As the warmer temperatures start to become more frequent, homeowners across Calgary are starting to think about their next big home improvement project. Whether you’re thinking about increasing your time spent enjoying the outdoors and/or panoramic views, or you’re just looking to expand your indoor living space, it’s the right time to start thinking about using a high-quality Sunroom and solarium contractor to create a new space for you.
What Is A Sunroom?
Space is always at a premium in Calgary, so any time that you can find a less expensive way to expand your home’s footprint, you should consider it carefully. A sunroom is an extra room that attaches to an external wall of your home, and you can save money by installing directly on top of an existing deck or patio, meaning that you don’t have to worry about foundations. It’s more of an indoor feel than a screen room as it has solid walls and windows but gives you the indoor-outdoor living vibe with large panes of glass that allows all the summer light and heat into your room without any of the downsides related to weather-related events.
Why Choose A Sunroom?
It’s clear to see (no pun intended!) that having a room with many big windows will bring you a brand new feel to your house, with unparalleled views out over your garden through each season. However, as a forward planning homeowner, you also want to think about the practical benefits of installing a sunroom, which include:
- Excellent return on investment – realtors across Calgary have found that adding a sunroom is the best investment you can make when adding extra space to your homes. In most cases, you can expect between a 60 and 70% return on investment, which is almost unheard of in the home improvement world. You’ll also find that the big windows make your sunroom act like a greenhouse, trapping heat during the day and helping to reduce your heating costs by slowly releasing that heat out in the evening.
- Quick install time – unlike a full home extension, the unique that a sunroom is constructed means that the total build time is around a week depending on your design. You’ll want to get your design consultation started quickly, as it often takes up to three months for planning permission to come through.
- Multiple customization options – for what is a relatively construction project, you get a whole range of different customization options to make sure that your sunroom is truly unique and fits the needs and aesthetics of your home. For example, you can change everything from the shape and style of the the roof to the design and build materials of the walls. Of course, the placement of the windows and external doors will be a large part of the consultation process, but you can talk with your contracting team about other ways to make your sunroom dreams become a reality.
Picking The Right Sunroom And Solarium Services
As with any home improvement project, there are a wide variety of sunroom and screen room contractors available across the city. It can be hard to know which sunroom builder to choose, but these simple tips will help you find the top sunroom and solarium services in Calgary:
- Check their references – just like hiring someone in your company, you should take the time to check the references of any sunroom builder who wants to give you a quote. This can be as easy as looking up the business online to see what reviews other homeowners are leaving for them, or asking them to provide references and pictures of previous work so that you get a feel for their quality. A bonus option is to check their website for local awards and recognition as this will also prove their trustworthiness to you.
- Visit their Showroom and Talk to them in person – building an outdoor enclosure is a serious commitment and usually involves custom installation and materials. Therefore, it’s very important to make sure that the sunroom builder you end up hiring is trusted and accredited in the industry, offers quality long lasting products with warranty and is customer service oriented. We live in an age where it’s entirely possible to plan and design solely online or via the phone, but you’ll always get a better feel for the company and the product’s quality by meeting them in person. You’ll be able to get a better read on their body language and intonation face to face, as well as a feel for the specific processes and people you would be dealing with.
- Discuss pricing and financing options – despite sunrooms having an incredible return on investment ratio, they still represent a big financial burden. A customer focused Sunroom contractor should offer a myriad of material and design options to help you find the balance between your style preferences and your budgeting realities. This process will show that they’re putting your needs first, and you’ll often find that there are financing options available that allow you to build the sunroom of your dreams without footing the entire cost up front. As a note, DSP does not directly offer financing.
Getting Permission
Any time that you’re adding to the outside of your home, you’re going to need to get some sort of planning permission. While a sunroom or a solarium doesn’t require as much groundwork as a full home extension, they still require you to get planning permission from the Calgary town hall. There are all sorts of rules and regulations about the shape and size of your sunroom that can be hard to understand as a common homeowner. Therefore, you definitely need to find a contractor who is familiar with the necessary paperwork, and this should form part of your conversation as you’re trying to find the right building partner. Be aware that in some cases, getting the right planning permission can take anywhere from a few weeks to a couple of months, so you’ll have to factor that into your sunroom plans.
