Article from the Desert Sun

Excerpts taken from The Desert Sun Newspaper Remodeling section

By: Elizabeth Betts Hickman

ROOM ADDITIONS...in glass
Whatever you call them, sunrooms are spaces in demand! Big Demand as Sun Boss Corporation enters its 61st year in Business.

They're popular additions that come with a variety of names: sunrooms, solariums, and conservatories, and some of them are actual room additions.

Ask different folks and you'll get different answers as to what to call them, but the fact remains that these sun-drenched spaces are increasing in popularity as life becomes more casual and our population gets older.

"Our consumer studies show that a lot more people would like to have a sunroom," says Gopal Ahluwalia, vice-president for research at the National Association of Home Builders, a Washington D.C. based trade group.

And while they don't often show up on new construction, "what is happening is that a lot of people are adding it," Ahluwalia says. The reason they haven't shown up on new homes is the cost of installing a room that is all glass that functions like the rest of the house is very costly. Especially when a builder compares that cost to 2"x 6"s, stucco and sheetrock.

Sun Boss Corporation has been adding these beautiful additions locally since 1947. Sun Boss just received the coveted "Sun Room" of the year award for a local conservatory.

"A sunroom is for people who want a deck or a patio but don't want the trouble. They want the outdoors but they don't want wind and rain," says Jim Cory, senior editor of Remodeling Magazine and Replacement Contractor, a quarterly national magazine that deals with sunrooms, replacement windows, siding and other products. The problem is most sunrooms are too hot and or too cold to really enjoy as a room addition.

Companies that deal with exterior replacement products often sell sunrooms, but standard remodeling contractors, who remodel as well as build additions, can also build custom sunrooms. On the higher end of the price spectrum, there is a company that specializes in conservatories and sunrooms. These sunrooms can be custom made in fourteen different styles by Four Seasons Sunrooms, which is the largest supplier of high performance, energy saving sunroom additions. Their popularity is due in large part to their sunrooms ability to function like a conventional room addition.

With a ceiling fan, high-performance glass and a separate HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system, his new room doesn't need window treatments and connects directly to the house, thereby adding additional space and light. "I love it this way because it opens up the whole house," says York, who simply has a cased, double-door-width opening into his solarium. The new room opens directly into the kitchen area of his new home.

For Debra and Kent Rosenbury, the need to tastefully update their ranch home coupled with a longtime desire for a sunroom was a big catalyst to create one at the back of the house. "We wanted as much light as we could get back here," says Debra Rosenbury, a professional interior designer. During the project, she specified recessed lighting, speakers, and a ceiling fan to maximize the room's use. Now, the sunroom is the family room, and it's a great gathering space that's connected to a light filled casual breakfast area adjacent to the family's renovated kitchen.

"The new 'CONSERVAGLASS' used in our systems not only helps control the performance of the sunroom, it has a 'Kleen-Kote' surface that makes cleaning the sunroom a breeze", says Schmitt. And the limited nature of the construction, compared to conventional stick built rooms makes for an easier experience, too. One large benefit in dealing with Four Seasons Sunrooms by Sun Boss is the fact it is a one-stop shop. From design through permitting to finish flooring, every aspect is handled by Sun Boss Corporation. Sun Boss has over 70,000 satisfied customers locally since 1947.

Price Ranges for Sunrooms

As with any addition, prices vary when it comes to sunrooms, and tying into an existing structure can bring the discovery of problems that will need repair. Note, too, that the quality of workmanship will make a big difference as to the longevity of the sunroom and whether it becomes an asset or a liability to your home. According to industry experts, a good average figure for a quality sunroom is around $25,000- $40,000. A small, simple space, without its own HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) unit and other upgrades can be around $18,000- $25,000. Exceptionally designed, hand-built conservatories cost $75,000 and up, depending on the scope of the project. The one item Erik Schmitt points out, "If you dream it and you want it, Four Seasons Sunrooms can build it. We can modify any structure to accept our gorgeous sunrooms, it all simply comes down to budget."

Current Trends

With the popularity of sunroom additions rapidly increasing; due in large part to the ease of installation, homeowners are opting for outdoor living... indoors. When considering selling a home, or purchase of a new one, many homeowners have decided to improve instead of move. When figuring the costs of commission to sell and buy combined with the actual cost of the move, homeowners must also add in the increase in their property tax base. Most consumers when weighing all these costs have come to the conclusion that they now have a budget of approximately $100,000 to improve their existing home. Homeowners have found that moving costs money. With improving their current home every penny comes back to them in the form of their investment. In a recent interview with Donn Stanley, General Manager of Four Seasons by Sun Boss in Riverside, Stanley stated, " Homeowners are definitely looking to stay put and improve…new home prices are soaring. People like where they live but just need added space...clients realize after adding a sunroom the value of their home has SUBSTANTIALLY increased!" These rooms are typically installed in less than 30 days, however the design and permit process can vary depending on your local city or county. Having a sunroom added typically minimizes the disruption to your household and is done in half the time of conventional stick-built rooms. The choice of permitting is up to the individual homeowner; these rooms can be permitted as a room addition, solarium or patio enclosure. Either way, it increases your property value and makes for a sound investment!

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