Window Cleaning at Carlysle at Bay Colony. Gulf views, zero streaks.

The Carlysle was delivered by WCI Communities in 1992 at 8171 Bay Colony Drive, between Contessa to the north and Brighton to the south. Local guides count 75 residences, four per floor on the standard levels plus two large penthouses, and every home has a direct Gulf view. Plans run from roughly 2,600 to 3,274 square feet with a library in each, and the layouts are described as see-through, with glass facing both sunrise and sunset. The building has replaced its windows with impact glass, while replacing the sliding doors was left to each owner.

Why the slider question matters

Because slider replacement was optional and paid for by individual owners, two Carlysle residences on the same floor can have quite different doors. One may have heavy new impact sliders with modern rollers and deep tracks; the next may still have older doors with different hardware. That affects how we clean them. On new laminated doors we use soft tools and avoid scrapers on any coated face. On older doors we check the rollers and the track for wear before we put weight on the panel. If you know whether your sliders were replaced, tell us when you book; if not, we will identify them on arrival.

Glass on two sides of the home

A see-through plan has glass at both ends. The Gulf side takes daily salt from the onshore breeze and strong afternoon sun. The east side, looking back over Pelican Bay, mostly collects pollen, dust and morning dew spots. We clean the east glass early, when the sun is on the Gulf side, and switch as the light moves, so no pane is cleaned in direct sun and the solution never dries into streaks.

The four standard plans

Plans are named by type and side. The A residences, South 01 and North 04, are three-bedroom-plus-library layouts of about 3,274 square feet. The B residences, South 02 and North 03, are two bedrooms plus a library, with South 02 listed at about 2,604 square feet. Tell us your residence number and we can usually work out the number of doors and windows from the plan before we visit, which makes the written quote accurate.

The library room

Every Carlysle plan includes a library, which many owners use as an office or a quiet sitting room. It often has its own window or door, and because it is used less than the main rooms, its glass may go longer between cleanings. We put it on the checklist with everything else.

Penthouses

The two penthouses are listed at about 5,646 square feet each, roughly double the standard homes. If you own one, plan on a longer visit and expect us to ask for photos or a walk-through first so we can count the glass and bring the right equipment.

Renovation dust

Owners continue to renovate individual residences, and the association updated the entry, pool deck, lobby and floor lobbies in 2019 and 2021. Construction in a neighboring unit or on your floor can leave fine dust on your lanai glass and in the tracks. A cleaning after a nearby project wraps up removes that grit before it scratches the rollers.

Leasing and pets

The Carlysle permits one lease per calendar year with a 90-day minimum, so most homes are owner-occupied for the season or rented to a single seasonal tenant. A small pet is allowed, and we always give the lower part of each slider extra attention for nose and paw prints.

What we clean and what the building cleans

We clean every pane reachable from inside the residence and from your lanai, including both faces of the sliders, any railing glass, frames, tracks and sills. Exterior faces of fixed windows on a high-rise are cleaned from ropes or a powered stage by the association’s contractor, and we do not attempt them.

Seasonal timing

Many Carlysle owners spend the winter in Naples and leave the residence closed from late spring to fall. Salt and humidity keep working on closed-up glass during those months. A cleaning in the week before you return means you arrive to clear views, and a final visit before you leave in spring keeps the summer buildup lighter.

Access

Bay Colony is gated and the Carlysle has 24-hour security. Before our first visit we email our insurance certificate to the building manager, ask to be placed on the gate and front desk lists for your appointment and follow the building’s contractor rules.