“Do your homework … it’s an education.
Don’t do your homework … it’s an experience.”
On average, the price of a new sunroom is about the same as a new car. But for some reason, and we are speaking in general terms, we have found that sunroom buyers are often reluctant or unwilling to apply the same rigorous analysis to the purchase of their sunroom as they are to the purchase of that new car, TV, or most other consumer items. Digital camera buyers, for example, will often want to look at the number of pixels, the optical zoom power, the degree of operating difficulty, the ease of downloading, printer compatibility, storage capacity, and the feel of the different brands and models before committing to a purchase. Many will spend hours reading consumer reports, visiting retailers, researching the internet, and having discussions with friends to get the benefit of their views. And we do this even when the purchase price may be less than $500 or $1,000.
TV purchases usually receive the same scrutiny with consumers taking the time to explore choices such as 3D high resolution screens, LCD verses plasma, appearance, warranty coverage, screen size and depth, angle viewing clarity, and the seller’s reputation. It’s a similar story when shopping for a new car. Buyers carefully subscribe to the principle of due diligence as they thoroughly review various automotive consumer reports, articles, and other relevant information before taking delivery of a new vehicle. Engine performance, interior design and comfort level, exterior paint and interior upholstery colours, manual or power windows, expected kilometres per litre, quality of the stereo and CD system, warranty coverage, and safety concerns such as crash test results, traction and stability control, anti lock brakes, and the availability of front and side impact air bags, are but a few of the considerations that come under review.
When it comes to sunrooms, however, in spite of their expense, complexity, and the projected number of hours to be spent in the new sunroom, many buyers will often choose to focus on only one or two issues, such as winter performance or design, while ignoring many key issues that should be discussed. At Sierra Sunrooms, it is our goal to ensure that potential sunroom owners are well-informed on all relevant aspects of sunroom design and construction before committing to a project. That is the purpose of this sunroom info section.
Glass roof sunrooms have become extremely popular in Ontario and Quebec over the past two decades. They are almost always on everybody’s wish list. When well-built and properly-designed, they truly can bring immeasurable satisfaction and pleasure, and enhance the beauty of every home. But glass roof additions are more complicated than conventional construction. There are many areas that should be reviewed including glass warranty, labour warranty, insulation factors, glass shading coefficient, type of foundation, the advantages and disadvantages of removing the wall between the existing living space and the new addition, gable end wall design, heating, cooling, and flooring are but a few of the areas that should receive careful consideration.
The information in these articles has been prepared by Sierra Sunrooms Inc., the Ottawa distributor for Four Seasons Sunrooms We encourage all potential sunroom owners to take the time to review their content, and where applicable, to use it as a guide to help you ask the right questions when looking at the possibility of adding a sunroom to your home.