Sunroom FAQ's

Why do homeowners invest in a sunroom?

Many reasons: Sunrooms expand your living space and increase the value of your home. They bring the outdoors inside and offer an area for relaxation and enjoyment.

How do people use their sunrooms?

People use the extra space the sunrooms provide as a place to retreat and relax. Some people use their sunrooms for: family rooms, library/reading room, dining and entertaining areas, as a playroom for children or grandchildren, workplace area, exercise room, reading room, room to do arts and crafts, a room to gaze out at the stars or simply a room to close your eyes for a few minutes on a Saturday afternoon. The possibilities are endless.

What’s better – a sunroom or a conventional room addition?

A sunroom is designed for comfortable outdoor living – it’s not “just another room in the house.” The expense for a sunroom can be considerably lower than a conventional room addition. Unlike conventional construction, a typical sunroom can be built in as little as a week with little mess or disturbance to your lifestyle. Because sunrooms have the feel of the outdoors, it has a different feel than a typical family room. They lend themselves to casual furnishings such as wicker and rattan, and provide a wonderful environment for plants. Most sunroom owners say it is their favorite room in the house.

Why is a sunroom a good investment?

Homeowners who sell their homes say their sunroom helped their home sell quickly, and they received a more than reasonable return on their sunroom investment. Families who have sunrooms talk about them as a place to relax, de-stress, and get away from it all.

Aside from being an investment that enhances your own personal lifestyle – you’ll get value when you sell. The 2005 Cost vs. Value Report from Remodeling Magazine’s research department shows Sunrooms recoup 74.5% of their cost when a home is sold.

How do I find a reputable sunroom dealer?

•     Seek referrals from people who recently had sunrooms installed.
•     Ask companies for references. See the work they have done.
•     Make sure the company is licensed and their license is current.
•     Ask how long the company has been in business. Choose a manufacturer who has a long and stable business history.
•     Check the quality of the materials and the workmanship.
•     The company should offer financing options.
•     Ask what percentage of their business is from referrals by past customers.
•     The company should provide you with an accurate cost to the penny - without any hidden charges.
•     The company should use their own crews to install the sunroom – not subcontractors.
•     The owner or installation foreman should supervise the project with regular on-site visits.
•     The company should have a process to notify you immediately of changes or delays in the schedule.
•     The company should provide you with a complete and thorough walk-through inspection of the finished product.
•     The company should answer all of your questions and provide information for you to make an educated decision.
•     The company should take care of obtaining the building permit and arrange for all of the required inspections by your local building department
•     Look for a warranty that is backed by a reputable manufacturer.

What questions should I ask?

•     Why should I choose a sunroom over a standard room addition?
•     What size sunrooms are available?
•     How long will it take to build my sunroom?
•     Why should I do business with you?
•     Why are you the best at what you do?
•     Tell me about the company that is going to manufacture the materials for my sunroom.
•     How many rooms have your crews built?
•     What type of Warranty is available?
•     Are your installers employees of your company or are they subcontractors?
•     Who trains your installation staff?
•     What percentage of your overall business is sunrooms?
•     What is the process for obtaining a building permit for the sunroom?
•     Is there a sunroom that your company has recently built that we could see?

WHAT TO LOOK FOR AND WATCH OUT FOR WHEN CHOOSING A SUNROOM

See the product… Quality Counts

Not all sunrooms are the same. There are many different products on the market with varying levels of quality. Look for a fully engineered system that is sturdy and well manufactured.

Ask if the contractor has a showroom where you can see full size models or ask to see their finished work on someone’s home. Let the homeowner tell you about their experience working with the company and their employees.
Compare cost and value

After you visit a show room, make sure to ask if they offer a free, no obligation consultation and measure at your home to provide you with an exact cost for your project. Some sunroom contractors offer estimates over the phone. This can hide the true cost of the project.

Scheduling an appointment would be the only true way to be sure you can compare the cost and value of each product before selecting a sunroom company.
Ask about insurance

Workers’ Compensation insurance is a big expense that many contractors don’t want to absorb, so they cut corners by hiring sub-contractors to do the installation work. If an uninsured worker is injured on your property, you could bear the liability.
Ask about UL® Approval

Would you live in a home where the electric system was not UL approved? Be sure the sunroom has UL approved wiring systems.

What about ENERGY STAR?

ENERGY STAR® is a national program that rates the energy efficiency of many consumer products. Sunrooms that are designed for year round heating and cooling are eligible to earn the ENERGY STAR. If you are considering a year round room, be sure the windows and doors are ENERGY STAR qualified in all 50 states.

Check the roller wheels on windows and doors. It’s the rollers that keep operation smooth for the long term. Look for window rollers that are the same size and quality as those used on the doors, for effortless operation every time. Steel rollers on stainless steel tracks are the best system for heavy windows and doors. The rollers should be adjustable and covered under the warranty.
Watch out for skimpy frames!

Some patio and sunroom doors and windows have roll formed aluminum frames, which are not as strong as extruded frames. Frames should be sturdy to take all of the use given to doors and windows in a sunroom.
Check out the handles

Your sunroom will get lots of use, so the door and window handles should be strong and easy to use. Color matched handles with mortise locks look better – and last longer! Screen handles should be full size and well fastened.

Try them out on the demonstration model the design consultant brings to your home, visit the showroom or ask to see a sunroom on a display home in your area.

Look at the Screens

Most screen material is fiberglass or nylon. These fabrics can stretch and make a belly in the screen. They also tear easily and can be burned with a cigarette or a spark from the grill. Screens should be glare free. Flat black aluminum screens minimize the obstruction of your outdoor view, and are stronger than fiberglass or nylon screens. Aluminum screens will not stretch or tear, and will not burn. That gives the screen a better look in the frame, and will not need frequent replacement or service.

Ask if sub-contractors will be used on the construction.

If so, find out how and what part of the work will they do. If subcontract-ors are used for specialty work on your installation, be sure they are fully insured and that your sunroom company will stand behind their work.
Be sure you get the right permits and necessary inspections.

Identify what permits will be required and how they will be processed. Find out who will schedule the inspections required by your local building department.

Water Control System

The Floor Channel is an important part of your water control system. In most sunrooms channels are attached to the deck or foundation. Water can collect in a flat channel. Look for a floor channel that has a slope to the outside of the room. If water gets in, it will go to the front of the room and will not sit in the channel or backup into the room. Floor channels should be sealed to keep water from seeping under the channel so the sunroom stays warm and dry on the inside. The same type of channel should be used under the window main frames to move water away from the room.

Weepholes are another important part of the water control system. Weepholes are elongated holes that are pre-punched at the factory to prevent clogging and allow water to flow freely. Factory drilled weepholes are better than drainage holes that are drilled on site. Drilling can be controlled at the factory, but not on site. Drilling through aluminum can cause burrs which will trap dirt and clog the holes. Weepholes are located at the lowest point in the floor channel, so water doesn’t sit in the channel causing mold or mildew.
Ask what type of house gutters are used.

Look for an extruded aluminum gutter that integrates into the finished roof. An extruded gutter is stronger and more durable than a standard house gutter. The gutter should match the sunroom roof in color and design.

Warranty

Ask what type of warranty is included. How long is the labor guarantee, and what does it include? Ask about Manufacturer’s Warranty, and who stands behind it.