What to look for in an existing Sunroom
Not only do sunrooms add extra square footage of living area to your house, a well placed sunroom can flood the interior of your house with natural light. Sunrooms can also give you a sense of being outdoors while remaining comfortably inside.
One of the first things you look for is possible water damage due to leaky joints, sealants or gaskets. On a rainy day, these leaks may be easy to spot with a quick glance.
When built correctly, sunrooms offer all of the above and more. However, there are a few things you need to look out for, especially if you are thinking about buying a home with an existing sunroom or solarium.
One of the first things you look for is possible water damage due to leaky joints, sealants or gaskets. On a rainy day, these leaks may be easy to spot with a quick glance. On dry days, take a closer look at joints or places where leaked water may pool. If there is any discoloration or “bubbling” of paint, there may be an issue.
If there are areas in the sunroom where more caulk than usual is present, that could be a sign of a leak that wasn’t properly sealed. Also have a look where the sunroom meets the house – this is the longest uninterrupted seam in the structure. In addition to leaks, see if there is any condensation on the inside of the windows. That could lead to mold down the road.
Another easy to thing to spot are any imperfections in the windows of the sunroom. Small cracks, nicks, etc. may not be huge issues now, but they could grow problematic over time. Also check to make sure if the glass itself is tempered safety glass. This is important if the glass breaks for any reason.
Finally, what is the sunroom built on? A concrete slab is one thing, but if the sunroom was made to enclose a porch, it is a good idea to make sure the porch is reinforced to hold the extra weight. Porches also have sloped floors to take any water away from the house – is that affecting how level the sunroom is?
As with anything when buying a new home, make sure to get an inspection by someone who has knowledge of sunrooms. An unexperienced inspector may not know what to look for and may miss a few of these critical issues.
Contact Global Solariums to schedule an inspection of the sunroom in question to make sure it is performing efficiently before you buy.