Archives for April 2016

Contracting a expert in home remodeling to adding sunrooms and screened porches to your home is just about as complex as adding an entire new enclosed room. They use the same structure, need electricity run into them and have added complexity of many windows and even skylights that need to be handled and installed professionally. When you find the right contractors to handle this general remodel project, you can rest assured they will do exactly what it takes to have the perfect sunrooms/screened porches added to your home.

Sunrooms and Screened Porches to Your Home

Here is how it works from start to finish:

1 – The foundation is either prepared, poured or constructed for the sunrooms and screened porches to your home first. If there is no existing structure in the place where the new room will go, a concrete slab is constructed to support the sun room or porch. They can also be built on existing patios or even decks.

2 – Framing of walls and the roof is done next. The roof must be tied into the existing house so it may be necessary to open up a wall or existing roof line. This is done in much the same way as building an actual room on a house using 1×6 and 2×4 boards. The framework has to be sturdy enough to support all the glass windows for the sunroom. If a screened porch is being constructed instead, the builder may not worry as much about it being super strong instead of lightweight and cost effective.

3 – All utilities such as electricity is run into the new construction and hooked up so it functions properly. Most sunrooms and screened porches at least have a light inside so you can use it any time of the day or night. Ceiling fans are also popular additions unless the roof of the building is also completely glass or screening.

4 – Floors and walls of the new construction are finished. Some insulation may be added especially in sunrooms. In most cases, these types of additions have either cement, stone or tile floors, though hardwood is another option. Some people opt for outdoor carpeting as well, although it is not considered very stylish these days.

5 – Windows, skylights and screens are installed and secured next. If there are any doors to either the rest of the house or to the outside, they are also hung at this time. Sunrooms and screened porches frequently open up onto an existing deck or patio in the backyard to further extend the living area to the outdoors.

6 – All finishing construction is completed at the end. This includes replacing or repainting the shingles, brick or other material on the outside of the house and the newly constructed room, painting the interior walls, window trim and ceiling and completing any other cosmetic procedures.

7 – The final step in the creation of a sunrooms and screened porches to your home is to decorate and enjoy it. Bring in plenty of seating, some lighting so you can enjoy the new room after hours and any decorations such as houseplants that you enjoy best.

Summer Entertaining – Outdoor Living Spaces

A few folding chairs on the lawn and a grill on the patio may be how most people think of outdoor summertime entertaining, but if you are serious about outdoor living spaces and having friends over for dining al fresco or just having fun in the cool evenings under the stars, you should consider a home renovation in College Station, TX project that will greatly improve your outdoor living spaces.

Outdoor living spaces need three main things: protection from the weather, a platform that gets you off the grass and gardens and plenty of places to sit. The ways in which you tackle these three needs depends largely on how extensive the general remodel projects you want to undertake are and how much of a budget you have to work with.

Here are some home remodeling in Brazos Valley, TX ideas to consider:

Sunrooms/Screened Porches

While sunrooms and screened porches require a more extensive construction project and cost more than other options, they also provide more comfortable spaces for living a semi-outdoor lifestyle. In fact, a sun room simply lets the sun in to warm the bright, airy space and is more of an indoor spot than an outdoor one. It does allow the homeowner and her guests to enjoy a nearly unobstructed view of the landscaping and yard.

Screened porches let fresh air in as well and are usually much easier to construct. Screening is frequently stapled neatly to the inside of existing framework on a porch or deck.

Arbors/Pergolas

If there is already a deck or patio attached to the house, the addition of an arbor or pergola can help block some of the hot Texas sun without blocking the fresh air and full outdoor experience. Home remodelers in College Station, TX can easily add an overhead semi-solid roof to a deck area. These arbors or pergolas provide only minimal protection from the sun, but the partial shade can be enough to extend the use of an outdoor living space. Another option is to grow a vine or other climbing plant over it and thus afford more shade.

Decks and Patios

When it comes to providing a platform for friends and family to sit on, nothing is better at creating an outdoor entertainment spot than the addition of a deck or patio. These can be as simple as a flat wooden platform or a slab of concrete or as extensive as multi-level constructions with built in seating and grill station. They can include space for a hot tub or spa, planter boxes for pretty flowers and even private entrances to upstairs bedrooms.

When summer approaches and homeowners get ready to invite friends and family over for their hot weather parties, they need to provide the perfect place to hang out and have fun. Experienced professional home renovation experts in Brazos Valley, Texas region can help you decide whether a sunroom or screened porch, arbor or pergola or just an attractive and functional deck or patio is right for your home and outdoor living spaces.