Betterliving™ Three Season Sunrooms

Betterliving™ Three Season Sunrooms

Our most popular enclosure, the three-season sunroom is an easy, affordable way to extend your outdoor living season. Betterliving™ distinguishes itself from the competition in so many ways…

Thicker Sunroom Walls

Many three-season sunroom wall systems are only 2 inches thick. Betterliving™ Three Season Sunroom walls are 3″ thick providing more stability and strength.

Patio Doors

The standard in the sunroom industry is to use out-sourced patio doors that are not flush with the rest of the wall. They are thicker than the wall which makes them unsightly. We make our own patio doors and we make them the same thickness as the wall. The door and window colours will match because they are all from one source and your Betterliving™ sunroom doors will blend in with the wall system perfectly.

Continuous Floor Channel

Because we make our own doors you get a wall system that looks truly integrated. In other sunrooms, the drainage channel (floor channel) that runs under the wall system has to stop at their out-sourced door, permitting an easy place for leaks. Since we make our own doors, we are able to implement a continuous floor channel around the whole sunroom. A continuous floor channel means no leaks and dry socks. Competitors drill round drain holes in their flat bottom floor channels. Round weep holes can clog easily and can stop weeping due to surface tension while the flat bottom does not promote drainage. Betterliving™ floor channels are sloped so any moisture is directed to the weep holes, and our weep holes are pre-punched in an elongated shape which ensures proper drainage. Our weep holes are also hidden thanks to the special notch design of the Betterliving™ floor channel.

Heavy Duty Swivel Header

No manufacturer can match the strength and flexibility of the Betterliving™ header. Its hinge design adapts to the roof slope, providing even weight distribution and an aesthetic appearance. Many manufacturers use a simple 90-degree channel on the top of the wall, forcing all of the roof’s weight on the outside edge, with a gap on the inside of the sunroom that is covered by an unattractive trim. The Betterliving™ header’s height gives it unparalleled strength to support large snow loads over wide window openings.

Tempered Glass Windows and Doors

Your Betterliving™ sunroom includes corner-to-corner side sliding windows with tempered safety glass standard, an option in other sunrooms. Our tempered glass is the same as you would find in the side and rear windows of your car… in case of an accident, the glass breaks into harmless small pieces. A sunroom is mostly glass… if you were going to wrap your family in glass, which would you prefer: tempered glass or regular glass?

Adjustable Ball Bearing Rollers

Some sunroom windows use plastic glides, others use cheap plastic wheels. One thing for sure, they are not adjustable. Betterliving™ windows use a heavy-duty adjustable ball-bearing roller with corrosion-resistant plating.

Aluminum Screens

Fiberglass screens are typically what you will find on your home’s windows and most sunroom windows. The sash (the aluminum frame that the screen is attached to) is made from light-duty roll-formed metal. If you are a homeowner then you have had a bad experience with at least one window screen. Betterliving™ screens are made with an extruded sash which is much larger and heavier than the roll-formed sash. Betterliving™ screens use aluminum screen mesh which lasts longer and won’t tear like fiberglass.

Clean Integrated Design

You Betterliving™ sunroom was designed from scratch to look the best. The window and door sections join together with a hidden mullion so your sunroom looks clean and smooth. The same hidden mullion is used at the corners. Compare that to sunroom systems that join their wall sections with visible ‘H’ channels, or filler panels that spread the wall sections apart.

Integral Sunroom Wiring

Betterliving™ three-season sunrooms have the option of built-in electrical raceways. You can have receptacles and wall switches that look just like the ones in your home. Other solariums and sunrooms may only offer receptacles in the floor or visible wire chases and surface-mounted boxes.

Each day more homeowners are rediscovering the tranquility of their own back yards in their Betterliving™ Sunrooms. These versatile enclosures give you and your family the opportunity to enjoy all that is wonderful about the outdoors.

With Betterliving™ Sunrooms, every day will seem like a vacation, and every activity more enjoyable in your own special place.

Not only does a Betterliving™ Three Season Sunroom give you more living space at a fraction of the cost of standard construction, it truly distinguishes your home in the neighbourhood making it much more desirable to future owners. Buy with confidence, knowing your patio enclosure is covered by our 50-year limited warranty!

Betterliving Three Season Sunroom Specifications:

Sunroom Walls and Doors:

• Fully engineered 3″ thick aluminum wall system.
• Sliders in the windows and doors have interlocking frames,  providing added structural strength compared to bypass style sliders.
• Baked-on, maintenance-free enamel finish.
• Colour matched door and window handles.
• Fully integrated sliding windows and doors means your wall system looks better and is more waterproof (our proprietary design incorporates the window and door frames right into the wall system). Other sunrooms have visible window frames and out-sourced doors that stick out from the wall.
• Adjustable ball bearing wheels for long-lasting, easy glide on all windows and doors.
• Sturdy window and door latch with built-in security features.
• The unique electrical option provides for flush-mounted switches and receptacles just like your house.
• Full glass views (floor to ceiling glass walls) available in all styles.

High-Quality Glass Units for Your Sunroom:

• The tempered glass in windows & doors is standard. Tempered glass is about four times stronger than plate glass. (If broken, tempered glass falls into harmless pebble-like pieces)
• Choose single pane glass or insulated glass with Low-E coating and argon gas. Both options are available in clear or bronze-tinted glass.
• Quality controlled seal on insulated units.
• Manufacturer’s warranty against seal failure and glass breakage.

Fully Engineered Roof Panels for Your Sunroom:

• Our PanelCraft™ roof panels are tested using ASTM E72-98 procedures by an independent testing laboratory.
• PanelCraft™ insulated panels are constructed with an EPS (expanded polystyrene) high-density core bonded to maintenance-free aluminum “skins”. Typically referred to as “foam panels”, PanelCraft™ is available in 3”, 4½”, and 6” thicknesses to meet your insulation and structural requirements.
• PanelCraft™ is also available with our exclusive honeycomb core.  Honeycomb panels have higher strength and are an excellent alternative for building departments that take issue with foam core panels.
• Fixed and operating skylights are available. Visit our PanelCraft™ page for more information.
• Our Northlander™ Skyview translucent roof system with our exclusive 1¼” thick multi-wall polycarbonate sheet is an excellent choice for your sunroom, letting in pleasing amounts of light without the heat of transparent solarium roofs. Visit our Northlander™ Skyview page for more information.
• Traditional shingled roofing is also available.

Contact us for more information, to receive newsletters or find a local contractor.

Betterliving™ Sunroom Colour Options:

White, Sand, Earthstone

Woodhaven Ceiling Plank Option:

Now you can have your sunroom with the warmth of wood! Woodhaven ceiling planks are applied to the ceiling of your sunroom to provide the warmth of a woodgrain finish. An ideal option for homeowners who were considering a conventional addition. Use Woodhaven and our shingled roof option to achieve the look of addition with the view of a sunroom.

Available colours in Woodhaven Ceiling Plank:

Bamboo	Classic White	Rustic Pine	Bead Board	Natural Cherry
Walnut	Cherry Spice	Painted White	Weathered	White Wash

Frequently Asked Questions for Sunrooms:

What is a sunroom?

A sunroom is a pre-fabricated wall and roof system added to your home to provide added enjoyment of the outdoors and extra living space. They are made of maintenance-free materials, predominantly aluminum but also vinyl and fiberglass. The wall sections are typically custom made, no greater than five feet in width. Each section contains a side sliding window, beneath the window is the “kneewall” which is built with a solid panel or tempered glass. If extra height is desired, “transom glass” is added to the tops of the windows and doors

Sunrooms come in two types: three season (single glazed windows) and all-season (insulated wall and windows). Typically the roof is made with insulated aluminum panels that come in varying thickness. Thicker panels have more insulation and can span farther. Sunrooms have typically differed from solariums because they don’t use glass in the roof. This line has blurred in recent years with the introduction of polycarbonate roof systems for sunrooms. Solarium walls typically have a great deal of fixed glass with the occasional casement window while sunroom walls will typically consist of corner-to-corner side sliding windows.

What is the best way to utilize a sunroom?

Sunrooms are used for many great reasons: entertainment, place to relax, room for my pets, TV room, enjoy the outdoors and seasons… the list goes on and on. Finishing touches like beautiful flooring and wicker furniture help create that perfect retreat.

What are the advantages of Craft-Bilt’s sunrooms vs. competitors?

There are many technical advantages to Craft-Bilt products like thicker wall extrusions with intelligent designs. All of our sunrooms utilize swivel header designs that support the roofs weight evenly and eliminate unsightly gaps inside the room that competitors don’t address or cover with an ugly angle. Weatherstripping is important to keep out the wind and bugs, our Grand Vista system uses ingenious concave tracks to cradle the weatherstripping while our Betterliving™ system uses mylar reinforced weatherstripping to achieve FMA certification. There are many other unique features to our rooms that you can find on our web site or let us refer you to a local contractor who can describe them to you.

How much does a sunroom addition cost?

There are a lot of variables: Is a new deck required? Would you like a three-season or all-season? Is there an obstruction, for instance, a water spigot, that needs to be moved? An installed 12 x 12 three-season sunrooms start around $20,000 while all-season sunrooms start around $30,000. These numbers are very hypothetical and may not take into account the footings, the deck, permit costs, or other items.

What is the return on my sunroom investment?

There have been many studies and opinions published in renovation magazines about the value of major renovations like kitchens, bathrooms, and sunrooms. Check out resources like Remodeller magazine and search for their Cost vs. Value report. Sunrooms are often in the top ten for return on investment, recouping at least 50% of your investment. There are factors that can affect your return on investment, like where you live.

But the real return on investment is the improvement in your lifestyle. Your sunroom will quickly become the favourite room in the house, your very own private retreat. You can’t put a price on peace and tranquillity.

How long does it take to install a custom sunroom?

The actual installation can take as little as two days for a three season patio room or 3 days for an all-season sunroom. Additional time will be required if you are building an A-frame style sunroom, a new deck is required, a service (i.e. gas meter, water spigot, bathroom fan, etc.) needs to be moved, or there is some other complexity to the project.

Often there can be delays obtaining the building permit or zoning approval. Your contractor will not order material until the permit is issued after which you have to contend with the backlog at the factory. So if you are planning to build a sunroom and hope to enjoy it for the summer, get started early!

Can I use my existing deck for sunroom?

If your deck was built to building code specifications, there is a good chance it will suffice. Open decks are built with a slope away from the building, so even if it is code compliant it will need to be leveled. Deck blocks will not do. Your deck needs footings, typically concrete piers deep enough into the ground to not be lifted when the ground freezes. In southern Ontario, that is usually four feet, in colder climates, it will be deeper. Imagine the damage to the sunroom or even your house when an un-footed deck heaves upwards in freezing temperatures.

Do I need a building permit for my sunroom?

Yes. Often your contractor will include the drawings and filing for the permit as part of their price to you. Contractors do not get enough credit for the time and effort it can take in getting a permit.

Can I install it myself or do I need a contractor?

A homeowner with a high level of DIY skill can tackle our Grand Vista pre-fabricated sunroom. Craft-Bilt’s warranty is for properly installed product and does not include installation related issues. Please fill out our contact form and we will reply with the product information you require as well as the name of a local contractor if desired.