Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions About Sunrooms
Many reasons: sunrooms expand your living space and increase the value of your home. They bring the outdoors inside and offer an area for relaxation and enjoyment.
People use the extra space their sunroom provides as a place to retreat and relax. Some people use their sunroom for a family room, library/reading room, dining and entertaining area, as a playroom for children or grandchildren, workplace area, exercise room, reading room, room to do arts and crafts, a room to gaze out at the stars or simply a room to close your eyes for a few minutes on a Saturday afternoon. The possibilities are endless.
3. What's better – a sunroom or a conventional room addition?
A sunroom is designed for comfortable outdoor living – it's not "just another room in the house." The expense for a sunroom can be considerably lower than a conventional room addition. Unlike conventional construction, a typical sunroom can be built in as little as a week with little mess or disturbance to your lifestyle. Because sunrooms have the feel of the outdoors, they have a different feel than a typical family room. They lend themselves to casual furnishings such as wicker and rattan, and provide a wonderful environment for plants. Most sunroom owners say it is their favorite room in the house.
Homeowners who sell their homes say their sunroom helped their home sell quickly, and they received a more than reasonable return on their sunroom investment. Families who have sunrooms talk about them as a place to relax, de-stress, and get away from it all.
Aside from being an investment that enhances your own personal lifestyle – you'll get value when you sell.
5. How do I find a reputable sunroom dealer?
- Seek referrals from people who recently had sunrooms installed.
- Ask companies for references. See the work they have done.
- Make sure the company is licensed and their license is current.
- Ask how long the company has been in business. Choose a manufacturer who has a long and stable business history.
- Check the quality of the materials and the workmanship.
- Ask what percentage of their business is from referrals by past customers.
- The company should provide you with an accurate cost to the penny – without any hidden charges.
- The company should use their own crews to install the sunroom – not subcontractors.
- The owner or installation foreman should supervise the project with regular on-site visits.
- The company should have a process to notify you immediately of changes or delays in the schedule.
- The company should provide you with a complete and thorough walk–through inspection of the finished product.
- The company should answer all of your questions and provide information for you to make an educated decision.
- The company should take care of obtaining the building permit and arrange for all of the required inspections by your local building department.
- Look for a warranty that is backed by a reputable manufacturer.
6. What is the best type of glass to use in a sunroom?
Tempered glass is the safest. It breaks into tiny pebble–like pieces, while standard glass breaks in sharp serrated debris. Single pane windows have just one pane of glass. They offer less insulation protection from heat or cold. Double pane (or insulated) glass contains a sealed air pocket between the inner and outer panes to resist the flow of heat. Find out if Low-E glass is available. Think about how you plan to use your sunroom, and choose the type of glass that is most appropriate for your needs and budget.
8. Are financing options available?
We offer a variety of financing options for our entire line of Betterliving products through dealers who participate in our financing program. Even if they choose not to participate in our program, many dealers offer other financing options. Contact your local dealer to see what type of financing they can offer you.
7. What questions should I ask?
- Why should I choose a sunroom over a standard room addition?
- What size sunrooms are available?
- How long will it take to build my sunroom?
- Why should I do business with you?
- Why are you the best at what you do?
- Tell me about the company that is going to manufacture the materials for my sunroom.
- How many rooms have your crews built?
- What type of Warranty is available?
- Are your installers' employees of your company or are they subcontractors?
- Who trains your installation staff?
- What percentage of your overall business is sunrooms?
- What is the process for obtaining a building permit for the sunroom?
- Is there a sunroom that your company has recently built that we could see?
Click here to download Betterliving's Sunroom Guide for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions about Awnings and Shades
1. How do I store the awning for winter?
Retract the awning or canopy for winter. If your awning has a hanging valance, remove it by sliding it out from the front bar. Put it in a well ventilated dry area where it won't be bothered by squirrels or mice. Don't store it in a plastic bag, as this will trap moisture and could produce mildew.
2. Can I install the awning myself?
We recommend professional installation for your awnings, to achieve the best use and operation.
- Our awnings come with a variety of options and the best way to find out about them is to contact your local dealer.
- Motor options include remote control operation, switch operation, motorized with manual capability for areas with frequent power outages, and automatic sun and wind sensors.
- Telescoping legs for extra stabilization
- Vario Valance for additional screening
- Awning light bar
- Retractable canopies
- Pergola canopies
- Under pergola covers
- Exterior solar shades
4. How effective are the awnings at providing shade?
Awnings block 97% of the harmful UV rays. They significantly improve the comfort of your patio or deck.
5. What is the effect of awnings on my utility bills?
Awnings, canopies and shades will lower your cooling costs. In addition, the benefit of retractable awnings is that you can allow the winter sun into your home for extra warmth.
6. Can the awnings be used in the rain?
Awnings and canopies are primarily a sun shade, not a rain cover. As such, the fabric is designed to "breathe" so you don't swelter under your awning. Our Teflon® coating helps repel moisture, but it is not waterproof. Keeping the awning extended during a heavy rain will cause water to collect in the fabric and could cause the awning to collapse.
For more information about Betterliving Sunrooms and Shade Products, contact your local Betterliving dealer today!
Frequently Asked Questions about Waterproof Aluminum Decks
Is Betterliving’s deck really waterproof?
Yes. Our decking boards are uniquely designed to join together under a pressure-locked seal. This creates a joint that water is not likely to get past. In the unlikely event that water does get past the pressure lock, there is a gutter in each board to carry the water away. In colder climates, the gutter could become clogged with ice while meltwater remains on the top of the deck. This could create some dripping underneath the deck until the channel is cleared. Because of this, we do not recommend using our aluminum decking as the sole roof over a living area. However, there should not be any water issues as long as the deck is installed according to our installation guidelines and with proper flashing between the house and deck boards.
Is the aluminum deck easy to install?
Yes. For the homeowner familiar with power tools and DIY home projects, installing our aluminum decking system is easy. You will need carbide tip blades for non-ferrous metal to cut the aluminum boards. After cutting the boards to length, you will have to drill clearance holes for the joists, and then screw the boards to the joists with the stainless steel screws that we provide. Easy to follow installation guidelines are provided. And, if you’re not handy, you can hire a handyperson or contractor for installation.
Doesn’t the aluminum deck get hot?
In direct sunlight on summer days, all decks will retain heat, but aluminum remains cooler than other decking materials. On a hot summer day, we tested different types of decks to see how hot each one registered, and aluminum was clearly the coolest. You can view our video here. Also keep in mind that the deck color you choose will affect how hot it gets. Lighter finishes will always be cooler than darker finishes. Our dark colored aluminum deck still remains cooler than other decking materials.
Is the deck really maintenance-free?
Betterliving’s Aluminum Decks are engineered to look like a new deck for decades. The boards will not twist or warp, so they won’t need to be repaired or replaced. With hidden fasteners, there won’t be any nails or screws popping, and the durable powder-coated finish is baked on, which eliminates the need for repainting or restaining over the years.
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