Hear From Our Clients
You get your patio back. Not just for three tolerable months a year, but actually usable space when it’s 95 degrees at 8 p.m. and the mosquitoes are out in force.
A lanai enclosure turns that back porch or patio into a room you’ll actually use. No more choosing between sweating through dinner outside or missing the breeze entirely. You’re not fighting bugs, you’re not getting rained on mid-conversation, and you’re not cranking the AC to compensate for an open door.
It’s still outdoor living. You still get the light, the air, the feeling of being outside. But now you control the variables that make Houston outdoor spaces miserable half the year.
And it’s not a temporary fix. This is a structure built to handle humidity, storms, and the kind of heat that turns vinyl furniture into modern art. You’re adding square footage that works as hard as the rest of your home.
We’ve been building outdoor living spaces at Four Seasons Sunrooms since before “outdoor living” became a trend. We’ve spent five decades figuring out what works in climates like South Houston, where heat and humidity aren’t occasional problems—they’re constants.
We’re not a general contractor who dabbles in sunrooms. This is what we do. Every project uses materials designed for year-round use, installed by people who’ve done this enough times to know where shortcuts show up later.
You’re working with a local team backed by a national company. That means you get someone who knows South Houston’s building codes, climate challenges, and what actually holds up here. But you also get access to proprietary materials, proven systems, and a warranty that means something because there’s a company behind it.
We don’t outsource installs. We don’t hand you off after the sale. You get the same team from consultation to completion, and they’re accountable for the result.
It starts with a site visit. We come to your home, look at the space, talk through what you’re trying to accomplish, and figure out what’s realistic given your layout, budget, and how you actually use your outdoor areas.
From there, we design the structure. You’ll see renderings that show exactly what this will look like attached to your home. We’ll walk through material options, screen types, roof styles, and whether you want something fully enclosed or partially open. This is where you make decisions about ventilation, lighting, and whether you’re adding electrical or climate control.
Once the design is locked in, we handle permits and scheduling. Installation typically takes a few weeks depending on size and complexity. We’re building a foundation, framing the structure, installing the roof system, adding screens or glass panels, and making sure everything integrates with your existing home without looking like an afterthought.
When it’s done, you’ve got a finished space that’s ready to use. No punch list that drags on for months. No “we’ll come back and fix that later.” It’s built right the first time.
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The structure has to handle Houston weather. That means engineered to withstand high winds, designed to shed water fast, and built with materials that won’t warp, rot, or fade when they’re baking in direct sun for six months straight.
Screen quality matters more here than in most places. You’re not just keeping out the occasional fly—you’re creating a barrier against mosquitoes, fire ants, roaches, and whatever else decides your patio looks inviting. We use screening systems that actually seal, with frames that don’t leave gaps where insects find their way in.
Ventilation is the difference between a space that’s comfortable and one that turns into a greenhouse by noon. A properly designed lanai in South Houston includes airflow that works with the breeze, roof systems that provide shade without trapping heat, and options for fans or misting systems if you want them.
You’re also looking at a structure that integrates with your home’s exterior. That means matching rooflines where it makes sense, using materials that complement your siding or brick, and making sure this doesn’t look like a shed you attached to your house. It should feel like it was always part of the plan.
And if you want to take it further—adding glass panels for climate control, installing lighting for evening use, or building in an outdoor kitchen—the structure is designed to support those upgrades. You’re not locked into one configuration forever.
Most lanai projects in South Houston run between $8,000 and $20,000, with an average around $16,000. That’s a wide range because the final cost depends on size, materials, and how much customization you’re adding.
A basic screen enclosure on an existing patio slab costs less than a fully enclosed four-season room with insulated glass and electrical. If you’re building from scratch and need foundation work, that adds to the budget. Same with upgraded roofing systems, integrated lighting, or climate control features.
Square footage is the biggest driver. A 150-square-foot enclosure costs less than a 300-square-foot structure, obviously. But material quality matters too. Higher-end screening, tempered glass panels, and engineered aluminum framing cost more upfront and last longer in Houston’s climate.
We give you a fixed-price quote after the site visit. No hourly rates, no surprise charges, no “we’ll figure it out as we go.” You know what you’re paying before we start.
Most lanai installations take two to four weeks from start to finish. That includes permitting, material delivery, construction, and final inspection.
Simpler projects move faster. If you’re screening in an existing covered patio with a concrete slab already in place, we’re looking at the shorter end of that timeline. More complex builds—like a custom structure with a new roof system, foundation work, and integrated electrical—take longer.
Weather can delay things. We’re not pouring concrete in a downpour, and we’re not installing screens in 40-mph winds. Houston weather is unpredictable, so we build buffer time into the schedule.
Permitting timelines vary depending on your local jurisdiction. Some cities in the Houston area turn permits around in a few days. Others take two weeks. We handle the permit process, but it’s one variable we don’t fully control. Once permits are approved and materials arrive, the actual construction moves quickly. You’re not dealing with months of disruption.
Yes, but how much depends on the quality of the build and how well it fits your home. A well-designed lanai adds functional square footage, which appraisers recognize. It’s not just aesthetic—it’s usable space that extends your living area.
In South Houston, outdoor living features are a selling point. Buyers here know how brutal the heat and bugs can be, so a screened or enclosed patio that actually works year-round is a real advantage. You’re offering something most homes in the area don’t have.
That said, not all lanais add the same value. A poorly built enclosure that looks like an afterthought or doesn’t match the home’s style can actually hurt resale. But a professionally installed structure using quality materials and thoughtful design typically recoups a significant portion of the investment when you sell.
Even if you’re not selling anytime soon, you’re getting immediate value in how you use your home. If you’re spending more time in that space, hosting more often, or just enjoying your property more, that’s worth something regardless of appraisal numbers.
The terms get used interchangeably, but there are some differences. A lanai is typically a covered outdoor space, often attached to the back of a home, that’s enclosed with screens or glass. It’s designed to feel like an extension of your indoor living area.
A screened porch is usually part of the original home structure, built at the same time as the house, with screening as the primary enclosure. Lanais are more often added later and can include more customization—like insulated glass panels, climate control, or hybrid designs that mix screens and solid walls.
In South Houston, what you call it matters less than what it does. You want a space that keeps bugs out, provides shade, handles rain without turning into a swimming pool, and doesn’t feel like a sauna by mid-morning. Whether that’s technically a lanai, a screened porch, or a patio enclosure, the function is what counts.
Most of our clients are looking for something that works year-round, not just a screen box that’s tolerable in spring and fall. That usually means a structure with a solid roof, good ventilation, quality screening, and the option to add glass or climate control if they want it later.
Yes, but it requires upgrading to an insulated, enclosed structure. Standard screen enclosures don’t hold conditioned air—you’re essentially trying to cool the outdoors. If you want climate control, you need insulated glass panels, sealed frames, and a roof system designed for thermal performance.
That turns your lanai into what’s called a four-season sunroom. It’s still full of windows and natural light, but it’s built like an addition to your home, not just a screened patio. You can tie it into your existing HVAC system or install a separate mini-split unit depending on the size and layout.
This costs more than a basic screen enclosure, but it gives you a room that’s comfortable even when it’s 100 degrees outside. You’re not limited to using the space only during the few months when Houston weather cooperates.
Most people start with a screen enclosure and add glass panels later if they decide they want year-round climate control. We design the structure to support that upgrade, so you’re not rebuilding from scratch if you change your mind. You’re just swapping screens for insulated glass and adding the HVAC component.
Yes. Any permanent structure attached to your home requires a building permit in South Houston. That includes lanais, patio enclosures, sunrooms, and covered patios.
The permit process ensures the structure meets local building codes, is properly anchored, and won’t create drainage or safety issues. It also protects you if you ever sell the home—unpermitted additions can cause problems during inspections and appraisals.
We handle the permit application as part of the project. You don’t need to visit city offices or figure out what documentation they need. We submit the plans, coordinate inspections, and make sure everything is approved before we start building.
Permit timelines vary, but most South Houston projects get approved within one to two weeks. Once the permit is issued, we schedule the build. After construction is complete, there’s a final inspection to confirm everything was built according to the approved plans. That inspection is required to close out the permit, and we coordinate that too. You’re not dealing with the bureaucracy—we are.
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