I would like to add a sunroom to the back of my house (if I can afford it).
I have two sets of French doors that lead onto a patio with a brick wall
(including chimney) between them and one brick wall vertical to that edge of
the house. The fireplace was originally a wood-burning fireplace with gas
igniter but was converted to gas logs several years ago. I would like glass
all-around the two walls that will be added to create the room and possibly
a tile floor. I live in East Texas (where it gets very hot), and I want
this to be a comfortable room where I can watch the birds, look at my
garden, etc. This means that the air conditioner/heating system would need
to be extended to the sunroom unless the cost is prohibitive, and I would
need electrical and TV cable connections.

Whew! I am single (nearing retirement age) and know absolutely nothing
about construction. I will use professionals for all of the work, but can
anyone give me some ideas about how I should approach this? -- questions to
ask, potential problems to watch for, etc. Will I need an architect (which
would be very expensive), or is this type of project simple enough that the
contractor should be able to design it. I do want it to be well done -- I
have heard too many horror stories about leaking roofs, etc. to want take
chances even if it would save some money. In other words, I will probably
want it done "right" (if I can afford it) or not at all (if I can't afford
it).

Thanks for any help you can give me in getting started.

MaryL

On Thu, 10 Jul 2003 20:43:42 -0500, "MaryL"
wrote:

I would like to add a sunroom to the back of my house (if I can afford it).
snip
want it done "right" (if I can afford it) or not at all (if I can't afford
it).

Thanks for any help you can give me in getting started.

MaryL


I wanted to add a small sunroom to my house until I got an estimate
(over 25% of the total value of the house/property). I freaked out
with the cost of doing it and settled on a greenhouse at a fraction of
the cost.

wrote in message
...
On Thu, 10 Jul 2003 20:43:42 -0500, "MaryL"
wrote:

Whew! I am single (nearing retirement age) and know absolutely nothing
about construction. I will use professionals for all of the work, but
can
anyone give me some ideas about how I should approach this? -- questions
to
ask, potential problems to watch for, etc. Will I need an architect
(which
would be very expensive), or is this type of project simple enough that
the
contractor should be able to design it. I do want it to be well done --
I
have heard too many horror stories about leaking roofs, etc. to want take
chances even if it would save some money. In other words, I will
probably
want it done "right" (if I can afford it) or not at all (if I can't
afford
it).

Thanks for any help you can give me in getting started.

MaryL

Hi Mary,

You probably don't need an architect .. most renovations contractors
can design something as simple as a sun room and have engineers to
double check their work.

I would suggest you seek out a couple of contractors who specialize in
additions/renovations. You may find them through the local
homebuilder's associations, through ads in renovations or community
magazines. You may even spot them just by driving around ... most of
us put signs on the lawns of projects we're doing.

The best is word of mouth ...

You're probably looking for a fellow, old enough to have a good track
record of successful additions/renovations.

I'd ask for advice on how it should be built, and on the likely costs.
Just a ballpark -- a detailed estimate takes time. (Once they see
you're serious and that you value their time, they'll give you more
of it.)

Pay special attention of the AC plan and costs. With an idea of
what's being built and how, I'd ask the contractor to check with his
HVAC guys, or approach a couple of HVAC contractors yourself ... be
prepared to tell them what system you have now, the size of your
house, the size of the addition and the exposure (ie south). Ask
them what you need and what the ballpark costs are likely to be.

If it all seems workable, check references carefully, visit a couple
of previous jobs and visit current job sites (including unscheduled
driveby's) .. and of course, talk to the owner.

Your approach sounds upfront and reasonable ... and that's the kind of
contractor you'll probably attract.

Good luck

Ken



Thanks very much. There is lots of helpful information here. Incidentally,
I have used the same person for AC service for 24 years (18 years in my
previous home and 6 years in this house). He is a gem, and I want his
services to be included in the contract.

MaryL

Thanks very much. There is lots of helpful information here. Incidentally,
I have used the same person for AC service for 24 years (18 years in my
previous home and 6 years in this house). He is a gem, and I want his
services to be included in the contract.

MaryL

I live in Florida and would like to replace the screened porch with a sunroom.
My A/C person, said it would be best to just get a window type A/C for the
sunroom.
~Jazzy~

Mary,

Since our sunroon was about 360 sq. ft., the general contractor and HVAC
subcontractor both recommended going with a central unit. If your room is
not large, and if it is on the north side of the house, and if you live in
Minnesota, you might get by with a window AC. For my money, it is worth
something to make sure you have enough AC. If you have several people over,
the last thing you want is a marginal AC situation. Our central unit is in
the attic space above the room. The compressor sits outside beside the
other system's compressor on the same concrete pad. There is probably less
noise with the central unit. There may even be energy savings if you use
the room a lot.

Regards,

Joe Morris

Please remove ZAP to email me.


I live in Florida and would like to replace the screened porch with a
sunroom.
My A/C person, said it would be best to just get a window type A/C for
the
sunroom.
~Jazzy~

Thanks. That is what I hope to avoid, but I know that may turn out to be
the best option.

MaryL

Go with a professional patio company. I went with Patio Enclosures, and am
extremely pleased. They had the fairest price out of 3 bidders, and the
best quality as well. Plus, their installers are full-time staff (as
opposed to contractors), so that made me feel even better about the quality
of the installation.

To give you an idea of price, mine was $12,000 for a 3-season room. A
4-season room like what you're wanting would have been about $19,000. Of
course all that depends on size, amenities, etc.

"MaryL" wrote in message
...
I would like to add a sunroom to the back of my house (if I can afford
it).
I have two sets of French doors that lead onto a patio with a brick wall
(including chimney) between them and one brick wall vertical to that edge
of
the house. The fireplace was originally a wood-burning fireplace with gas
igniter but was converted to gas logs several years ago. I would like
glass
all-around the two walls that will be added to create the room and
possibly
a tile floor. I live in East Texas (where it gets very hot), and I want
this to be a comfortable room where I can watch the birds, look at my
garden, etc. This means that the air conditioner/heating system would
need
to be extended to the sunroom unless the cost is prohibitive, and I would
need electrical and TV cable connections.

Whew! I am single (nearing retirement age) and know absolutely nothing
about construction. I will use professionals for all of the work, but can
anyone give me some ideas about how I should approach this? -- questions
to
ask, potential problems to watch for, etc. Will I need an architect
(which
would be very expensive), or is this type of project simple enough that
the
contractor should be able to design it. I do want it to be well done -- I
have heard too many horror stories about leaking roofs, etc. to want take
chances even if it would save some money. In other words, I will probably
want it done "right" (if I can afford it) or not at all (if I can't afford
it).

Thanks for any help you can give me in getting started.

MaryL

MaryL wrote:

I would like to add a sunroom to the back of my house (if I can afford it).
I have two sets of French doors that lead onto a patio with a brick wall
(including chimney) between them and one brick wall vertical to that edge of
the house. The fireplace was originally a wood-burning fireplace with gas
igniter but was converted to gas logs several years ago. I would like glass
all-around the two walls that will be added to create the room and possibly
a tile floor. I live in East Texas (where it gets very hot), and I want
this to be a comfortable room where I can watch the birds, look at my
garden, etc. This means that the air conditioner/heating system would need
to be extended to the sunroom unless the cost is prohibitive, and I would
need electrical and TV cable connections.

Whew! I am single (nearing retirement age) and know absolutely nothing
about construction. I will use professionals for all of the work, but can
anyone give me some ideas about how I should approach this? -- questions to
ask, potential problems to watch for, etc. Will I need an architect (which
would be very expensive), or is this type of project simple enough that the
contractor should be able to design it. I do want it to be well done -- I
have heard too many horror stories about leaking roofs, etc. to want take
chances even if it would save some money. In other words, I will probably
want it done "right" (if I can afford it) or not at all (if I can't afford
it).

Thanks for any help you can give me in getting started.

MaryL



Something else to consider is that if your room has a conventional roof rather

than glass, you will be blocking a lot of light that used to enter the
french doors to the room with the fireplace. My Mom had one, sort of,
the walls were regular wood construction and roofing and was attached to
the wall of the house. The outer wall had 6 regular windows set about 6
inches apart. Two regular windows in one end and two windows and a door
with a large glass pannel in the other end opening to the deck. She
used a heat pump mounted in the wood under the end windows. Even
through I don't care much for a heat pump for heating, I must admit it
did a good job summer and winter. She had a couple of ceiling fans and
connections for phone and TV cable out there too. Her's was on the
north side of the house and we are in the East Texas Pineywoods. She
loved to sit out there and look out over a few acres and a small pond.

I would like to add a sunroom to the back of my house (if I can afford it).

##############
I added one to my house several years ago. I have one suggestion. Get them to
build a brick base wall around it. about 2 1/2 feet tall. it makes the room
more stable looking and in my opinion richer looking. I had to go though a few
companies before I could get one to agree to doing it my way. ( they all wanted
to sell me the cheap version) get a brick or cement block base. BG

"BillKirch" ****spam wrote in message
...
I would like to add a sunroom to the back of my house (if I can afford
it).

##############
I added one to my house several years ago. I have one suggestion. Get them
to
build a brick base wall around it. about 2 1/2 feet tall. it makes the
room
more stable looking and in my opinion richer looking. I had to go though a
few
companies before I could get one to agree to doing it my way. ( they all
wanted
to sell me the cheap version) get a brick or cement block base. BG

Yes, I agree. My house is brick, and I hope a similar color of brick is
still available (the house is about 20 years old).

MaryL

Thanks! I'll look into this ... I do like things cool, and the whole point
of a sunroom is to be able to spend time there looking at birds and
plants -- and enjoying it, which I can't do in the "real" outdoors because
it's too hot for me! Someone else mentioned a heat pump. I'll ask about
both of these possibilities. I really hadn't thought about a second AC or a
heat pump until I saw these messages. I had assumed that the AC/heating
ductwork from the house would have to be extended, and I knew that could be
a major problem. I also know just enough about sizing a unit to the area to
be heated and cooled to know that it often isn't feasible to just "add a
room" for a n existing unit to cool.

MaryL
"Joe Morris" wrote in message
...
Mary,

Since our sunroon was about 360 sq. ft., the general contractor and HVAC
subcontractor both recommended going with a central unit. If your room is
not large, and if it is on the north side of the house, and if you live in
Minnesota, you might get by with a window AC. For my money, it is worth
something to make sure you have enough AC. If you have several people
over,
the last thing you want is a marginal AC situation. Our central unit is
in
the attic space above the room. The compressor sits outside beside the
other system's compressor on the same concrete pad. There is probably
less
noise with the central unit. There may even be energy savings if you use
the room a lot.

Regards,

Joe Morris

Please remove ZAP to email me.


I live in Florida and would like to replace the screened porch with a
sunroom.
My A/C person, said it would be best to just get a window type A/C for
the
sunroom.
~Jazzy~

Thanks. That is what I hope to avoid, but I know that may turn out to
be
the best option.

MaryL

Mary,

The HVAC unit we added contained a 2-ton AC unit to cool the 360 sq. ft
sunroom. Our main unit has a 4.5 tons of AC for about 2200 sq. ft. The
main unit was not big enough to handle an additional room of that size. One
rule of thumb I've read before on this ng is 1 ton per 600 sq. ft. Maybe
someone else can verify this.

Regards,

Joe Morris

Please remove ZAP to email me.

"MaryL" wrote in message
...
Thanks! I'll look into this ... I do like things cool, and the whole
point
of a sunroom is to be able to spend time there looking at birds and
plants -- and enjoying it, which I can't do in the "real" outdoors because
it's too hot for me! Someone else mentioned a heat pump. I'll ask about
both of these possibilities. I really hadn't thought about a second AC or
a
heat pump until I saw these messages. I had assumed that the AC/heating
ductwork from the house would have to be extended, and I knew that could
be
a major problem. I also know just enough about sizing a unit to the area
to
be heated and cooled to know that it often isn't feasible to just "add a
room" for a n existing unit to cool.

MaryL
"Joe Morris" wrote in message
...
Mary,

Since our sunroon was about 360 sq. ft., the general contractor and HVAC
subcontractor both recommended going with a central unit. If your room
is
not large, and if it is on the north side of the house, and if you live
in
Minnesota, you might get by with a window AC. For my money, it is worth
something to make sure you have enough AC. If you have several people
over,
the last thing you want is a marginal AC situation. Our central unit is
in
the attic space above the room. The compressor sits outside beside the
other system's compressor on the same concrete pad. There is probably
less
noise with the central unit. There may even be energy savings if you
use
the room a lot.

Regards,

Joe Morris

Please remove ZAP to email me.


I live in Florida and would like to replace the screened porch with
a
sunroom.
My A/C person, said it would be best to just get a window type A/C
for
the
sunroom.
~Jazzy~

Thanks. That is what I hope to avoid, but I know that may turn out to
be
the best option.

MaryL

Mary,

Our contractor was able to find similar brick, and he hand picked every
single brick to try to match our existing brick as much as possible. He did
an excellent job. Even my neighbors say so. So it can be done.

He also was able to match the roof line (with a 3 ft. soffit overhang and
hip roof). The room does not look like an add-on from the street.

Regards,

Joe Morris

Please remove ZAP to email me.

"MaryL" wrote in message
...

"BillKirch" ****spam wrote in message
...
I would like to add a sunroom to the back of my house (if I can afford
it).

##############
I added one to my house several years ago. I have one suggestion. Get
them
to
build a brick base wall around it. about 2 1/2 feet tall. it makes the
room
more stable looking and in my opinion richer looking. I had to go though
a
few
companies before I could get one to agree to doing it my way. ( they all
wanted
to sell me the cheap version) get a brick or cement block base. BG

Yes, I agree. My house is brick, and I hope a similar color of brick is
still available (the house is about 20 years old).

MaryL