FAQ (SUNROOMS)

Q: HOW MUCH DOES A SUNROOM, CONSERVATORY, PATIO ROOM OR ENCLOSURE COST?

A: Depending upon the model, a Four Seasons Sunrooms (GTA) Sunroom may cost slightly more than a similarly sized conventional room addition – but will add much more to your home and quality of family life than just an ordinary room. Any time you want to add space, light, and an airy, open feel to your home, consider a Four Seasons Sunrooms (GTA) Glass Room Addition. As to specific costs, there are many variables to be considered before making an estimate — everything from size and style of the sunroom, conservatory or patio room, to drainage considerations at the site can affect pricing. That’s why we offer a free, no-obligation, on-site design consultation. Set your appointment today!

Q: HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO COMPLETE MY SUNROOM, PATIO ENCLOSURE OR CONSERVATORY?

A: Timing depends on the size and complexity of your sunroom, conservatory or patio enclosure — but typically, your glass room addition is completed within a few weeks, from start to finish. Four Seasons Sunrooms (GTA) uses modular construction techniques and established designs, so all of our patio rooms, sunrooms and conservatories are completed much faster than any ordinary addition would be. We understand that you’ll be living at home while we work, so we will complete the project as quickly, efficiently, quietly and unobtrusively as possible.

Q: CAN I REALLY USE A SUNROOM OR CONSERVATORY YEAR-ROUND? DOESN’T IT COST A FORTUNE TO HEAT IT AND COOL IT?

A: Yes, you can use a Four Seasons Sunrooms’ (GTA) Sunroom or Conservatory 365 days a year. And no, it won’t cost a fortune to keep it comfortable. Our patented ConservaGlass Select™ technology is extremely energy-efficient, so your new Four Seasons Sunroom, Patio Room or Conservatory stays warmer in winter and cooler in summer.

Q: HOW MUCH SPACE DO I NEED TO BUILD A PATIO ROOM, SUNROOM OR CONSERVATORY?

A: Four Seasons Sunrooms’ (GTA) Glass Room Additions can be virtually any size, from a compact balcony to a sweeping backyard conservatory.

Q: WHAT DO I DO ABOUT GETTING LOCAL BUILDING PERMITS?

A: Our local independently owned and operated dealer and franchises handle all phases of construction – including the permit acquisition process.

Q: DO SUNROOMS OR CONSERVATORIES LEAK?

A: When properly installed, Four Seasons Sunrooms’ (GTA) Sunrooms are guaranteed to be leak-free.

Q: CAN I OPEN THE WINDOWS IN A SUNROOM, CONSERVATORY OR PATIO ROOM?

A: Four Seasons Sunrooms’ (GTA) Glass Room Additions — sunrooms, conservatories and patio rooms — can be outfitted with your choice of windows, doors — even skylights. Window choices include sliding, casement, awning and fixed, while doors are available as sliding, french, or single swing doors.

Q: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A “SUN AND STARS” ROOM AND A “SUN AND SHADE” ROOM?

A: Sun and Stars rooms have a glass roof. Sun and Shade rooms have a solid roof. While all Four Seasons Sunrooms’ (GTA) Glass Room Additions are available with glass roofs, you can choose a solid roof (with or without skylights) only in our cathedral ceiling patio room or enclosure models and straight eave or studio sunroom models. Solid roofs are not available in conservatories or curved sunroom and patio room designs.

Q: HOW DO I CLEAN THE SPECIAL “ConservaGlass Select”?

A: Our ConservaGlass Select™ is wonderfully low-maintenance, thanks to our patented Stay-Clean Technology. This exterior surface coating repels water, which keeps your Four Seasons Sunrooms’ (GTA) Sunroom or Conservatory cleaner longer. The interior surface is simply cleaned with regular glass cleaner. For best results, of course, plan to include your sunroom in your regular “spring cleaning” routine.

Q: WILL MY UPHOLSTERY AND CARPET FADE FROM ALL THE SUNLIGHT?

A: ConservaGlass Select™ helps protect the furniture and carpeting inside your conservatory, sunroom or patio room by blocking up to 90% of harmful UV light. Your upholstery should fade less than it would in a conventional room by a conventional window.

Q: DO FOUR SEASONS SUNROOMS COME WITH A WARRANTY?

A: Yes. Please e-mail us in regards to Warranty information

FAQ (SUNROOM, PATIO ENCLOSURE AND CONSERVATORY MAINTENANCE)

Your Four Seasons Sunrooms’ (GTA) Sunroom, Conservatory or Patio Enclosure is designed to give you years of enjoyment with minimal maintenance. Please follow the guidelines below to help you with regular maintenance:

VINYL CLEANING

Wash the frames of your sunroom, patio room or conservatory with a solution of soap and warm water every few months to remove any grime and atmospheric deposits. If required, clean the vinyl with a non-abrasive proprietary cleaner, suitable for plastics, using a soft cloth. If necessary, use a strong, non-abrasive cream cleaner to remove any stubborn stains that remain on the frame of your sunroom or conservatory.

AVOID USING ALL SOLVENT-BASED OR ABRASIVE CLEANERS.

Avoid washing your sunroom, conservatory or patio enclosure with a power washer or a pressure washer.

ROOF PANEL CLEANING

Wash the aluminum roof panels or your patio cover, patio room or deck enclosure with warm water and a brush every few months to remove grime and atmospheric deposits. For heavy external grime, a mild solution of soap and warm water may be employed.

Do not walk on the roof. Wet roofs will be slippery.

GLASS CLEANING

Wash the glass in your sunroom or conservatory with warm water and a mild detergent. A commercially available glass cleaner (Windex, etc.) will work as well. Avoid using abrasive cleaners that may scratch or otherwise damage the glass surface. Do not use razor blades to scrape the glass surface. Do not use solvents or other harsh chemicals on any part of your sunroom or conservatory.

DO NOT WALK ON GLASS ROOFS. SERIOUS INJURY COULD RESULT!

Do not wash your sunroom, patio room or conservatory with a power or pressure washer.

WEATHER SEALS

During cleaning etc. ensure that the weather seals fitted to the doors and windows of your sunroom, patio room or conservatory do not become dislodged from their tracks. Should this occur, slide the door or window weather seals back into position immediately to avoid damage when the product is closed. If the weather seals are broken or damaged, ensure prompt replacement by contacting your local independently owned and operated Four Seasons Sunrooms franchise or dealer.

GUTTERS

Do not lean ladders against the gutters of your sunroom, patio enclosure or conservatory. Unlike the gutters on your house, sunroom gutters are installed level and occasionally leave standing water in your gutter system. It is important for correct operation that you clean out your sunroom or conservatory gutter system every few months to remove debris. Ensure during this cleaning that the down pipes are not clogged. In cold climates, you may consider the installation of a heat trace cable in the gutter system.

LUBRICATION

For lubrication of handles, locks, deadbolts and hinges on the windows and doors of your sunroom, patio enclosure or conservatory use a light machine oil.

SILICONE SEALS

Periodically inspect all silicone seals on your Four Seasons Sunrooms’ (GTA) Sunroom, Patio Room or Conservatory and repair or replace if necessary. In some cases, discoloration of the silicone seals will occur. This is a natural occurrence and cannot be avoided.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL

In general climate conditions, water vapor is continually present in the atmosphere. In the home, this natural water content is increased by normal living activities that create steam such as cooking, bathing, washing, boiling a kettle, etc.

The water vapor remains undetectable while floating in warm air but upon contact with cold surfaces (windows, mirrors, tiles etc.), condensation will occur and the vapor turns to water droplets. Traditional house construction allowed the escape of this water through natural ventilation, open fireplaces and ill-fitting windows and doors.

The drive to conserve energy and reduce heating and cooling costs has led to the sealing of homes, resulting in trapped water vapor and potential problems of condensation. In most cases, condensation can only be minimized and never eradicated.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Newly constructed sunrooms and conservatories need an initial “drying out” period. Large amounts of water can be used in the construction of walls, concrete and foundations. Dry out time will be longer in the winter months. To reduce the possibility of condensation, provide natural ventilation whenever possible by opening a door or window, reduce watering plants and keep doors to kitchens and bathrooms closed.

Security should be considered when leaving open an easily accessible window, door or roof vent.

FAQ (WINDOWS AND DOORS)

Q: WHAT MAKES ENERGY-SAVING WINDOWS AND DOORS BY FOUR SEASONS SUNROOMS (GTA) HOME PRODUCTS DIFFERENT?

A: Four Seasons Sunrooms is the only company that offers different glass formulas based on your geographic location. If you reside in the northern region, your windows will have glass with superior thermal properties. If you live in the southern region, your windows will provide advanced solar protection. This saves you money on your heating and cooling bills. Energy-Saving Windows and Doors from Four Seasons Sunrooms Home Products are the only windows and doors that have exclusive ConservaGlass Select with Stay-Clean technology.

Q: WHAT IS R-VALUE? AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

A: R-Value is a measure of the thermal resistance of an object. The higher the R-value number of a material, the better its insulating properties and the slower the heat flows through it either from a warm, heated space to cold outside temperatures or from a hot exterior to a cool, air conditioned space. It is used to compare the insulating values of differing products, like insulation or windows. It is important in choosing a replacement window because the higher the R-Value the less energy is wasted out of the window and the less you have to spend to heat and cool your home.

Q: WHAT IS SOLAR HEAT GAIN COEFFICIENT AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

A: The Solar Heat Gain Coefficient, or SHGC, is the amount of solar radiation that comes through a window. SHGC is expressed as a number between 0 and 1. The lower a window’s solar heat gain coefficient, the less solar heat it transmits. It is important in choosing a replacement window because the lower the SHGC, the less cooling energy is wasted out of the window and the less you have to spend to cool or air condition your home.

Q: WHAT IS ARGON GAS AND WHY ARE INSULATED WINDOWS FILLED WITH IT?

A: Argon Gas is an odorless, colorless, tasteless, non-toxic gas which is six times more dense than air. It is used to replace air between the glass panes to reduce temperature transfer. Simply put, argon gas in the space between the lites of an insulated glass window makes it more energy efficient.

Q: WHY SHOULD I CHOOSE AN ENERGY-SAVING WINDOW OR DOOR FROM FOUR SEASONS SUNROOMS (GTA) HOME PRODUCTS OVER THE WINDOWS I SEE ON THE SHELVES AT MY LOCAL HOME CENTER?

A: There are a number of reasons you should consider Energy-Saving Windows or Doors from Four Seasons Sunrooms (GTA) Home Products over the windows on the shelf of a local home center.

Windows sold at your local home center are likely the same as the windows sold at a home center on the other side of the country. They probably do not take into account the weather conditions unique to your geographic location as Four Seasons Sunrooms Home Products’ Windows and Doors do. For example, if you live in Phoenix, AZ, you have very different weather than the people who live in Seattle, WA or Boston, MA. Why should your windows be the same? Four Seasons Sunrooms Home Products sells windows with unique glazing properties designed for the weather in your specific location: warm weather windows where it’s mostly hot and cold weather windows where it’s not.

The windows that you can buy “off the shelf” at your local home center are likely available only in a limited number of sizes and styles. Energy-Saving Windows and Doors by Four Seasons Sunrooms Home Products are custom-made to fit your home perfectly. They are therefore the most energy efficient (which saves energy costs) and install much more easily and with much less disturbance to your home. And, because you are ordering custom windows, you can get exactly what you want, not just what they have. Your Energy-Saving Window from Four Seasons Sunrooms Home Products will match your home, and your personal style.

Q: DO REPLACEMENT WINDOWS REALLY PAY FOR THEMSELVES OR IS THAT JUST A SALES LINE?

A: Energy-Saving Windows or Doors from Four Seasons Sunrooms Home Products really do pay for themselves over time by lowering your energy costs every year. In fact, we even guarantee it. Energy-Saving Windows and Doors by Four Seasons Sunrooms Home Products are guaranteed to substantially reduce your energy costs or we will pay you $500! In addition to the energy cost savings, vinyl-framed windows are nearly maintenance-free so there is no need to annually hire someone to scrape and paint the window frames. Energy-Saving Windows and Doors by Four Seasons Sunrooms Home Products are glazed with exclusive ConservaGlass Select™ to reduce your window cleaning chores too. The exterior coatings on ConservaGlass Select™ are not magic, but they’re close to it. A variety of different technologies go into manufacturing ConservaGlass Select™, but the key technology that helps the glass stay cleaner longer is the super-thin coatings we apply. Using a patented coating process, invisible, durable and permanent coatings of both silicon dioxide and titanium dioxide are applied to the outside of the glass, permanently enabling your sunroom and conservatory glass to stay cleaner longer. Between the energy and maintenance savings, you will be sure to recoup your window investment over time. We guarantee it!