What would you do with a Sunroom?

As a homeowner, you have probably looked around your property more than once and asked yourself what you could do to improve functionality and possibly resale value. Many people consider a pool the ultimate home accessory, but quickly find it is actually considered one of the worst investments from a purely financial perspective. Sunrooms on the other hand, provide a way to give your home a unique vibe while increasing the square footage and giving you a beautiful view of the outdoors. The question is, however, should you add one to your home?

Over Improving

Who would think you could over improve your property? Before you begin calling Nashville windows contractors or general contractors about adding a sunroom, you need to do a little reconnaissance. What is the average size of a home in your neighborhood? How does your current square footage compare? If you make your home the most expensive domicile on the block, you run the risk of losing most of your investment in the addition.

Uses
 
What would you do with a sunroom? Do you have a bit of a green thumb or are you rarely home enough to water the one plant you have? This is an important question to ask, would you get any use out of a sunroom? These types of rooms are very versatile and if you choose an insulated four-season sunroom, it can be enjoyed year round. Some possibilities include:

•    Artistic- do you paint? If you need just the right light for your artistic endeavors, this could be the perfect addition for you.
•    Reading Area- are you always searching for a calm, quiet and yet well-lit area to read?
•    Greenhouse- sunrooms are a great place for your indoor plants to flourish year round.
•    Sitting Area- for some people a sunroom is simply a place to sit and enjoy the outdoors and company.

Investment 

How much will your sunroom cost? Without an appraisal by a professional Nashville contractor, it is impossible to give an accurate figure. Pricing depends on a number of variables including, but not limited to:

• Insulation- Do you want a four-season sunroom?
• Current Construction- How difficult will it be to construct the additional room?
• Flooring- What type of flooring will you use?
• Materials- aluminum, wood or vinyl?
• Size- Larger sunrooms, of course, cost more to construct

Final Thoughts

Adding a sunroom to your home can have personal as well as financial benefits, but only a licensed Nashville contractor can give you a complete picture of what it will cost and if it is worth the investment in your area. Many people opt to call in a professional appraiser to get a better idea about potential return on investment. Of course, if you simply want an indoor/outdoor place to call your own, hang the price and call a contractor today!

Nashville Contractors Stress Importance of Gutters

You have heard the old saying, if it ain't broke don’t fix it? This is the prevailing attitude when it comes to gutters on your home. Most people pay little if any attention to them unless they overflow at the front door! This could be a costly mistake for several reasons and your Nashville contractors want you to understand the importance of solid, properly functioning gutters for your home.

Water

Water is a fact of life, and it is the one element you try desperately to protect your home from at all costs. Inside the home, you would never tolerate leaking water pipes, because eventually wood will rot and mold will grow. You should have this same attitude with the gutters on your house, if they leak or do not operate properly, you are not getting the protection from the elements you desperately need.

Gutter Function

Gutters and rainspouts have a specific function and that is to channel rainwater to a safe area away from your home. When installed and maintained properly water will flow around your roof in the gutter system to exit at a predetermined area where the water can further be channeled away from your home. Why is this so important?

•    Attic- leaking gutters can allow water to stand or seep into your attic for days or even months before you notice anything. At this point, your insulation is likely saturated and water could have made its way into your interior walls.

•    Siding- even if water does not make it inside your home, bad gutters can allow rainwater to get behind your siding. This can lead to mold, wood rot, termites and extensive damage to the exterior of your home.

•    Landscaping- do you take particular joy in your yard? Imagine what pounding rain could do to your well thought out landscaping!

•    Basement- have you noticed large amounts of water standing around the perimeter of your hour? Water that is not properly diverted can seep through the soil and into basements, garages and more.

Gutter Replacement

When do you call Nashville contractors to discuss gutter replacement? There are several signs that replacement or repair are in order. The next time it rains, take a tour around your house and look for leaks, separated joints, sagging gutters or water stains on vinyl gutters. Properly maintained gutters can last a long, long time but once they are worn out or damaged there is little option but replacement. Thankfully, in most cases, gutter replacement is one of the cheaper home repairs you can have done.

Conclusion

You should clean your gutters out at least once per year. Leaves, debris and squirrels can pack your gutters full causing water to overflow. Some Nashville contractors may suggest gutter covers, which will cost you more initially but can make your gutters practically maintenance free.

7 Reasons For Sunroom Installation On Your Property

For those home owners who are considering having upgrades made to their property, the sunroom is an option that is all too easily overlooked. Whether you are thinking of having sunroom installation performed as an attached fixture of your home or a freestanding unit, your Tennessee contractor will be able to provide you with the information you need about this choice. For now, though, here are 7 ways that a new sunroom could be used on your property this spring.


1) Entertaining Guests - Having a sunroom installed by your Knoxville contractor team can give you a perfectly enclosed portion of an outdoor patio. With windows that open and wide entry ways, enclosing half of your normal entertainment area in a sunroom would provide you with options when the weather turns sour during a gathering.

2) Intimate Arrangements - A small, cozy sunroom installation on your property can give you and your loved ones a quiet place to retreat to in order to gather your sense of personal space again. Perfect for enjoying your morning coffee, watching over your koi pond, or meditating, these comfortable areas can likewise host a guest or two while keeping them out of your home.

3) Staging Area - The sunroom that is attached to your home by your Knoxville contractor can provide your family with that extra space that is needed to keep those items that shouldn't be in the home corralled. From muddy boots to wet jackets, the sunroom lined with shelves and pegs can help these items to dry, as well keep them from being strung all over your home.

4) House Plant Area - Those plants that you don't take outside, the ones that you have had since the days you were single, have always needed more light. If you're a lover of house plants, the sunroom that your Tennessee contractor plans out for you can give your plants all the light they could ever want.

5) Garden Protection - Tired of having your entire garden pummeled into nothingness by a single severe storm? A freestanding sunroom with raised garden beds along the walls can double as a greenhouse and a getaway for your family. Including opening windows will keep your plants from getting too hot or evaporating their moisture content too quickly.

6) All Weather Swimming - If you own an in-ground pool or a hot tub, you know how much the weather affects your ability to enjoy your investment. By building a sunroom over this area, you will be able to enjoy it year round. Through temperature control, you can enjoy your pool in the middle of winter!

7) Family Retreat - A sunroom installation on the side or back of your house can be turned into a brightly lit family room. Add a few couches, your favorite books and magazines, and a television, and your family will have a new gathering place that provides a warm, friendly atmosphere.