WHAT IS A SUNROOM?

Betterliving Sunrooms of Maryland have produced this guide so you can make the best informed decisions about choosing, designing and installing a new sunroom for your Maryland home.

A sunroom is a glass and screen outdoor living room installed on a wood or concrete foundation. It is also referred to as a patio room, solarium, patio enclosure or Florida room. Walls of glass bring in sunlight, and protect you from wind, bugs, rain, and chill. Composed primarily of single or double pane glass, sunrooms should be designed to fit the style and look of your home. Sunroom additions are a popular means of home improvement. They are an affordable way of adding space to your home. Sunrooms let you enjoy the outdoors in comfort. Depending on the style you choose, your sunroom can be a 3-season or year round room, increasing the enjoyment and resale value of your home.

THE EVOLUTION AND HISTORY OF SUNROOMS

Think of a sunroom as a modern-day front porch! Farmhouses and urban row homes featured a covered porch as a place to sit and relax at the end of the day. With the suburbanization of America, families moved to their back patios for their rest and relaxation. But rain made patios un-usable, and bothersome bugs sent people running for cover. This motivated many families to cover and screen in their patio.
 
As the window industry evolved, it became possible to purchase storm windows and attach them together to enclose a patio, getting even more use from the outdoor space. In response to homeowners’ desire for a better looking, more functional outdoor room, the patio room industry was born.
 
During the 1960’s, professional re-modeling companies developed affordable systems to enclose a patio or deck, offering design, installation, and full service warranties.  Patio rooms featured lightweight, engineered roof panels, single pane glass, and aluminum construction.  
 
These versatile patio rooms extended the outdoor season, provided protection from rain and bugs, and gave homeowners extra space. As consumers became more energy conscious and building technology advanced, patio and sunrooms became available with insulated glass, vinyl framework, and more elaborate designs. Many American companies also began to offer Greenhouses and Conservatories, which were popular in Europe.

HOW TO CHOOSE A SUNROOM?

When choosing a patio or sunroom you want to consider the best choice to meet your needs. How you plan to use the room should determine your choice of materials and size. Choose a sunroom style that is versatile and matches the architecture of your home.
 
Quality is a critical aspect to consider when choosing a sunroom. Seek a contractor who can demonstrate that they will use quality materials to construct your project. After all, a sunroom is an extension of your biggest investment - your home! Be sure it will provide many years of trouble free use.

COMMON USES FOR A SUNROOM

Sunrooms are the perfect way to use your deck without interference from the weather.

• Other sunroom uses:
• Add extra space to your home
• Bring the outdoors inside
• Keep bugs out
• A place to relax; enjoy the garden
• Dining area
• Breakfast room
• TV / Music Room
• Family Room
• Game/Spa room
• Place for pets or plants
• Playroom for children, grandchildren
• Hobby, Crafting or Exercise room
• Place to read, relax, retreat and nap
• Place to work
• Entertainment area for special occasions, birthday parties or holidays

SIZE AND LOCATION OF SUNROOM

First think about how you will use your new sunroom. Then, decide on the best location. Finally, decide on a size that will best fit your needs. Developing a budget may you help answer these questions.
 
Deciding the optimum location for your sunroom depends on how your sunroom will be used, and on your regional area. Sunlight exposure varies throughout the day and directional orientations will yield different effects. However, most homeowners install their sunrooms to the back of their homes.
 
Most people use sunrooms for leisure, relaxation, and casual dining. Many sunrooms are built off the kitchen or family room because these are the most often used rooms in the house. Consider the traffic flow of your home when deciding where to position a sunroom.

VINYL OR ALUMINUM?

Understanding the materials that go into a sunroom can help you select the product that is right for you. While aluminum patio and sunrooms have been on the market for decades, vinyl sunrooms have been introduced more recently and tend to cost more.
 
Think about how your family will use the room, and the climate in which you live. If you plan to heat or cool your sunroom during extreme temperatures, vinyl may be the better choice. Vinyl is strong, durable and thermally efficient offering double pane glass for the best insulation for year-round use. Vinyl extrusions require aluminum inserts to provide strength and rigidity in the posts and beams.
 
Aluminum provides structural support, is cost-efficient, strong, and light-weight. Aluminum patio rooms utilize single or double pane glass and are commonly used as 3-season rooms. Aluminum is a strong material and can stand on its own.

CHOOSING A SUNROOM COMPANY

One of the best ways to find a reputable company is to seek referrals from people who recently had sunrooms installed. Interview and meet with the recommended contractors to discuss your plans and ideas. Ask them for references and see the work they have done. Check their references but realize that contractors usually provide a list of their most satisfied customers.
 
Focus on quality and trust when you meet with a contractor instead of budget and timeline. It is important to trust the contractor who will be working on your home - your largest investment. Be cautious of lowball bids. When considering quality, “you get what you pay for” applies here.
 
Make sure that the contractor is licensed and insured with a reputable firm. Ask if they are a member of local or national homebuilder’s and remodeling associations. Ask how long a company has been in business. Choose an established company who will be around to provide you with assistance should a future problem arise.
 
Make sure the company answers all of your questions to give you enough information to make an educated buying decision. Check with your local Better Business Bureau to see if there are any complaints on file – and whether those complaints were resolved.  
 
If the contractor has a showroom, check out their workmanship and the quality of their materials. The company should provide you with accurate to-the-penny pricing, without any hidden costs. Be careful about estimates or bids – they are often unreliable and you may find yourself paying more for the project than you were led to believe.
 
The company should use their own crews to install the room. The contractor/foreman should supervise the project with regular on site visits. The company should have a process to immediately notify you of changes or delays in the schedule. The company should take care of obtaining the building permit and arrange for the final inspection. Make sure that the company does in fact pull a permit; this is their responsibility. Without a valid permit and certificate of occupancy, you might not be able to sell your home with the sunroom in place.
 
The company should provide you with a complete and thorough walk through inspection of the finished product. Make sure the company or contractor warrants their materials for several years and wants you to be totally satisfied with your sunroom.

HOW TO MAKE SUNROOMS AFFORDABLE

Your sunroom should be custom-built for your home. Choose a company who can manufacture a variety of styles and any size sunroom to complement your home and suit your needs. Look for a dealer who can provide you with financing options to work within your budget.  
 
Sunrooms can increase the resale value of your home. Homeowners who sell their homes say their sunroom helped their home sell quickly.

AVOIDING INSTALLATION AND SERVICE NIGHTMARES

A good sunroom company will educate you about the process they will follow in building your sunroom. This begins with a careful measure and site inspection by the company’s technical staff, to check for concerns that might have an impact on the installation.
 
Your sunroom company should prepare the engineering documents and permit applications and submit them to the local building department, and arrange for the necessary inspections during the installation process.
 
The installation crew should be well mannered, hardworking, and considerate of your home and property. A lead installer or foreman should visit the job site every day.

MANUFACTURER AND SERVICE WARRANTIES

Make sure the sunroom dealer offers a Manufacturer’s Warranty and a Service Warranty. A warranty should cover the parts used in the installation for several years. Labor guarantees should cover at least the first year. A manufacturer’s warranty may be separate from the dealer’s service warranty.
 
Look for a company who stands behind their products and installations. Choose a dealer who uses their own crews of factory trained employees and not subcontractors. Be sure there is a parts warranty that is backed by a reputable manufacturer.
 
A Warranty You Can Count On
A warranty is only as good as the company who stands behind it. You need to be able to count on the manufacturer to be in business if you ever need warranty service on your sunroom. Visit the manufacturer’s website to find out how long they have been in business, and whether they have a long-term, exclusive agreement with the dealer in your area. A good strong relationship between the manufacturer and the company who installs your sunroom usually means better service and installation.

WHAT TO LOOK 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.