2020 Dealer Awards

Congratulations to our Winners! 2020 was full of challenges that the entire world had to overcome together. Businesses were impacted in ways they would never suspect. Supply chain issues, shortages of products and employees, and so on.  Despite what LivingSpace dealt with, we had a fantastic year with dealers who went above and beyond to make sales and get homeowners into their new, amazing 4-season sunroom. So, without further ado, let’s meet our 2020 LivingSpace award winners! Dealer of the Year: Peter Burley Since 2015 Peter Burley of NJ Sunroom Additions has dominated sales, wearing the crown for seven years now for Dealer of the Year. He says his long-running success selling LivingSpace sunrooms comes from teamwork and excellent communication. Watch the video below to hear more from Peter and his advice to other dealers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDu-y6RvJm4 Dealer of the Year, Midwest Region: Jude Tindal Jude Tindal of SE Wisconsin Sunrooms has taken home the Dealer of the Year, Midwest Region Award. We talked with Jude about his win and what it means to him. "It's a great honor. There are many good dealers and builders in the LivingSpace network, so winning an award amongst those organizations is always a great honor. I'm very lucky to have a great group of guys that work for us that take a lot of pride in their work." Jude also gave some great advice to pass on to other LivingSpace dealers. He speaks on having confidence in yourself and the LivingSpace product. "You got to take the leap of faith. This is the best sunroom product hands-down. There's nothing even close right now on the market.” Presidents Continued Excellence Award: Tom Casey & Tom Thiel We have two winners in this category, Tom Casey from Home Town Restyling and Tom Thiel from Chesterfield Fence…

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Benefits of a Vinyl Sunroom

LivingSpace offers only the best of the best when it comes to sunroom additions on your home. All of our sunrooms are made with a vinyl material instead of aluminum. Aluminum is the most common building material for sunrooms. However, it’s not ideal when it comes to maintenance, heat transfer, and sustainability. It’s why we have always made LivingSpace Sunrooms with vinyl, now let us explain why it's the better choice. Maintenance Aluminum is usually the most common material of sunrooms to be made from. At first it was the battle between wood and aluminum; which was better? But, now Vinyl is giving both a run for their money. One of the biggest reasons Vinyl is much more superior than aluminum is how little maintenance it needs. A sunroom is already a major investment, so why purchase something that constantly needs maintenance, upgrades, or tedious cleaning. Here’s what aluminums sunrooms do that vinyl does not: Color fading over time-Anodized aluminum extrusions can fade and oxidize, if your sunroom is near an ocean ugly pits can appear from salt corrosion. Powder-coated or painted aluminum window frames fade and chalk up also. Dents- Aluminum can lack shape memory, meaning after damage it’s hard for it to return to its original shape Touch ups needed- The process of touching up aluminum can be tedious and time-consuming, following precise steps that can also be expensive. Cleaning is a big hassle in life, you always have to do it, it takes up time and energy. But, what if we told you adding on a LivingSpace sunroom adds extra square footage onto your house, but without all that extra cleaning! It’s super easy, here’s how you do it. Frame and Door- use a soft cloth or brush with a mild detergent or warm water. No need…

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Choosing the Right LivingSpace Sunroom

LivingSpace offers a variety of sunroom additions that are fully customizable to meet your needs and style preferences. These rooms are designed for all four seasons so you can enjoy it on a hot summer day or even when there’s snow! If you’re debating which option is best for you, LivingSpace has you covered. In this post you’ll find details on each sunroom  to make your decision that much easier. The Cathedral Previous Next Looking for a fancier look? Cathedral sunrooms are a luxurious option and our most popular! The most notable characteristics of the Cathedral layout include: high vaulted ceilings, natural light flood each room, and tall windows. You even have the option to add skylights to bring even more light into your new space! The Studio Previous Next If you’re looking for a more common sunroom look LivingSpace’s Studio sunroom option is for you. It offers that traditional sunroom style, but our version is more unique, as this type of layout is fully customizable. Notable characteristics include: low pitch roof, angled ceilings, and large windows.  The Integrated Previous Next For a seamless flow from your current house's architecture choose LivingSpace’s Integrated sunroom. The Integrated layout is designed to look like another natural section of your home but you can still create your own look with this customizable option. Choose your windows, doors, walls, and roof to bring your space to life! The Speciality Previous Next Want to go all out with your new sunroom? LivingSpace’s Speciality sunroom will be your best option. While all of our sunrooms are customizable, the Speciality will bring your most unique ideas to life. Notable characteristics include: top-quality windows and materials, tons of natural light, most customizable options making it easier to create your dream sunroom layout.   Request a quote today! With four…

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Complete Sunroom Windows Guide by LivingSpace

Sunroom Windows Options Though they fulfill the same purpose, sunroom windows can differ quite a bit in how they look and function. Some manually slide open, others are opened by a crank, and some are simply fixed within the frame. The names may seem confusing, but once you have an understanding of the basic styles, you’ll be well on your way to making the right choice for you and your family. Check out some of the sunroom windows options below to understand what you can do with windows in sunrooms. Picture Window A picture window gives an unobstructed view of the outdoors and brings in the most natural sunlight. They are often placed along the far wall, and provide a stunning view for people as they walk into the sunroom for the first time. Because of this, they are very popular in the rooms we build. The only downside is that they are stationary and cannot be opened and closed. Normally, this is fine, as summers and winters are often extreme in most regions of the country. However, on the perfect fall day, a nice breeze might be exactly what you want.  Sliding Window These sunroom windows are also popular options. They consist of two sashes, and each sash independently slides left or right. This means that you can slide either side completely open, or slide both to the middle with openings on either side. In the middle, there are two locking mechanisms for each sash, which can help childproof your windows and prevent break-ins.  Double Hung Windows Double hung windows are similar to sliding windows in terms of how they operate. On double hung windows, however, you can slide the sashes up or down instead of left or right. They still operate independent of each other and lock in the…

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The History of LivingSpace Sunrooms

The vision for LivingSpace Sunrooms took shape in 1998 when our founder, Kraig Mackett, ventured into the unknown by starting a sunroom business. Frustrated by the poor quality and lack of customer care he found working in the sunroom industry, Kraig built a small, experienced team to change the status quo. Along with Mike Francis, our Director of Sales, and Jake Huskins, our VP of Engineering, Kraig patented and refined a new way to build sunrooms. Using far superior materials, a revolutionary framing system, and clever engineering, the early team at LivingSpace created the first sunroom that was a true home addition, designed to integrate seamlessly with our customers' homes and stand up to decades of harsh weather. After twenty years, that team has expanded to hundreds of employees and we are still growing! The following is his perspective on the sunroom industry and his experience in the home improvement industry that led him to working with an incredible team at LivingSpace today. Starting out My first real job out of college was working in the home improvement industry in sales. I ended up working for a company selling windows, siding, and other home improvement items. As I worked there, the company started to grow, and we got in the sunroom business. This would have been around ’92-’93. Our company was pretty innovative. We would look for solutions to try and create more value added to the homeowner because the building products industry really seemed to be fairly stalemated. Everybody had similar products at the time and no one would do anything to make improvements until one person made an improvement, and then everyone would race to catch up. This made it so there wasn’t very much genuine innovation in the industry. We took steps towards innovation by owning our own windows manufacturing business. This gave us…

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Sunroom Contractors: How To Choose The Right One

So, you have decided to add a sunroom into your home. It’s a great choice to give your house some additional space that allows tons of natural light in. Next steps are of course, finding the type of sunroom that suits you best, choosing a company to build and install it, and deciding its use. But, something many tend to brush off or not put much thought into is the process of choosing a good installer. There have been too many instances where sunrooms have gone wrong, it’s why a good installer is crucial. A sunroom addition is a costly project, so don’t make the mistake of not doing your research first. Thankfully, today there are more tools than ever to find a skilled, highly reviewed sunroom contractor with the right skills and credentials for your project.To help you take some of the guesswork out of picking the right company for the job, we’ve compiled six different tips to help you choose a contractor who’ll build your project just the way you imagined it, plus the red flags you need to watch out for when choosing a contractor.  6 Tips to Help you Choose the Right Sunroom Contractor Seek referralsFocus on quality and trust instead of budget and timelineMake sure the contractor is licensed and insured with a reputable firmAsk questions, expect answersLearn who will be installing the roomPay attention to the warranty Seek referrals Talk to friends and family who have already been through the processCheck out online reviews for the companyAsk contractors for referencesVisit showroomsIf a friend or family member had a recent remodeling project that sparked your interest, reach out to them to learn about the buying process. Their experience can be invaluable. Hopefully they had a positive experience with a local remodeling company, and can point…

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The rundown: Tackling Building Codes and Permits

The purpose of building codes One obstacle homeowners face when planning for home additions is the area’s strict building codes. Building codes regulate the procedures and details of construction. The International Code Council (ICC) maintains these codes for states or provincial governments to use. When contractors, like LivingSpace dealers, build onto your home, it is important they do so while obeying the area’s building codes.Building codes aren’t enforced to be annoying. In reality, they are there to protect your home. Building codes were adopted to combat large fires in densely populated urban areas. Since then, they have evolved to also address structure, electrical, ventilation, and construction materials. Now, these restrictions make sure the sunroom is well insulated and protective against natural disasters like tornadoes, earthquakes, or hurricanes. By obeying building codes, you can protect yourself and your home. Selling your home However, life happens, and very few homes fully meet building codes. Some have said that failing to meet building codes means you’re unable to resell your home when the time comes. This is a myth. If it were the case, very few houses would be on the market today. Home inspectors only prevent resell if the code violation poses an immediate threat to the home or those living in it. In an extreme example, a code inspector would not allow a home to be sold if mild winds could rip its sunroom to pieces. Also, low R-values would be cause for concern. These types of violations are determined during construction, which is why it is critical to choose a contractor that cares about building codes and the materials they use. The LivingSpace difference Luckily, the LivingSpace sunroom creates a room that meets building codes in each of our dealer's areas. This is because LivingSpace uses the best materials available…

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LivingSpace’s Sunroom Collections Offer a Variety of Selections

LivingSpace Sunrooms offers three remarkable sunroom collections, each designed to help different homeowners complete their dream home. The three collections offer different customization options while maintaining LivingSpace's commitment to quality. The Elements collection offers the greatest versatility in both design and materials, for homeowners with specific plans and a unique vision. The Transitions collection provides a wide range of customizations and attractive styling at an exceptional value. Finally, the Optimized collection brings together our patented technologies and industry-leading insulating materials in an affordable sunroom. Elements Sunroom Collection https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIu0-xouef4The Elements style is LivingSpace’s premier collection. It uses state-of-the-art building materials to ensure your sunroom is the best room in the home.  A vinyl-fiberglass composite structure combines with foam-insulated window moulds to provide unmatched insulating power. The EcoGreen roofing and flooring system more sustainably add R-value. Low E3 Neat glass keeps harmful UV rays out of your home, and the Neat exterior coating helps keep windows clean by causing rain to run off in sheets. Additionally, the robust brick mold gives the sunroom an unmatched efficiency rating.The Elements Collection offers complete customization control to the customer. Elements sunrooms come in a wide array of factory colors made specifically to chemically bond with vinyl. Beyond colors, the elements sunroom collection offers 18 different window and door combinations to best match the style of your home. The knee wall can be made from either insulating glass or EcoGreen paneling. You can shingle the EcoGreen roofing system to match your home, and you can finish the room off with skylights. You can discuss all these options during your dealer consultation. Transitions Sunroom Collections https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQzluSobPdMIf you don’t need 100% customization control, the transitions collection may be a better choice. It has a lot of similarities to the elements sunroom, and the room is still made with…

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What are our Sunroom’s Made of? The LivingSpace Demo Kit

At LivingSpace, we create premium, energy-efficient sunrooms that you can use year-round. We do this by using the most innovative materials in the industry. In this demo kit walk-through video, our Director of Marketing, Trevor Calero, showcases our pioneering technologies in the same way our Premier Partner dealers will during your design consultation. LivingSpace's Demo Kit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YR24BdIAn4&t=111s Floor At the beginning of construction, a floor starter secures the sunroom to your home. We designed a patented floor starter made from sturdy vinyl-fiberglass composite. By using this building material, our starters create vastly stronger structures when compared to the thin U-shaped floor starters commonly used in the sunroom industry. Walls Once the floor starter is assembled, our certified installers start constructing the framework of the sunroom. They use our robust main post which is also reinforced with fiberglass. By using fiberglass in the main post, we create an energy efficient sunroom without needing the ineffective thermal break that aluminum posts require. Our main post also includes an electrical raceway making it fast and easy to install electrical wiring. Main Key Our patented Main Key, made from AmilanⓇ, fastens the main posts to the floor starters. The Main Key is one of the greatest advantages to a LivingSpace sunroom, as it attaches the main post and floor starters together internally. This creates a refined sunroom void of visible screws. Additionally, attaching the screws from the inside makes them immune to the elements. In contrast, visible screws need constant maintenance, as they expand, contract, and back out of their holes as the weather changes. Half Key We have designed a Half Key to function similarly to the Main Key and attach the corner pieces to the floor starter. Because of this technology, we are able to seamlessly design around corner walls to offer…

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A Ridge Beam Provides Support to Your Sunroom

By code, ridge beams are typically necessary in LivingSpace’s Cathedral style sunrooms. The ridge beam is used for structural support on roofs with a pitch of 3:12 or below. For reference, pitches become steeper as they rise in value, meaning a 6:12 pitch is steeper than a 3:12 pitch. Ridge beams can be built for structures with a higher pitch, but they will provide decoration rather than support. LivingSpace relies on ridge boards and SIPS paneling to support these structures. Ridge Beams Functionally, the ridge beam supports the roof by holding up the ends of the roof joist at the ridge. This distributes the weight of the sunroom’s roof across the sunroom, with half of it supported at the ridge beam while the other half is supported at the header. The wall post supports the headers by transferring the weight to the sunroom’s foundation. Ridge beams are created by laminating wood veneer onto reinforced lumber. They are manufactured in different thicknesses and depths. Because of this, LivingSpace can better accommodate all sizes and amounts of snowfall. Likewise, connections between the ridge beam and the roof joists help stabilize the sunroom to prevent wind damage.Different decorating options are available to make the ridge beam aesthetically fit within the sunroom. One decorating option gives the ridge beam an aluminum skin. It is prepackaged with aluminum attached to each side, while the top and bottom are delivered unfinished. The roof panel is screwed together with the top of the ridge beam, making the unfinished area unseen. An aluminum sleeve is placed on the bottom once the ridge beam is attached to the sunroom. Another option allows a wood veneer finish to cover the aluminum sleeves. This finish is paintable and stainable to match the mood of the room. With this option, a mounting…

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