaller. That is okay. Here are simple ideas:

• Two chairs and a small table fit nicely on the Cali lanai.

• A bistro set turns the Robie's covered patio into a coffee spot.

• Put the grill just past the lanai, on the grass or on added pavers, so the covered area stays for sitting.

• Use plants and a rug to make it feel like a room.

How to Use a Big Lanai Well

On the Avon or the Delaney, you have room for more:

• An outdoor dining table for six or eight.

• A seating area with an outdoor sofa.

• A ceiling fan, if you add one later, for air on hot days.

Caring for a Lanai in Florida Weather

A lanai is easy to look after, but Florida weather means a few simple habits help.

• Before a storm, bring in loose furniture. Chairs, cushions and plants can blow around in strong wind. Store them in the garage.

• Rinse the pavers now and then. A garden hose keeps dirt and pollen from building up.

• Pick outdoor furniture made for sun and rain. Aluminum, teak and all-weather wicker last longer than indoor pieces.

• Keep the glass doors on their tracks clean. Sand and leaves can make sliding doors stick.

None of this takes much time, and it keeps your favorite room ready to use.

Lanais and the Two-Story Plans

On the Robie and the Ponte Vedra, the lanai is off the first floor. Both plans also have a first-floor bedroom with a full bath. That makes the lanai easy to reach for a parent or guest staying downstairs. Read more in multigenerational house plans: Robie vs Ponte Vedra.

For the one-story plans, see open concept floor plans: Avon vs Cali vs Delaney.

See the Lanais in Person

A number on a plan sheet does not tell you how a lanai feels in the late afternoon. Standing on it does. We can show you the model homes at Preserves at Park Trace and tell you what incentives are being offered right now.

Call 561-704-0091 or book a visit to see the Park Trace lanais.

Common Questions

Want to stand on a Park Trace lanai? Call 561-704-0091 or book at nationalhousesearch.com/schedule.