| A sunroom is a major investment, not only in | | | | to add what you want. |
| its cost but also in its longevity. A sunroom | | | | |
| that is unattractive or has little things | | | | If your sunroom is going to be built as a |
| wrong with it will not help the value of your | | | | true addition to your home, meaning that your |
| home. So it's important to hire a contractor | | | | wall or roof line, heating and cooling |
| who knows what he's doing. | | | | system, or other existing structures in your |
| | | | home will be altered, then it is imperative |
| If you live in a location where the summers | | | | that the sunroom adhere to the building codes |
| are oppressively hot, or the insects really | | | | and laws in your own area. |
| get on your nerves, or you simply want a | | | | |
| place to go to bask in the sun but not feel | | | | Questions for Potential Sunroom Contractors |
| the heat of the sun, then the addition of a | | | | |
| sunroom to your home may well be the solution | | | | Once you've decided that you'll have a |
| for you. | | | | contractor to build your sunroom, there are |
| | | | many questions you must ask. |
| The addition of a sunroom to one's home has | | | | |
| become very popular, and there are quite a | | | | Don't let any contractor bully you into |
| few businesses in the field. Some handle all | | | | choosing them because of a sale that will be |
| kinds of building projects, others specialize | | | | ended within the week, or because they won't |
| only in sunrooms. Depending on your home, | | | | have time to start on your job unless you |
| your budget and your needs, you will be able | | | | have them start immediately, etc. These are |
| to find the right sunroom for you. | | | | pressure tactics and anyone who tries that |
| | | | should be dismissed out of hand. |
| The first question you have to ask yourself | | | | |
| is, will your new sunroom fit the building | | | | It is always best to choose a company that |
| code and zoning regulations of your | | | | has been in business for a long time - with |
| neighborhood? Even if you're having the room | | | | the same people in charge for all that time. |
| built onto a pre-existing structure such as a | | | | If a company has just gone under new |
| porch, there are some neighborhoods that have | | | | management, this should be a red flag that |
| restrictions on what you can and cannot do to | | | | much more research into their company should |
| your home, so make sure you investigate this | | | | be done. |
| very first thing, so you know what you can | | | | |
| do. | | | | Even if a company has been in business a long |
| | | | time, it's also a good idea to make sure |
| The second question you have to ask yourself | | | | they're not resting on their laurels. Ask |
| is, are you going to "do-it-yourself," or are | | | | about their licensing, certifications, |
| you going to hire a contractor to do the | | | | membership in different associations and any |
| installation for you. It's important that you | | | | other legal or professional accreditations |
| make the right decision, because the addition | | | | that they might have. |
| of a sunroom will affect the value, and tax | | | | |
| estimate, of your house. If you do it | | | | But don't stop there. Ask them to provide you |
| yourself and the work turns out to be shoddy | | | | with the names of satisfied customers - and |
| for any reason, you'll also have no recourse | | | | go and talk to those customers to make sure |
| but to get it redone by a professional. | | | | all went well with their project. Also, check |
| | | | with the Better Business Bureau to make sure |
| Installing a sunroominstalling a sunroom onto | | | | that no one has made any complaints against |
| an existing base is different than | | | | them. |
| constructing one. Kits are sold so that you | | | | |
| can build on top an existing deck or patio. | | | | And one question that you should not forget |
| While it's true that you won't be making | | | | to ask is...is this contractor going to be |
| changes to the existing structure of your | | | | the one doing your work...or do they give the |
| home, it is still imperative that you make | | | | project to a subcontractor. That's a |
| sure that this existing base is constructed | | | | situation that usually should be avoided. |
| well enough to take the additional weight of | | | | |
| a sunroom. And even though you're not | | | | The more you know before you start, the more |
| altering the existing structure of your home, | | | | chance that you will have a sunroom installed |
| it is still best to check with any | | | | with no problems, either with its |
| neighborhood association that you are allowed | | | | construction or with its future use. |