Do-It-Yourself Sunrooms & Sunroom Kits
Do-It-Yourself Sunrooms vs. Professional Sunroom Installation In Florida
In our last article, we discussed how much it cost to build a sunroom? We provided Florida homeowners with some useful information into how the price of a sunroom is determined and several of the major contributing factors that go into making up the cost of building a new sunroom. In this article, we’re going to discuss the do-it-yourself sunroom approach or DIY sunroom kits vs. hiring a licensed professional sunroom contractor in Florida to build your new sunroom addition.
So what is a do-it-yourself sunroom kit, also known as a DIY Sunroom?
So you’re interested in building a sunroom addition onto your Florida home and find yourself thinking about possibly buying a do-it-yourself online “sunroom kit” also referred to as a modular sunroom or DIY sunroom. A DIY sunroom kit is a pre-fabricated sunroom that is manufactured by sunroom companies and shipped to the homeowner with hundreds of pieces along with a step-by-step instruction manual or guide to help homeowners install their new sunroom kit. Many of the manufacturing companies selling do-it-yourself sunroom kits can be very misleading in the way that they market and sell their DIY sunroom products online. We found a lot of manufacturers marketing their online sunroom kits as being “designed for easy installation” “simple to install” “custom designed” “you are the contractor” and “cost far less because you save money on labor cost”. These statements can be very misleading to many Florida homeowners.
There are many misconceptions when it comes to installing a do-it-yourself sunroom kit.
The first misconception is that a do-it-yourself (DIY) sunroom kit can be installed by just about anyone owning a set of power tools and can cost the homeowner far less than hiring a professional licensed sunroom contractor. Unlike installing a ceiling fan or backyard shed, a sunroom is an integral part of your home and should be installed by a professional who is a licensed sunroom contractor. Quite often these on-line “sunroom kits” will not meet Florida engineering standards and building code and wind requirements. It is definitely recommended that you hire a professional sunroom contractor for a number of reasons. We see situations quite often, where a Florida homeowner decides to take on the challenge of a do-it-yourself home remodeling project only to find themselves halfway through the project feeling, overwhelmed and well in over their head.
Another common misconception is when a homeowner turns to YouTube to watch a video tutorial on “how to install a sunroom kit,” and thinks “this will be easy.” Installing a sunroom kit is definitely not an easy task and should always be handled by a skilled and licensed sunroom contractor. Many of the DIY sunroom kit installation videos found online tend to downplay the complexity of installing a sunroom and make installing a sunroom “look easy”. This can be very deceiving since most of the DIY sunroom kits that are shown being installed online are almost always installed by a licensed professional who has a lot of experience installing sunrooms. Often times these professional installers or sunroom contractors are making “YouTube” videos on sunroom installation to advertise a particular type of DIY sunroom kit. Most DIY sunroom videos usually fail to explain one of the most important aspects of installing a sunroom and that is the process that comes before the actual construction of the sunroom. Before even starting a home remodeling project like building a sunroom addition there are several things a licensed contractor must do before beginning the process.
Do-it-yourself sunroom kits – Do I still need to obtain building permits in Florida?
Another misconception is that if you decide to install a do-it-yourself sunroom kit, then you don’t need to obtain building permits. Quite often these DIY sunroom kits that are being sold online and do not meet Florida engineering standards and building codes and wind requirements. When a Florida homeowner decides to purchase and install a DIY sunroom kit they become fully responsible for obtaining permits and making sure that the DIY sunroom kit is built and meets all Florida engineering standards and wind requirements. If a homeowner doesn’t obtain the proper permitting that is required or their DIY sunroom kit fails to meet Florida engineering standards and wind requirements, the cost can escalate quickly with fines from the building department and also the Homeowners Association.
For the safety of the homeowner and all parties involved, the state of Florida recommends that a licensed contractor applies for all of the necessary permits required by the homeowner’s county and city where they reside in. A sunroom is considered to be an addition to your home so therefore it must be constructed and installed according to your state and local building codes. A licensed sunroom installer knows that every sunroom installation requires a sunroom permit and should be able to explain to the homeowner the details of the permitting process. In addition to applying for the proper permitting the licensed sunroom contractor will also check with your Home Owners Association (HOA) for the approval of the sunroom addition to your home. It’s always best to hire a professional licensed sunroom contractor for these reasons.
Another thing to keep in mind when looking to install a DIY sunroom kit is that you are buying a “cookie cutter” sunroom kit. The manufacturer is selling you what they have in stock rather than what would look good on your home. By hiring a sunroom contractor they will help you choose a sunroom design that is best for you and your home. From spacious custom cathedral sunrooms to stylish studio sunroom designs, whether you’re interested in a larger custom built four season sunroom, glass room, or patio enclosure, no matter the sunroom design you choose a professional sunroom contractor will assist you with choosing the best sunroom design that is best for you and your home.
Many Florida homeowners learn that a DIY sunroom project doesn’t always translate into being the most realistic or cost-effective approach to building a sunroom addition. This is one main reason why it is super beneficial to consider hiring a licensed professional sunroom contractor to build your new sunroom.
At Lifestyle Remodeling, we handle all aspects of building a beautiful Tampa sunroom addition to your Florida home. We diligently work throughout the entire process to make the experience as stress-free as possible. This includes obtaining all of the necessary sunroom permits as well as scheduling any necessary inspections. At Lifestyle Remodeling, we always put our customer’s interest first and are committed to providing the very best in high-quality products and installation services. We encourage you to read our customer reviews and visit our project portfolio to view our sunroom before & after photo gallery of projects we have completed. If you are ready to build a sunroom addition to your Florida home or if you have any questions please contact “Lifestyle Remodeling at (813) 448-3711 today or contact us online.”
