ask an
I love the idea of adding a sunroom on
my home but won’t it be too hot in the
summer?
I am planning to build a
custom home this coming
year. Can you help me decide
whether to include a basement or a
crawl space? Similar to a basement, a crawl space
provides ample room to run ducts,
plumbing and electrical but it is more
cost effective than building a full
basement.
Great question! Basements and
crawl spaces are very similar in
the way they are constructed, however
they both offer some very different pros
and cons. While a crawl space does add storage
space it is not easy to access, especially
for larger items. If you decide you would
like or need more space in the future
your only options are to under pin and
lower the crawl space or do an addition.
Both of these options are expensive.
Basements increase the usable space
available to be finished and offer a great
space for all the mechanical and utility
systems needed for your home with
ample room to run ducts, plumbing and
electrical. The only con is the increased
cost. This can be dramatic depending on
the way you decide to finish the space.
I usually advise homeowners to go with
a full basement. The flexibility for future
use and expansion largely outweighs the
cons. Happy building! - Brian DosRamos,
Kenneth Homes Design Build Inc., www.
kennethhomesdesignbuild.com
What is the difference between
ceramic and porcelain tile?
While ceramic and porcelain tiles are
both made from clay and other natural
materials, the process to produce porcelain
tiles creates a more refined and purified
product that is much stronger and more
resilient. While traditional ceramic tiles are
meant only for wall applications, porcelain
tiles are strong enough to be used on floor
applications as well! Porcelain tiles also offer
greater flexibility in design which means today,
you can find porcelain tiles that mimic natural
stone, hardwood and more. These porcelain
tiles from Energie Ker are a great example!
Thanks to the latest and most advanced digital
technology, these Italian made porcelain tiles
come in a large range of sizes and finishes and
many of them contain 40% recycled material as
well! - Baneet Singh, Touchtone Canada, www.
touchtonecanada.com
The question, “too hot in summer,” is a question
our dealers are asked every day! Sunspace
solves this with our WeatherMaster windows that
feature Viewflex Vinyl Glazing to provide a view
and ventilation. The vinyl glazing is a thermal barrier
all year round so that heat never builds up . With a
combination of ViewFlex Vinyl Glazed windows and
the built-in screens, our WeatherMaster windows
perform better, as thermal barriers, than traditional
Low E Argon glass. With 75% ventilation, protected
by screens, our sunrooms can remove any heat build
up in seconds (for free), as compared to costly air
conditioning treatment systems that require hydro and
constant running costs.
Our sunrooms can also be ordered with full Acrylic
Heat Stop Blue extruded roofs. This ensures over
60%+ light transmittance while blocking 100% of UV
and 90%+ of heat. We use the same roof system for
outdoor patio covers and customers are loving them.
- Bob Newnham, Sunspace Modular Enclosures, www.
sunspacesunrooms.com