Four Season Sunrooms Provides Extra Space for Holiday Entertaining

DES PLAINES, IL, November 23, 2011 (Press-News.org) The holidays are upon us, and homeowners are starting to decide their menus and think about seating arrangements. Many homeowners are expanding their living spaces inside and outside by adding a screened or four-season porch. The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) suggests that interested homeowners seek the advice of a professional remodeler to help plan indoor/outdoor rooms that incorporates smart space planning, the best all-season materials and innovative design solutions.

Jarro Building Industries Corp. in East Meadow, N.Y., won a 2010 Northeast regional CotY (Contractor of the Year) Award for Residential Exterior Specialty from NARI for a 540-square-foot covered outdoor space the firm built for a New York family. "The homeowners spent a lot of time on their deck barbecuing for family and friends," says Tony Tiso, CR, CKBR. "Since they use their grill all year long and love to eat outdoors, they decided to build a permanent roof over it."

The family began by sifting through magazines and remodeling books for ideas and—together with the Jarro team—planned the new Art Deco-inspired addition. The outdoor room featured a vaulted ceiling covered in bead board, large trimmed columns and a full outdoor kitchen. The U-shaped cooking space, which was constructed by the homeowner, features a stainless steel grill, an under-counter refrigerator and ample workspace for food prep.

Jarro built the deck using natural mahogany deck material and cultured stone accents that helped to tie together the new covered space with the outdoors. The project was finished with two ceiling fans, providing much-needed cooling in the summer for ventilation, a sofa, dining table and chairs. Drapes and portable propane heaters were added to warm up the space in cooler months. "It's a great solution for people who love to be outdoors," Tiso adds.

Even in warmer climates, homeowners are looking to create continuity between in the indoor and outdoor spaces of the home, for year-round enjoyment.

Revival Construction Inc. in Atlanta won a 2010 National CotY Award for Residential Addition Under $100,000, for a project that included an enclosed porch project that actually became a key passageway for a home. The 1920s structure was lacking flow between the original house and a two-sided addition. Only an open back porch connected the kitchen and the family room. Wright Marshall, CR, rebuilt the porch as an enclosed space and added a hallway to adjoin all the parts of the home. A new foundation, custom arched windows and doors brought more light into the space. Granite rubble was found to match the home's original exterior making the entire project look like it had always been there. Today, the homeowners use the new enclosed porch, which features beautiful windows, as a place to hang coats and store bags and shoes when they enter and leave the home.

The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) is the only trade association dedicated solely to the remodeling industry. The Association, which represents more than 8,200 member companies nationwide—comprised of 63,000 remodeling contractors— is "The Voice of the Remodeling Industry." To locate a local NARI chapter or a remodeling professional, visit NARI's Web site at http://www.nariremodelers.com, or contact the national headquarters, based in Des Plaines, Illinois, at 847-298-9200.