Find the Best Sunroom Contractors

Purpose

Before selecting a sunroom builder, consider how you would like to use your sunroom. Some companies specialize in a particular type of room, so knowing the room’s purpose will help you select the best contractor.

• Multipurpose room: If you’d like to use your sunroom throughout the year just like any other room in your home, find a company that offers energy efficient building materials and has experience building year-round rooms.
• Gardening space: If you are primarily interested in a sunroom or conservatory to give you the ability to have a year-round container garden, look for companies with a history in the greenhouse business. You may be able to save money by purchasing a kit for a standalone structure and assembling it yourself.
• Multi-season patio: If you would like to extend the use and enjoyment of your porch or patio, you can select a company that specializes in patio rooms or seasonal sunrooms. These rooms won’t be heated or cooled throughout the year, so you don’t need to invest in materials that are energy efficient.

Installation

Decide how much construction work you’re willing to do yourself and then select a company who is capable of handling the rest.

• Manufacturer installation: Some companies manufacture and install sunrooms. Choose one of these companies if you want to work with the same business from start to finish.
• Third-party installation: Third-party installers and contractors are good choices if the sunroom manufacturer does not offer installation or if you want additional customization. Contractors can build sunrooms without using a single company’s product line, so they may be able to give you more choices.
• Owner installation: If you want to save money or enjoy doing things yourself, look for a company that sells ready-to-assemble kits.

Energy efficiency

Adding a room made mostly of windows to your home could negatively impact your energy bills. Make sure you understand the energy efficiency of the products you select so your room will be comfortable when you want to use it, so your heating or cooling bill won’t skyrocket.

• Proprietary glazes: Some companies have proprietary glass coating, called glazes, that block UV light, make windows easier to clean and help prevent heat or cold from transferring through the window. Make sure these glass products are Energy Star certified.
• Energy Star certified: The EPA inspects products and grants them Energy Star certification if they meet certain efficiency requirements. You will save the most money on energy bills by selecting Energy Star certified products.
• Seals: If the windows and doors are not joined and sealed properly, you will lose energy through the cracks around them. Ask companies about their installation process and sealing products to make sure they meet your standards.

Warranties

To ensure your new sunrooms is built to last, look for a company that offers a warranty.

• Materials: All materials used in the construction of your room should be covered by the manufacturer. If you choose a company that manufactures and installs its own sunrooms, you’ll only have to deal with one business if you have a problem.
• Installation: All installers should guarantee the quality and soundness of their work. If you use a contractor or third party installer, you will need to handle material problems separately than installation problems.
• Transferrable: Some manufacturers and contractors provide warranties that can be transferred to new owners if you ever sell your home. These warranties can add value to your home when selling.

Climate

Where you live will impact the type of materials you should invest in and will likely shape how you plan to use the room.

• Mild: In more mild climates, you might be able to save some money by using fewer energy efficient products in year-round sunrooms. If you’re only installing screens, you may want to consider ones that have a smaller weave pattern since bugs might be more of a problem.
• Extreme: If you want to use your sunroom throughout the year and live in an area with long periods of extremely hot or cold weather, you will need to purchase highly energy efficient building materials.
• Solar power: Some climates may be well suited to solar energy, and some companies sell glass that is specifically designed to work as a passive solar energy system.

Customization

Consider how much you want to customize your sunroom. The more customizations you add, the more you likely have to spend. Look for a company that offers the level of customization that you’re looking for.

• Total custom design: For a completely customized room, consider using a contractor that won’t be limited by a single company’s products. If you do use a company that both manufactures and installs sunrooms, choose one that offers free in-home consultations to talk you through your choices.
• Size options: Kits and preassembled stand-alone structures will be most limited in size. If you’re looking for a large or uniquely shaped room, look with a company that offers a high degree of customization.
• Materials: Companies that manufacture their own sunrooms will limit your choice of materials to their own products. If you choose such a company, see how many options are available for materials like doors, siding and roofing.

Patio rooms

Patio rooms are porches, decks and patios that have been converted to screened-in “rooms.” These allow homeowners to enjoy their porch without worrying about insects or other pests. Companies might also call them porch rooms or screen rooms.

Porch enclosures

Porch enclosures add screen or glass walls to a porch’s existing roof and foundation. These are ideal choices for homes that have large covered porches because they can save consumers a significant amount of money.

Seasonal sunrooms

Seasonal rooms are built to be heated or cooled only during certain seasons. Builders recommend the most affordable and efficient materials for the climate where the home is located.

Year-round sunrooms

Depending on the energy efficiency of the building materials, sunrooms can be comfortable for year round use. These sunrooms are more expensive to build, but they serve the purpose of a traditional home addition.

Garden structures

Standalone sunrooms and other garden structures are not attached to an existing home. Sunrooms can be built as stand-alone structures, but this category also includes arbors, open air kitchens, pergolas, sheds, pavilions and more. Sunroom companies often sell and install these structures.

Greenhouses

Greenhouses have many features of a sunroom. These may be built as standalone structures or attached to a house. Greenhouses are designed for growing plants out of season or in inhospitable climates.

Conservatories

Conservatories, or solariums, are rooms constructed almost entirely from glass. These rooms provide an outdoor-like feeling and can be used to grow sun-loving plants. These can be seasonal or year-round rooms, depending on the building materials.

Pre-assembled

Stand-alone structures can sometimes be shipped pre-assembled, so homeowners do not need to deal with any construction. Preassembled structures must be small enough to be legally transported on public roads.

Kits

Kits are available for homeowners who enjoy DIY projects. These options are usually more basic, seasonal sunrooms. They can allow budget-conscious buyers to add a sunroom to their home for a fraction of the cost of custom built and installed rooms.

Homeowners

Anyone who owns their house or a condo with roof access can install sunrooms to add additional space to their home and increase its value.

Do-it-yourselfers

Homeowners who like to do their own home projects can use a sunroom kit to add space and value to their home.

Gardeners

Avid gardeners and outdoor lovers will enjoy the views of their yards from inside their sunroom, and they can use the space to grow potted plants year round.

Retirees

Retirees may enjoy having extra space in their home or being able to enjoy outdoor views without sitting in extreme weather.

Budgeters

Homeowners looking for additional space but who don’t want to pay for a traditional home addition can save money with a year-round sunroom or a DIY kit.

Families

Families with younger children can use sunrooms as play spaces for children or patio rooms to enjoy fresh air without worrying about insects.