 | |  | |  |
 | |  | |  |
Diamond Sunrooms wants to give you an exact estimate and the exact vinyl sunroom or porch enclosure that
you want. Here are some of the things that you should consider before our initial visit; the materials used in
construction, roof styles, the foundation and platform they are built on, yard exposure, insulating R factors, glass
application, window quality, door styles and swings, heating and cooling, electrical circuit, flooring, and house
wall finish. Use this page to help with your initial design. Some of the topics cover sunrooms only, but for those
of you who are looking for a porch enclosure, please read through all of the topics and we will give answers to
any questions that you may have at our visit with you, or by contacting us.
Construction Materials
What style of sunroom are you looking for? Your choice of materials is varied depending on which style you
would like; the standard rectangular "home" style or the conservatory style. The "home" style fits in with your
homes' design and will compliment it well. The conservatory style looks remarkably different, somewhat like a
greenhouse, and might give a different look to your home. The "home" style is built using three main groupings;
wood and drywall, aluminum, or vinyl. Wood and drywall is a very nice style, allowing for different designs, high
insulation values, and various finishing materials; but it is hard to keep clean, takes much longer to erect, and
doesn't quite have a sunroom look. Aluminum sunrooms are quick to go up, but that is about their only good
point. They are not insulated well and they easily scratch and dent. Cleaning is somewhat easier than wood
construction, but use only non-abrasive cleaners as you will take the paint off. Diamond Sunrooms builds only
vinyl sunrooms because they are the only product that is excellent in all categories. There are many designs you
can employ employing all glass or with vinyl kick panels and transoms. Insulation values are very high with up to
R-25 roofing, R-15 walls, and up to R-10 windows and doors. Cleaning is a breeze; use any cleaner that you
want to. If you choose the "home" style, then our vinyl sunroom is your best pick.
Roofs
A sunroom roof must blend in with your home's roof. What determine this are the slope and the type of the
roof. The slope is the slant of a roof, and you want your sunroom's roof slope to match your home's roof slope,
with certain reservations. As with most types of construction, you have two roof type choices;
Shed or Gable.
you want. Here are some of the things that you should consider before our initial visit; the materials used in
construction, roof styles, the foundation and platform they are built on, yard exposure, insulating R factors, glass
application, window quality, door styles and swings, heating and cooling, electrical circuit, flooring, and house
wall finish. Use this page to help with your initial design. Some of the topics cover sunrooms only, but for those
of you who are looking for a porch enclosure, please read through all of the topics and we will give answers to
any questions that you may have at our visit with you, or by contacting us.
Construction Materials
What style of sunroom are you looking for? Your choice of materials is varied depending on which style you
would like; the standard rectangular "home" style or the conservatory style. The "home" style fits in with your
homes' design and will compliment it well. The conservatory style looks remarkably different, somewhat like a
greenhouse, and might give a different look to your home. The "home" style is built using three main groupings;
wood and drywall, aluminum, or vinyl. Wood and drywall is a very nice style, allowing for different designs, high
insulation values, and various finishing materials; but it is hard to keep clean, takes much longer to erect, and
doesn't quite have a sunroom look. Aluminum sunrooms are quick to go up, but that is about their only good
point. They are not insulated well and they easily scratch and dent. Cleaning is somewhat easier than wood
construction, but use only non-abrasive cleaners as you will take the paint off. Diamond Sunrooms builds only
vinyl sunrooms because they are the only product that is excellent in all categories. There are many designs you
can employ employing all glass or with vinyl kick panels and transoms. Insulation values are very high with up to
R-25 roofing, R-15 walls, and up to R-10 windows and doors. Cleaning is a breeze; use any cleaner that you
want to. If you choose the "home" style, then our vinyl sunroom is your best pick.
Roofs
A sunroom roof must blend in with your home's roof. What determine this are the slope and the type of the
roof. The slope is the slant of a roof, and you want your sunroom's roof slope to match your home's roof slope,
with certain reservations. As with most types of construction, you have two roof type choices;
Shed or Gable.
A shed roof is one geometric plane that 'flows' from a vertical wall; for a two story house, or your existing roof; for
a ranch house. A gable roof is an A-Frame style that joins in a perpendicular manner to your vertical wall or
existing roof. Roof covering is also a consideration. The insulated sunroom roof is fine as installed and will
perfectly drain rain water away. You may prefer to shingle it as this allows you to match your home's roofing.
Concrete Pad, Deck or Patio
Do you have a present deck or patio or will you need a new one? A vinyl sunroom can be built on an existing
platform, utilizing possibly needed modifications; an existing concrete pad might need new footers, or an
existing deck would need it's support system approved. If an existing concrete pad is used, you must consider;
is it level and smooth, and does it have footers? Do you want a pad that will give you years of sloppy use, or
would you like a new, flat pad? Depending on your needs, you can also install a new deck or foundation.
Directional Exposure
Is a scenic view important to you? Would you like the sun to shine directly on your room? These are two
considerations that must be made. The sun causes lighting and heating/cooling situations; the less sun, the less
light and heat. A northwestern exposure will cause higher winter heating and lower sunshine quality and a
southern exposure will cause higher summer cooling and a lot more sunshine. You will need to balance the view
with the exposure and decide how these will affect your enjoyment and heating/cooling needs.
Insulation
Will you use your sunroom or porch enclosure year-round? Insulation values are important for this
determination. Our product has some of the highest insulation R-values in the industry. Compare different
companies and demand to see written documentation on their advertised R-values. The higher the R-values; the
better. Our values are up to, R-25 roofing; R-15 walls; and R-10 windows.
Window Quality
Windows are the central design feature of your sunroom. Their construction is obviously important; as the
largest part of your sunroom will be windows. Diamond Sunrooms uses the Vista Sunrooms' Panorama vinyl
series, which employ Vista Windows made to exacting and computerized standards. They utilize the Seal Smart
Glazing System with the patented Intercept Technology and each window has two locks, not just one. These
qualities greatly improve the length of service of your windows which are backed by the Parts and Labor
Warranties. Other companies will buy generic windows to install in their sunrooms; Vista Sunrooms designs the
sunroom around their own windows, which makes the package perfect together. You will want to study any other
windows literature and ask where the windows are supplied from.
Glass Selection
Glass selection is done considering the view, sun and wind exposure, privacy, and aesthetics or design.
There are five glass applications available; windows, knee walls, transoms, gable trapezoids, and sky lites.
Windows can be stationary or operational. Sliders are the operational windows of choice and are between 60
and 70 inches high and 36 to 72 inches wide. Double-hung windows are also available. Knee walls are 18
inches high for the standard sunroom design. A transom is the remaining distance above the window to the top
of the wall. Gable trapezoids are the distance from the top of the wall, usually eight feet, to just underneath the
sloped roof eave. Sky lites can be designed into the roof system to give you more sunlight and moonlight. Knee
walls, transoms, and gable trapezoids can be either stationary glass or vinyl. You will want to determine whether
R-2, R-4, R-5, R-6.5 or R-10 rated windows will be needed. The glass and vinyl applications can better be seen
on the Sunrooms and Home pages. Use these pictures to help develop a preliminary design.
Door Selection
There are three different styles of doors that can be used. Sliding doors allow for a 30 or 36 inch opening with
no sacrifice of the interior space that a swing door takes. They come in 5, 6 and 8 foot sizes. French swing
doors come in the same sizes. Single 36 inch swing doors, are the third style. Our doors have three locks that
answer your security needs. Your choice should be based on your comfort with sliders or swing doors and the
space that a swing door occupies when open.
Heating and Air Conditioning
Heating and cooling should be included; if not for you, then for resale value. The two general systems to look
at are either a separate unit or a connection to the existing house system. A heat pump is a very efficient system
that heats and cools. Single electric heating/cooling units that mount in the wall are available. Electric
baseboard heat and an accompanying wall mounted cooling unit can be used. Connection to your home's
HVAC system depends on whether it can handle the increased loads. Often, a heating engineer should be
consulted. You can do this simultaneously to getting your estimates, and so prepare yourself for an important
aspect of construction design. We can help you with contacting one.
Electric
A standard electrical system will be applied, unless you otherwise stipulate. Electrical outlets along the walls,
an entrance light at the exterior door(s) and the through-house door and a switch, or switches, going to each. A
fan and a light can also be installed on a ceiling beam or the ridge beam. Phone, computer, cable and/or
security lines can also be installed.
Flooring
Your floor can be finished with any surface you choose. Some examples are tile, wood, carpet or concrete
with an appropriate surface finish. This is another part of planning, besides heating/cooling, that you might want
to get outside design help on. The finished floor is a very subjective item and you could benefit from sitting down
with a flooring professional. We can also advise you on this.
Interior Wall Finish
The house wall of your sunroom will be striped of siding and covered with drywall, paneling, cedar or any
material that you specify. This will give your sunroom a spectacular finish.
Job Completion
At it's swift conclusion, Diamond Sunrooms will furnish a room that is complete and ready to enjoy.
a ranch house. A gable roof is an A-Frame style that joins in a perpendicular manner to your vertical wall or
existing roof. Roof covering is also a consideration. The insulated sunroom roof is fine as installed and will
perfectly drain rain water away. You may prefer to shingle it as this allows you to match your home's roofing.
Concrete Pad, Deck or Patio
Do you have a present deck or patio or will you need a new one? A vinyl sunroom can be built on an existing
platform, utilizing possibly needed modifications; an existing concrete pad might need new footers, or an
existing deck would need it's support system approved. If an existing concrete pad is used, you must consider;
is it level and smooth, and does it have footers? Do you want a pad that will give you years of sloppy use, or
would you like a new, flat pad? Depending on your needs, you can also install a new deck or foundation.
Directional Exposure
Is a scenic view important to you? Would you like the sun to shine directly on your room? These are two
considerations that must be made. The sun causes lighting and heating/cooling situations; the less sun, the less
light and heat. A northwestern exposure will cause higher winter heating and lower sunshine quality and a
southern exposure will cause higher summer cooling and a lot more sunshine. You will need to balance the view
with the exposure and decide how these will affect your enjoyment and heating/cooling needs.
Insulation
Will you use your sunroom or porch enclosure year-round? Insulation values are important for this
determination. Our product has some of the highest insulation R-values in the industry. Compare different
companies and demand to see written documentation on their advertised R-values. The higher the R-values; the
better. Our values are up to, R-25 roofing; R-15 walls; and R-10 windows.
Window Quality
Windows are the central design feature of your sunroom. Their construction is obviously important; as the
largest part of your sunroom will be windows. Diamond Sunrooms uses the Vista Sunrooms' Panorama vinyl
series, which employ Vista Windows made to exacting and computerized standards. They utilize the Seal Smart
Glazing System with the patented Intercept Technology and each window has two locks, not just one. These
qualities greatly improve the length of service of your windows which are backed by the Parts and Labor
Warranties. Other companies will buy generic windows to install in their sunrooms; Vista Sunrooms designs the
sunroom around their own windows, which makes the package perfect together. You will want to study any other
windows literature and ask where the windows are supplied from.
Glass Selection
Glass selection is done considering the view, sun and wind exposure, privacy, and aesthetics or design.
There are five glass applications available; windows, knee walls, transoms, gable trapezoids, and sky lites.
Windows can be stationary or operational. Sliders are the operational windows of choice and are between 60
and 70 inches high and 36 to 72 inches wide. Double-hung windows are also available. Knee walls are 18
inches high for the standard sunroom design. A transom is the remaining distance above the window to the top
of the wall. Gable trapezoids are the distance from the top of the wall, usually eight feet, to just underneath the
sloped roof eave. Sky lites can be designed into the roof system to give you more sunlight and moonlight. Knee
walls, transoms, and gable trapezoids can be either stationary glass or vinyl. You will want to determine whether
R-2, R-4, R-5, R-6.5 or R-10 rated windows will be needed. The glass and vinyl applications can better be seen
on the Sunrooms and Home pages. Use these pictures to help develop a preliminary design.
Door Selection
There are three different styles of doors that can be used. Sliding doors allow for a 30 or 36 inch opening with
no sacrifice of the interior space that a swing door takes. They come in 5, 6 and 8 foot sizes. French swing
doors come in the same sizes. Single 36 inch swing doors, are the third style. Our doors have three locks that
answer your security needs. Your choice should be based on your comfort with sliders or swing doors and the
space that a swing door occupies when open.
Heating and Air Conditioning
Heating and cooling should be included; if not for you, then for resale value. The two general systems to look
at are either a separate unit or a connection to the existing house system. A heat pump is a very efficient system
that heats and cools. Single electric heating/cooling units that mount in the wall are available. Electric
baseboard heat and an accompanying wall mounted cooling unit can be used. Connection to your home's
HVAC system depends on whether it can handle the increased loads. Often, a heating engineer should be
consulted. You can do this simultaneously to getting your estimates, and so prepare yourself for an important
aspect of construction design. We can help you with contacting one.
Electric
A standard electrical system will be applied, unless you otherwise stipulate. Electrical outlets along the walls,
an entrance light at the exterior door(s) and the through-house door and a switch, or switches, going to each. A
fan and a light can also be installed on a ceiling beam or the ridge beam. Phone, computer, cable and/or
security lines can also be installed.
Flooring
Your floor can be finished with any surface you choose. Some examples are tile, wood, carpet or concrete
with an appropriate surface finish. This is another part of planning, besides heating/cooling, that you might want
to get outside design help on. The finished floor is a very subjective item and you could benefit from sitting down
with a flooring professional. We can also advise you on this.
Interior Wall Finish
The house wall of your sunroom will be striped of siding and covered with drywall, paneling, cedar or any
material that you specify. This will give your sunroom a spectacular finish.
Job Completion
At it's swift conclusion, Diamond Sunrooms will furnish a room that is complete and ready to enjoy.
Contact us for help in planning and selecting your sunroom