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