Lanai & Patio Enclosures in Land O' Lakes and Tampa Bay
Turn a screened porch you use four months a year into a room you use every day.
Most Florida homes have a lanai that sits empty from May to October. Enclosing it is one of the highest-value square footage additions you can make — you already have the slab and the roof, which is the expensive part of any addition.
Madsen Group Inc. converts lanais and covered patios into finished, air-conditioned living space: home offices, flex rooms, dining rooms, guest bedrooms, and sunrooms. We're a licensed Florida general contractor based in Land O' Lakes, and we handle the whole conversion — engineering, permitting, framing, windows, insulation, HVAC, electrical, and finishes.
What's Involved
An enclosure is a real construction project, not a screen swap. Done correctly, it includes:
Engineered drawings. A new exterior wall has to be designed for Florida's wind loads. Most jurisdictions in Tampa Bay — Hillsborough County among them — require drawings sealed by a licensed Professional Engineer before they'll issue a permit. We coordinate that.
Permitting and inspections. The conversion changes unconditioned space to conditioned space, which brings energy code, egress, and electrical requirements into play. We pull the permit and carry it through final inspection.
Slab and moisture control. Lanai slabs are often poured lower than the house slab and pitched for drainage. Raising, leveling, and sealing the floor is usually part of the job.
Windows and doors. Impact-rated or protected glazing, sized and placed for the room you actually want.
Insulation, HVAC and electrical. Wall and ceiling insulation, a conditioning solution sized for the space (extending existing ductwork or adding a mini-split), and outlets, switches and lighting to current code.
Interior finishes. Drywall, trim, flooring, paint — so the new room reads as part of the house rather than a bolt-on.
Why It Pays Off
The slab, the roof structure and the roofline already exist. You're paying for walls, glazing, and finishes — not for a foundation and a new roof. That makes an enclosure substantially cheaper per square foot than a ground-up addition, and it typically moves faster through permitting.
What It's Good For
- A dedicated home office that isn't the corner of a bedroom
- A guest room or in-law space
- Expanding a cramped living room or dining room
- A flex room for a growing family
- Adding heated-and-cooled square footage that counts toward your home's value
FAQ
Does an enclosed lanai add to my home's square footage?
If it's permitted and conditioned, yes — it generally becomes part of your home's heated and cooled living area, which is what appraisers and the property appraiser's office count. That's exactly why the permit matters.
Do I need an engineer?
Usually. Any new exterior wall assembly has to meet Florida wind-load requirements, and most local building departments want PE-sealed drawings before issuing a permit. We'll tell you up front whether your jurisdiction requires it.
How long does it take?
Permitting timelines vary by county and are the main variable. Construction itself is typically a few weeks once the permit is in hand. We'll give you a realistic schedule with the estimate.
Can you match the rest of my house?
Yes. Matching finishes, trim profiles and flooring so the addition doesn't look like an addition is the whole point.
Do you work outside Land O' Lakes?
We work throughout Pasco, Hillsborough and northern Pinellas — Wesley Chapel, Lutz, Odessa, Trinity, New Tampa, Tampa and surrounding areas.
Ready to get that space back?
Call (813) 469-0086 for a free on-site estimate, or send us a message and we'll get back to you the same day.
Thinking About a Remodel?
Madsen Group Inc.
24944 Hyde Park Blvd, Land O' Lakes, FL 34639
(813) 469-0086 · george@madsengroupinc.com
Florida Certified General Contractor — CGC #1514883
Serving Land O' Lakes, Wesley Chapel, Lutz, Odessa, Trinity, New Tampa and the greater Tampa Bay area.
Tell us what you have in mind and we'll come look at it. Estimates are free, and we'll give you a straight answer about cost and timeline before you commit to anything.
Call (813) 469-0086 or send us a message below.