Sunrooms – What to Watch for – and Watch Out for – in Buying a Sunroom
Do higher gas prices and clogged highways have you spending more time at home? Do you wish you had a great space for your kids and their friends to hang out? If you’ve had the idea to turn your deck or patio into that wonderful sunroom addition,now is a great time to add a sunroom. There are many different designs and decisions to make so here is a list of some of things you may want to consider before you buy. Not all sunroom dealers and manufacturers are the same! When buying a sunroom, Your Envy sunroom will make your neighbors jealous!
Here are 11 things that you should know before buying a sunroom, along with how Envy sunrooms answers these concerns.
1. SEE THE SUN ROOM
Ask if the contractor has a showroom where you can see full size models. As soon as you walk through the door you should get a sense as to how comfortable you would feel having the contractor work on your home. Visiting the showroom can give you a sense of the different sunroom designs, and decorating ideas. Ask if the contractor has a display home where you can see their finished work on someone’s home, or request to see some pictures of sunrooms of previous customers. At Betterliving by Envy Home Services, we have 1000’s of customers with tons of samples of the type of work we can do for your new sunroom. We can show you the many different styles of sunrooms we install as well as pictures of our previous customers sunrooms already installed.
2. COMPARE THE COST AND VALUE OF A SUN ROOM
After you visit a showroom, make sure they offer a free, no obligation consultation and measure at your home to provide you with an exact cost for your project. Consultants can offer great ideas on how to utilize your current deck or patio as a foundation for your sunroom addition. Watch out for contractors who offer sunroom cost over the phone. This can hide the true cost of a sunroom project. Scheduling an appointment will be the only true way to be sure you can compare the sunroom cost and value of each product before selecting a sunroom company. At Envy Home Services, you can get a free, in-home consultation with one of our qualified and trained sunroom professionals. Our sunroom professional will measure your space and give you ideas on what kind of sunroom will best fit your needs. Within a short amount of time, you will receive a real quote (not just an estimate).
3. 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. Electrical raceways should not only be safe but they shouldn’t interfere with the sunroom décor. Watch for contractors who only offer electric as an afterthought by using awkward surface mount electrical boxes and conduit to run wiring and mount outlets. This is a part of Envy Home Services process when installing sunrooms. We have qualified electricians on staff to help your sunroom light up beautifully and function well.
4. CHECK THE ROLLER WHEELS ON WINDOWS AND DOORS
When building a sunroom, the sunroom windows and doors are an important centerpiece to the room’s decor. The quality of the windows and doors not only provides the outdoor feel but they’re a key a factor in a fully insulated sunroom that allows you to entertain for four seasons. To maintain durability, it’s the rollers that keep the windows and doors operation smooth for the long term. Steel rollers on stainless steel tracks are the best system for heavy windows and doors. Be sure the rollers are covered under the warranty. Betterling sunrooms by Envy Home Services come with steel rollers on stainless steel tracks to allow for smooth transitioning when opening windows and doors. Our sunrooms, along with the parts are covered by our warranty.
5. WHAT ABOUT ENERGY STAR®?
ENERGY STAR is a national program that rates the energy efficiency of consumer products. You’ll hear the term four seasons sunroom used frequently and it refers to sunrooms designed for year round heating and cooling. These sunroom designs are eligible to earn the ENERGY STAR. If you are considering a four season sunroom, be sure the windows and doors are ENERGY STAR qualified in all 50 states.
All Envy vinyl windows and doors are ENERGY STAR® qualified in all 50 states. You can go to the ENERGY STAR Partner List web page and search for “Craft-Bilt” to confirm our status as a ENERGY STAR Product Manufacturers Partner.
6. 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. If an uninsured worker is injured on your property, you could bear the liability and the original sunroom cost presented by the contractor becomes a huge loss. At Envy Home Services, we hire the most qualified, insured and background tested contractors. Also, we have our own employees that are licensed and insured to help work on your new sunroom addition.
7. SCREENS SHOULD BE GLARE FREE
Many companies will show you pictures of sunrooms and screened porch photos that have fiberglass screens. Black aluminum screens minimize the obstruction of your outdoor view, and are stronger than fiberglass screens. At Envy Home Services, we only use black aluminum screens so you can enjoy your sunroom forever.
8. CHECK OUT THE HANDLES
Your sunroom will get lots of use, so the door 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. When you come to Envy Home Services, you will be able to pick out specific handles and their colors to be sure they match the overall décor of your home.
9. 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 sub-contractors are used for specialty work on your installation, be sure they are fully insured and that your sunroom company will stand behind their work. Using installers whose only job is building a sunroom helps ensure that the sunroom cost doesn’t begin to inflate. It pays to do your due-diligence, and don’t be afraid to ask these questions – At Envy, our qualified sunroom installers are licensed, trained, certified and background tested by Envy Home Services.
10. BE SURE YOU GET THE RIGHT PERMITS AND THE 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. Our trained project coordinator’s will contact the appropriate people and obtain all permits needed before building your sunroom. If you live in a neighborhood that has a home owners association, you will need to contact them to get the appropriate permission for us to build your sunroom.
11. WHAT TYPE OF WARRANTY IS INCLUDED?
How long is the labor guarantee, and what does it include? Ask about the Manufacturer’s Warranty, and who stands behind it!
Craft-Bilt Manufacturing Company, a leader in home improvements since 1946, stands behind our 50 year warranty, and the authorized dealers stand behind the labor guarantee which is 3 years with Envy Home Services!
Sunroom Photo Gallery
