A Home Improvement Project with a Big Payoff
(ARA) - Spring is one of the busiest times of year for home improvement stores across the country. It seems that as soon as the snow begins to melt and temperatures warm up, millions of Americans get the same idea all at once -- to do a home improvement project.
Some will tackle complicated matters such as redoing a kitchen or replacing a roof; but if you're looking for an easy project that will add value to your home, you may want to consider adding on a sunroom. Money magazine indicates that sunroom owners can expect to recoup most -- and in some cases all -- of the money they spend on a sunroom at the time of a resale.
But resale value was the last thing on the minds of Norman and Algene Barnette of Calhan, Colo., when the retired couple decided to get one. "We live on the eastern prairie just outside Colorado Springs and love the natural beauty around us, but the weather can get harsh, especially in the wintertime. We wanted to be able to spend more time enjoying the great outdoors, so we decided to add on a sunroom," says Norman Barnette.
His wife saw an ad for a do-it-yourself SunPorch kit in a magazine and after checking out the company's Web site, Barnette was sold. The company they decided to go with: SunPorch Structures based in Westport, Conn. The company has been in business for 30 years and offered the unique feature of a convertible sunroom for year-round use plus a strong 10 year warranty.
"I liked the fact that they take you step-by-step through the pricing, ordering, and installation processes up front right on their site," he says. After placing their order for a 15 foot by 18 foot SunPorch, the Barnettes hired a contractor to do the installation for them, but 2 out of 3 owners do the installation themselves.
"Mike tells us it was one of the easiest installation jobs he's ever done. All he had to do was pour the slab and put down the tile. As far as the SunPorch goes, he didn't have to do any cutting or sawing. All of the pieces came pre-cut from the factory, the hardware was on hand, and it all fit together perfectly" says Norman.
"Most sunrooms are difficult -- even for professionals -- to put together because pieces need to be cut down to size and things don't always fit," says Dean Schwartz, customer service manager for SunPorch. "But that isn't the case with our system. It was designed from the beginning as a precision engineered ready-to-assemble convertible sunroom/screen room kit. The customer sends in their measurements and we offer computer aided drafting illustrations (Cads) and quotes to give them the right product and the most for their money."
The Barnettes say they appreciate the fact that their new sunroom is so versatile. "We just installed it this past summer, and when the weather was warm, took advantage of the convertibility factor," says Barnette. "Since the windows are removable, we turned it into a screen room and enjoyed the breezes. When the cooler weather came, we put up the insulating blankets that came with the kit. It can be 20 or 30 degrees outside with snow on the ground, but it's always comfortable in here."
Once complete, your sunroom can serve as a home office, a playroom, an entertainment area, or just a place to relax. It makes a great spa/hot tub enclosure as well. "I spend a lot of time just sitting back in the glider swing watching nature. My wife likes to paint and draw out there," says Barnette.
Courtesy of ARA Content
