Adding a sunroom to your home can give your surroundings a fresh look, add natural light and expand your living space -- often with the added benefit of producing an economic payback over time. If you are considering adding a sunroom, patio room or conservatory to your home, use the following tips as your blueprint for a project that will go as smoothly as possible and produce the results that you want.
Plan Your Changes
First, decide what changes you would like to make to your home. Most people choose to add a sunspace to their home because they are satisfied with their location and neighborhood but would like a new look and to add some additional "light filled" living space to their home. Often times they have a seldom-used patio or deck that is buggy, hot, cold, wet and dusty. This is a perfect place to start planning your beautiful new sunroom addition.
When planning the changes you would like to make, consider factors such as comfort and appearance, roominess, the cost and time frame for completing the project. Also consider whether you would like to use this room year 'round or as a seasonal space. Remember that sunrooms enhance the value of your home, so keep in mind the appreciation on your property can pay big dividends while you live there, and when you decide to sell.
Key to Success: Find the Right Contractor
Team up with a contractor who can provide an evaluation of what needs to be done and how much it will cost. A detailed estimate will determine what you can and cannot do in certain projects. A reputable, experienced contractor that specializes in sunrooms can offer good advice to help you work toward your expectations.
Be sure to select a contractor who is licensed and insured, been in business at least 5 years and who can provide references. Most reputable contractors are members of the Better Business Bureau or other trade associations.
When you are interviewing contractors, ask about their experiences in doing jobs similar to yours. Choose a contractor with the experience to provide a complete scope of services. There are many construction phases involved in a sunspace addition, and selecting a contractor that specializes in just a few can open the door for a situation that he is not equipped to handle.
Good contractors are proud of their reputation, so ask for the names and phone numbers of current (in the last 30 days) and former customers; then take the time to speak with them. The National Association of Home Builders recommends asking whether they would hire the contractor again, whether the contractor maintained a neat work site and whether the crews showed up on time. In addition, find out if the customer was pleased with the crew's work and if the project was completed on time and within budget.
Build Smart: Choose the Right Glass
A sunroom is typically more than 50 percent glass. Many people assume "new" means "energy efficient." This may be a costly assumption if you are building a sunroom. Many people also assume that all glass is the same. This, too, may be a costly assumption. There are many types of glass including single pane, double pane and even triple pane. If you are looking for a room to use six to seven months a year, single pane may be the choice for you. It will keep your patio clean and dry, and provide a measure of protection from the elements. However, in direct sun, single pane clear glass allows 210 BTU's per square foot into a room.
For year 'round use, double pane glass is the glass of choice. However, there are many choices in double pane glazing. Clear double pane glass transfers an astonishing 182 BTU's per square foot in direct sunlight. That is not much better than single pane glass. This is enough to make it virtually impossible to cool your sunroom.
Some contractors offer a glass called "Low-E," but it was designed to hold heat in, and only reduces solar gain to 170 BTU's per square foot. This, too, may make a beautiful room impossible to live in. "Selective Transmission Glass" such as MC2 is a patented glass that reduces heat gain down to manageable levels. It is almost six times as effective as "Low-E" glass, only allowing 30 BTU's per square foot thru the roof glass, and only 79 BTU's thru vertical wall glass.
Even if you were able to super air-condition an ordinary sunroom, you would still feel hot with too much solar radiation coming through the other double pane glazing available.
Avoid Other Common Mistakes
Other common mistakes remodeling homeowners make include: Failing to anticipate the interruptions a renovation can place on household routines and schedules; overlooking that a remodeling project creates cleanup challenges; and the ultimate mistakeS? searching for the cheapest contractor. In the low interest rate environment we have today, most experienced contractors are very busy and that can open the door to contractors that are not always as capable, experienced or competent as they may represent themselves to be. In addition, often times the projects they offer are of poor quality. Attempts to save or cut corners often lead to more expensive problems, poor workmanship and inferior finished products. These practices risk turning a project that should be impressive into one that's a costly embarrassment.
A Blueprint for Success
Being prepared to provide access to your home at various times, to be available to make decisions ad to maintain a degree of flexibility and patience will give you a head start on a successful sunroom project. Teaming up with an experienced contractor who you have confidence in, can take you the rest of the way toward achieving your goal of enjoying a sunroom, patio room or conservatory that you can be proud of for years to come.
The Top Five Things You Should Know...
1. Select a contractor who is licensed, insured and specializes in doing jobs similar to yours.
2. Ask your contractor for a complete and full estimate up front.
3. A sunroom is typically over 50 percent glass; invest in the best glass you can. It will pay for itself in a few short years.
This is very important in Kansas.
4. Sunrooms often look smaller out on your deck or patio than they will when they are completed. Ask your contractor to show you a room in your home that is comparable to show you the actual size.
5. A common mistake homeowners make is to neglect heating/cooling and electrical in their new addition. Just like their home, the new room must be heated and need cooling for year-round use. Extra electrical outlets are always a good idea and may be required by local building codes.
