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Frequently Asked Questions Sunrooms, Patio Rooms, Porch Enclosures
How long does it take to install a sunroom? How much does a sunroom or patio enclosure cost? What is the best time of year to purchase a sunroom? Can I use my existing porch roof? Can I use my existing deck or concrete pad? Can the sunroom or patio room be installed on the second story? Can the sunroom be installed if the gutters of the house are lower than the top of the sunroom roof? Do you need a building permit? What happens if you are in a homeowners association?
How long does it take to install your sunroom? If your foundation needs work, this typically takes 1 – 5 days. We can usually install the sunroom in a week or less after the foundation is prepared.
Sunroom prices vary by such wide margins that this question is nearly impossible to answer until we meet with you. There are many variables that determine price such as the size of the room, the type and height of the walls, what work is required for your foundation, how frequently you want to heat the room, what options you want, the type of roof and how it is attached to the house, etc. All our sunrooms are custom designed and built for your home, your lifestyle and your budget. Contact us for a design consultation. After surveying your site and selecting your options, we can give you an exact price.
What is the best time of year to purchase a sunroom? In Pennsylvania, we can install sunrooms all year around. Because of the normal seasonal slowdown, we can typically get your sunroom installed quicker during the winter.
Can I use my existing porch roof? If your existing roof is sound, and meets code, we can use it. Sometimes, we can make repairs to existing roofs so they can be used without being replaced. Our Design Consultants are trained to look for evidence that a roof might need additional work or replacement. It is unusual for an existing roof to need complete replacement.
Betterliving roofs do not need shingles to be waterproof. If you want shingles because you prefer the appearance of them or your homeowners association requires them, and we can install the roof with enough pitch for shingles, we can shingle it. Beware of contractors who attach shingles directly to a patio room roof without first constructing a ventilating layer between the shingles and the aluminum rood panels. This will void the shingle warranty and cause the shingles to age prematurely.
Can you use your existing deck or concrete pad? The Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code determines the minimum requirements that foundations must meet. All townships and municipalities in Pennsylvania are required to follow these codes. Concrete pads must have 36” deep footers under all walls or around the perimeter of the pad. If your pad is not footed and is not cracked badly, we can usually install footers without replacing the pad. Decks vary widely in construction quality. All decks need a little work. At a minimum we will install a moisture resistant subfloor and additional banding around the deck. Some decks might also need additional posts, beams or footers. We build wood foundations stronger than the minimum code requirements so you don’t have to worry whether your foundation will sink or have a spongy floor. A building is only as good as it’s foundation. We build them to last. If we believe it will cost more to upgrade your existing deck than to replace it, we will tell you. Fortunately, most existing decks can be used with some modifications.
Can the sunroom be installed on the second story? Yes, we can build sunrooms on elevated decks.
Can the sunroom be installed if the gutters of the house are lower than the top of the sunroom roof? If your sunroom roof is taller than the eaves of your house, we can usually build a dormer (sometimes called a reverse gable) on your house roof to tie the sunroom roof to the house. This is a common practice. It applies very little weight to the house roof, and it will not cause the roof to leak.
Do you need a building permit? In almost all cases, a permit is required. Building without a permit is illegal and could make you liable for fines. The inspections required with a permit help to assure you that your contractor is following the codes. As part of our service, we will take care of all permit issues including the application, the fees, and the inspections. Some townships will allow building a room without a permit only if you have an existing foundation and roof that were originally constructed under a permit, no structural changes are required, and you are replacing existing walls with walls of a like kind – replacing screen walls with new screen walls or replacing glass walls with new glass walls.
What happens if you are in a homeowners association? We will submit the necessary paperwork to your homeowners association and meet with their construction review committee if necessary. We almost always meet all association requirements.
To become a more educated sunroom buyer, request our free 8 page Consumer’s Guide.
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