Tag Archives: Central GA outdoor living space designs based on your budget

A Warner Robins Sunroom Designed with Comfort at the Forefront

An Archadeck of Central Georgia sunroom is the perfect solution for adding functionality, value and space to your home.

Sunroom Builder in Warner Robins GA

Our sunrooms not only provide numerous sources of enjoyment, but they will also increase the value of your home without putting a big dent in your pocketbook. Sunrooms are affordable and are by far one of the most cost-effective home improvement projects. They are also easier to maintain than a traditional interior room addition and they increase openness and visibility. Our most recent sunroom addition in Warner Robins, GA, exemplifies all of these benefits.

Warner Robins GA Sunroom Builder

We designed and built this sunroom with the homeowner’s comfort in mind. The addition features custom windows from Window Craftsman Inc. built with the same quality as hurricane windows. The windows slide allowing for customizable ventilation and to enjoy the breeze. In addition to the sliding window system,  Archadeck of Central Georgia also installed a 7′ ceiling fan, which will help keep the room cool in the summer. The homeowners are also adding a pellet stove to aid in keeping the space cozy during the winter months.

Beautiful open rafter ceiling in Warner Robins GA sunroom

The sunroom was built not only with comfort at the forefront, but also aesthetics. Notice the detailed open-rafter ceiling and the beautiful ceramic tile floor.

The clients are elated with their new sunroom and are looking forwarding to all the enjoyment opportunities it will provide. From just enjoying an evening outdoors to hosting parties, it promises to be the most versatile space for their home.

Stephen Denton Archadeck Augusta square lr
Stephen Denton, owner Archadeck of Central GA.

If you’re interested in learning more about sunrooms and the benefits they can offer, contact Archadeck of Central Georgia today! Call for a free consultation: (478) 745 – 2000 Email: centralgeorgia@archadeck.net.

 

 

 

 

This Warner Robins sunroom turns out being more than these homeowners had ever hoped for in terms of value and design

Warner Robin GA sunroom builders
This project in Warner Robins includes a sunroom, patio and pergola.

These Warner Robins homeowners have a zest for outdoor living. Their large beautiful lot includes a serene backyard pond. The only downfall to having the pond is the number of mosquitoes it brings into the yard. With this in mind, these Warner Robins homeowners decided to add a screened porch overlooking the pond. The family decided that maybe they would benefit more from a sunroom because they wanted air conditioning and the other amenities that a screen porch could not provide. Once they confirmed their decision to add a sunroom addition, they began the contractor search. They reviewed the project with different builders for almost two years before contacting us for a consultation.

View from inside Warner Robin GA sunroom
The sunroom was built using large insulated sliding glass windows for comfort and convenience within the space. Notice the scenic view of the backyard pond visible through the large windows.

When contacting us, they shared the quote they were given to build the project. During our consultation I realized that the quote was way out of line being almost twice what we thought it would be. After we began discussing what they wanted, which was actually quite modest in comparison, we were able to quote a sunroom and pergola addition with an adjoining concrete patio for less than half of what the other guy quoted for the sunroom alone.

The sunroom was built using large insulated sliding glass windows for comfort and convenience within the space. The homeowner has the ability to slide the panels where the windows are 75% open so the space can function as a porch. They can also close the panels and run the A/C and heat at their discretion. There is a wall unit A/C unit and a radiator to provide constant comfort control within the space year round.

One thing is important to know about heating and air. People sometimes assume they can just tie a sunroom or interior room addition into their existing unit with no repercussions. This rarely bodes well as A/C units are designed for the square footage of the area they are serving. If the A/C unit is too large for the square footage it will cycle on and off too often causing wear on the unit leading to damage to the compressor. On the flip side if the A/C unit is not large enough it will run all the time in an effort to “keep up” and most likely just quit working way before its’ expected lifespan. So unless the HVAC unit is designed to take on another room, it is best to use a freestanding unit or alternate heating and cooling source for a new sunroom or room addition.

Warner Robins sunroom interior ceiling details
The bead board ceiling of the sunroom has since been stained.

The sunroom interior features a bead board ceiling and walls. Bead board does not dramatically expand and contract as it doesn’t hold moisture like drywall and other interior finish mediums so there is no worry of damage from temperature changes. The homeowner is planning on painting the bead board walls and staining the ceiling of the sunroom. They also plan on installing a ceramic tile floor. It’s not uncommon for us to leave painting and flooring to the homeowner. The price we would would get from a subcontractor would likely be the same that the homeowner would get. We let our clients know that so they can contract the finish painting and tiling themselves if they desire.

In designing the new sunroom, patio and pergola space Archadeck of Central GA introduced fun shapes into the design to break up the monotony of everything being linear and square. This adds to the harmony of the space and adds tons of visual interest too!

Macon Warner sunroom by Archadeck of Central GA
Finishing up the new sunroom, patio and pergola space Archadeck of Central GA introduced fun shapes into the design to break up the monotony of everything being linear and square.

The design of an outdoor space is what controls the price point. If you dramatically change the size of your intended space, that will influence the cost. However, project changes don’t always cause an increased price. Dimensional changes like making up some of the size in length rather than width can actually drive the price down instead of up. We cannot emphasize enough the importance of consulting with a professional outdoor structure builder. Here at Archadeck of Central GA we understand all the construction, design and material costs involved in a project. Taking advantage of our free design consultation will give you, and us, a better grasp of the space that meets your needs and wants. It is always better to have a custom design that takes your functional needs, aesthetic needs and budget into account rather than opting for a “cookie cutter” outdoor design that could actually end up costing you more.

Stephen Denton, owner of Archadeck of Central GA
Stephen Denton, owner of Archadeck of Central GA

Remember that no two outdoor living spaces are created equal. Hiring a specialist can actually help keep the prices lower enabling a more suitable design for your individual needs. If you are ready to learn more about how we can enhance your outdoor living experience and stay within your budget, contact Archadeck of Central GA today (478) 745 – 2000, Email: centralgeorgia@archadeck.net

You can see more examples of our versatile, high quality outdoor rooms and pergolas by visiting our sunrooms photo gallery and our pergolas photo gallery located on our website.

 

 

Buyer Beware: Archadeck of Central GA warns homeowners to be wary of the contractor who gives you a quote on the spot, and here is why…

Porch - Westchester - Macon GA
Part of choosing the right builder for your outdoor space is knowing the builder has your best interests in mind.

You have probably often heard the phrases “the early bird gets the worm”, or “Johnny on the spot”  in regard to being eager and motivated and getting things accomplished. While being the early bird is a plus in many aspects, being too eager and not factoring in important details can mean that being first in line can pan out last.  As an outdoor living space builder I get asked all the time during the first meeting to guess a ballpark figure of how much a project will cost. One of the worst things I can do is throw out a number. Here’s why.

Archadeck of Central Georgia does all of our pricing through a computer and innovative software that dictates price through pricing models. These pricing models take into account the width, depth, height off the ground, shape and various material needs in each project we do. It is a very sophisticated, yet accurate process, and I am constantly amazed at how bad my guesses are once I have compared them with the computer results. I have been designing and building outdoor structures since 1999, and even with my background and experience I guess too high on one out of three quotes, too low on one out of three and in the ballpark ( but not a home run), with one in three! With this in mind, the worst thing I can do is guess at a price or set a homeowner’s expectation on something I cannot deliver.

In our last story, we discussed how a design can dictate the price. The real question that needs to be addressed prior to throwing out any numbers is how much you want to spend on a project. Archadeck of Central GA ask three important  questions prior to giving any quote to ensure the customer gets the space they want at the price they can afford.

Before you go to any car lot, you know if you are looking for a Chevy or a Lexus. Before you go shop for homes, you know whether you are looking for houses priced at $250,000 or 500,000 just to name a couple examples. You don’t expect the Lexus dealer to give you a Chevy but you do need to know the range of investment and the level of quality you are seeking.

The three questions that any quality, experienced builder should ask their customer are:

#1) What do you want the project to look like?

#2) What function do you want to project to deliver?

#3) What is your economic investment? This ensures we can stay within the price range of what the homeowner is looking for.

North Macon GA Cypress covered porches
Deciding which primary aesthetics and function(s) you want in your intended outdoor space is just as important as knowing your budget.

In retrospect, if I am not able to get a homeowner to provide me with the answers to these three crucial questions, I typically do not get the work. It is however, not uncommon that there has to be some give and take on at least one of these areas. Archadeck of Central GA has built projects that are $4,000 and also projects in excess of $70,000, so we expect some grey areas.  The purpose of getting a customer to answer these questions is important because it gets clients to think about their situation which helps them determine how much money they are willing to budget for a their project because that is the question I cannot answer for them.

Archadeck of Central GA knows that the success of your project relies on the customer and builder working together towards a common goal.
Archadeck of Central GA knows that the success of your project relies on the customer and builder working together towards a common goal.

When you are comparing prices from one project to the next, unless you have written specifications and a drawing, or rendering, as well as methodology of the intended construction, then it is hard to only compare price. In the commercial world of building and design, architects design to certain specifications. These specifications are sent out to those bidding on the jobs and each contractor involved has to compile and deliver a quote based on the same specifications. This method ensures the purchaser knows that they comparing apples to apples and can make a well-informed decision based on the price supplied by those quoting the project. In residential outdoor design, the homeowner rarely if ever hires an architect. Therefore the customer and builder must work together towards a common goal and the builder must have ways to articulate exactly what their project includes.

Before you decide to go with the contractor who is the quickest to quote your project,take heed and proceed with caution because the ultimate success and happiness of your outdoor living space project is all about communication and details- something the “Johnny on the spot” builder is not prepared to deliver.

Remember that no two outdoor living spaces are created equal. Having an outdoor structure specialist designing your space can actually help keep the prices lower enabling a more suitable design for your individual needs. If you are ready to learn more about how we can enhance your outdoor living experience and stay within your budget, contact Archadeck of Central GA today(478) 745 – 2000
centralgeorgia@archadeck.net

Stephen Denton, owner of Archadeck of Central GAYou can see more examples of our versatile, high quality outdoor living spaces by visiting our decks photo gallery and our porches photo gallery located on our website.

 

 

Archadeck of Central GA discusses the complexity of the answer to the million dollar question of “just tell me how much it is going to be” when it comes to outdoor space designs

Deck project in St. Croix Macon GA
Archadeck of Central GA explores the complexity of throwing out a “ballpark” figure before we have carefully considered all the elements that go into a custom outdoor space design

One of the most common questions I get from homeowners is “how much will it be?” This usually occurs during the first few minutes of my initial consultation with a prospective client and I have even been asked the same type of question over the phone when setting up the appointment for the initial consultation. I’m asked questions like “what is the square foot price” or “can I have just a ballpark figure?” I have to say, it still surprises me that so many homeowners assume coming up with an accurate quote for their anticipated project is as cut and dry as determining a price before we have even had a chance to factor in many important elements. After all, you would never dream of going to see a real estate agent and telling them you want a 3 bedroom, 2 bath home without first discussing your budget or the amenities you want the home to include, i.e.: neighborhood, one story, two-story, brick, or siding (just for starters). Asking what the price is before taking all details into consideration is nothing short of driving to the car lot and asking how much the car you have in mind costs per pound!

Proposed future design for Macon GA homeowners
As part of our design process, customers will get a 3D rendering of their intended outdoor space. This rendering helps customers better visualize how their space will look and function before construction even begins.

Archadeck of Central GA understands most homeowners want some idea of what they are getting into before getting too involved with the process, which is a reasonable request. The main thing to remember is, in most cases, the bottom line number for your quote usually comes in lower once we have input all the relevant information. There are many factors that come into play when putting together an accurate quote for a custom outdoor living space including materials, elevation, and the size of your space just to name a few.

Remodeling magazine puts out a cost/value report every year which covers a number of different remodeling projects. The report covers projects ranging from re-roofing your home to updating your kitchen and everything in between. The reports are specific to major metro areas. The Atlanta report is relevant to the Central GA region.  The report describes a typical 16  x 20 deck addition with standard construction of a simple style with a built-in bench and planter and assuming 3 steps to grade. The 2022 report indicates an average job of this status in Atlanta, GA will cost $16,558. The same report also contains pricing based on composite (low-maintenance) decking options at a cost of $23,259.

While you might expect that an experienced reputable custom builder might cost more, in both cases our price would likely beat the ones specified.

It is important to take all the factors of your project into consideration before throwing out a number, these factors include materials, elevation and size.

The design itself is what controls the price point. If you dramatically change the size of your intended space, that will influence the cost. However, project changes don’t always cause an increased price. Dimensional changes like making up some of the size in length rather than width can actually drive the price down instead of up. We cannot emphasize enough the importance of consulting with a professional outdoor structure builder. Here at Archadeck of Central GA we understand all the construction, design and material costs involved in a project. Taking advantage of our free design consultation will give you, and us,  a better grasp of the space that meets your needs and wants. It is always better to have a custom design that takes your functional needs, aesthetic needs and budget into account rather than opting for a “cookie cutter” outdoor design that could actually end up costing you more.

Remember that no two outdoor living spaces are created equal. Having an outdoor structure specialist designing your space can actually help keep the prices lower enabling a more suitable design for your individual needs. If you are ready to learn more about how we can enhance your outdoor living experience and stay within your budget, contact Archadeck of Central GA today (478) 745 – 2000
centralgeorgia@archadeck.net

Stephen Denton, owner of Archadeck of Central GAYou can see more examples of our versatile, high quality outdoor living spaces by visiting our decks photo gallery and our porches photo gallery located on our website.