Home Improvement for Winter: Covered Patios
by Candice Mancini
Home Improvement Ideas Columnist
For most of us in America, summer is over. Cold rain is here. Snow is on its way, followed by the other joys of the season: freezing rain, slush, ice, hail, and sub-freezing weather. It's time for another home improvement project!
Renovation for Warmth
OK, maybe some people enjoy winter. But wouldn't it be wonderful if you could have the joys of winter without the suffering? What if snowflakes could become backdrop to a good book, dinner, or even a movie? The answer lies in a single home improvement project: enclosed porch.
Renovation Choices
This renovation is all about windows, which will provide you direct access to the outdoors without sitting in it. Your contractor should be able to get you good energy-efficient windows, which can save you up to 30 percent on your heating and cooling costs.
After windows, you'll have to decide upon the floor: hardwood, laminate, tile, or linoleum. Of course, it will depend on your personal taste and budget, as will whether you add a fireplace. If it fits your budget, a wood-burning or gas fireplace can make this warm renovation complete.
A Valuable Home Improvement Project
An enclosed porch renovation can hold up to 95 percent of its value when reselling the home. And it most often comes at half the cost of a conventional addition. While an enclosed porch can be added for as little as $12,000, a conventional room typically runs at least $30,000.
Licensed Contractor Needed
A building permit is needed before you can add an enclosed porch. So first make sure your contractor is licensed. A contractor without a license most likely cannot obtain a building permit. Once permit is in place and windows and floors chosen, your contractor can get to work.
About the Author
Candice Mancini is a writer, a teacher, and a homeowner always on the lookout for a good contractor. She has an M.A. in Education and B.A. in English and History.
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