Building Permit

Obtaining a building permit for construction projects is necessary and provides a major layer of the homeowners protection. The most important advantage is that only a licensed contractor can file and obtain a building permit. This alone will assure the homeowner that he is an "good hands" and the construction project will done correctly and will comply with all building codes and local regulation. Of course the homeowner have the option to file the permit as an "owner builder" but than he will not have any protection from the people, usually not licensed, who will do the work for him.


The most frequent question that we get from a homeowner is "how long it takes to obtain the building permit"? The quick answer is: Depends in what Township, City or County the permit will be obtained. Each municipality has its own building department and therefore, the bureaucratic process will vary from place to place.


We at AZ Enclosures and Sunrooms experienced very friendly and consumer oriented building departments that usually process the building permit application within few hours to few days. We also experienced an UN friendly, UN caring and not consumer oriented bureaucrats that prolong the permit process to over 5 weeks or more.


That why it is important to work with an experienced and license contractor, who knows and understand the building permit process in all the municipalities in the state of Arizona.

Room Addition in Phoenix and Scottsdale

For most homeowners it is not the right time now to move to a newer house as part of upgrading to additional home living features. In our present economic time, it make sense to upgrade the the existing house in order to gain additional floor space as well as upgrading old spaces such as kitchen, bathrooms, etc. The best return on investment in upgrading your home is to add additional living space. Most homeowners disclose that they would like to have additional living space if they could afford it. The most affordable way to gain living space is to enclose an existing patio space that most homes have. We, at AZ Enclosures and Sunrooms along with our structural engineers, developed an affordable way to add a room addition under the existing patio roof and the existing patio header and posts. All of the Valley's building departments accept our engineered plans and grant us building permits. Our way of constructing room addition, sunroom addition and any patio enclosure will result in 30% to 40% lower prices than our leading competitor's prices. AZ Enclosures and sunrooms work Valley wide in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Chandler, mesa, Tempe, Gilbert, Glendale, Peoria, Goodyear, Sun City and even Gold Canyon.For a Free design and Free estimate contact Avi kagan 602-791-3228

Arizona Lifestyle

You can discover a commen thread in the Arizonian's life style. It is the love for outdoor living. The good weather and the beautiful mountain views with spectacular sunrises and sunsets draws most people to the outdoors. Most of the residential homes, especially the new one today, have some kind of a covered or uncovered patio. Patio and outdoor furniture is a dominate business in Arizona, along with varieties of patio roof covers, patio enclosures and sun rooms. Two of the popular patio roof covers are insulated roof for total shading and lattice roof for partial shading. The insulated roof can be attached to the house wall and supported by an aluminum header beam and posts. The lattice roof cover is made from aluminum tubes and the amount of shading can be determine by the open space between the tubes.

Educate Yourself at a Home Show

Any homeowner can get fast education about upgrading or remodeling their home just by visiting one of the Home and Garden Shows. Most home shows have several exhibitors for each construction service or product category. For example, in the last Building Expo at the Phoenix convention center visitors could talk to three Patio Enclosure and Sunroom companies. AZ Enclosures and Sunrooms, http://www.azenclosuresandsunrooms.com/ one of the three exhibitors, provided information and advise to visitors who had an interest in patio enclosures, patio roof covers and various types of sunrooms. FREE admission tickets to future shows are available. Send your request for Free tickets to: amailto:avi@azenclosuresandsunrooms.comsandsunrooms.com

Sunroom Addition in Chandler, Az

We converted an existing covered patio into a larger livable sunroom enclosure. The HOA requested that the addition will have the same style and colors as of the existing house. Also, they requested that the new addition roof will have the same roof tiles as of the house roof. We also tried to build this addition with as many “green” construction features within the HOA limitation. The “Green” features in this addition are:
We used light gauge steel and DenseGlass exterior sheathings
Door and windows are insulated with low “E” coating and argon gas.
We installed a high efficiency heat pump for heating and cooling.
For additional information contact avi@azenclosuresandsunrooms.com To see pictures of sunroom enclosures as well as patio roof covers go to: http://www.azenclosuresandsunrooms.com/

Using Light Gauge Steel Framing for Sunroom Enclosures

Light gauge steel studs can be used in framing any sunroom enclosure as well as patio roof covers. Light gauge steel is a “Green” material because 60% of it comes from recycle automobiles. Although steel cost more than wood it is more durable and provides many benefits such as: always straight, no twisting or splitting, none combustible, termites cannot eat it, stronger than wood, allows for accurate framing details. Also, the wood exterior sheathings can be replaced with cement board or with commercial exterior sheathings such as GP DensGlass Gold Gypsum sheathing. For additional information contact avi@azenclosuresandsunrooms.com

HOA Requirement for Patio Enclosure

Many of the HOA (Home Owners Association) have very strict requirements and demands that the home owner must comply with in order to obtain the HOA approval to convert an open patio into a sunroom enclosure. For the last 30 years most of the HOA approved the modular type of sunroom enclosures even if the sunroom color did not match the house exterior color. However, lately more and more HOA will not approve the modular type claiming that it is not a perfect match to the existing house design and exterior finishing. The homeowner should know that an existing patio can be converted into a sunroom enclosure by utilizing conventional (not modular) construction techniques that allow us to perfectly match the exterior design and finishing of the existing house. Look at the “before” and “after” photos of two sunroom enclosures. In most cases a conventional built sunroom enclosure will cost the same or less than a modular type sunroom enclosure. Check with your HOA about their requirements before signing a contract or at least, make sure to insert "this contract is subject to the HOA approval" in your contract. For additional information about sunroom enclosures and patio covers go to: http://www.azenclosuresandsunrooms.com/ sunrooms.com or write to: avi@azenclosuresandsunrooms.com

Before----------------->After

Before ---------------->After

Patio Roof Covers in Phoenix Az

Patio roof covers provides protection from the elements such as sun and rain. A popular patio roof cover in Arizona is the Aluminum (known as Alumawood) lattice roof cover. A standard lattice roof cover provides 50% shading but no protection from the rain. For a total protection from the sun and the rain a solid patio roof must be used. Solid roofs comes in several types and of course some are more expensive that the others. A popular solid patio roof cover is the insulated roof panels (known as IRP). Other types are aluminum flat pan roofs and the conventional wood framing patio roof. In the last few years a louvered patio roof cover was introduced to the Phoenix are. This type allows the homeowner to operate the roof's louvers from a full opening position (no protection at all) to a fully closed position (providing full protection) from the elements. I personally, like to combine at least two types of roof covers for large patios. See the photo here (at the top right of this page) of a combination of IRP roof and lattice roof in one large patio. The bottom photo on is of the rough carpentry stage of a conventional wood framing.

For additional information go to: http://www.azenclosuresandsunrooms.com/

Sunroom Enclosure in Sun City Arizona

A new sunroom enclosure provided a new and updated look to an older home in Sun City, Arizona. The new sunroom addition was part of a face lift plan that also included new landscaping work as well as interior remodeling. The homeowner selected a modular sunroom enclosure for the additional living space. The HOA approved the design and the exterior white color which compliment the existing house. Part of the new exterior design was the new patio roof coverts on both sides of the sunroom addition which increases the use of the backyard. The owners, Judith and Noel decorated the new sunroom addition into a warm and inviting living space. This new living space has an insulated roof, insulated walls and insulated windows with low “e” coating. It is cooled by a small air conditioning unit that was installed in the side wall. For more information about sunroom enclosures go to http://www.azenclosuresandsunrooms.com/ or write to akagan1@cox.net or call 602-791-3228

Swimming Pool Enclosure in Scottsdale Az

Here are several reasons why you should consider enclosing your pool in Arizona:
1) Protect the pool from flying debris due to the sand storms we experience throughout the year.
2) Save on overall pool maintenance expenses
3) Extend the swimming season from few months to all year around
4) Save on heating energy.
5) stop evaporation and save water
6) Use the pool during the sunny days because the enclosure provides shading and filtered out the UV rays.
7) Use the pool during the cold winter days and enjoys tropical type of environment
8) Having the ability to totally enclose the pool or open the enclosure partly or completely at ease.
The best swimming pool enclosure is the one that rides on tracks that allow the homeowner to open or close the enclosure at ease at any time.

The pool enclosure that we use is build from extruded aluminum frame with a polycarbonate glazing. It is a maintenance free structure and engineered to meet all of the required building codes.

Contact me to arrange for a tour to see one of our pool enclosure installations in Scottsdale Arizona. avi@azenclosuresandsunrooms.com To learn more about our services and products log in to: http://www.azenclosuresandsunrooms.com/

Using Sliding Doors for Patio Enclosure

Do you want to enclose your open patio under an existing roof? Do you want to have maximum amount of glass? Consider to do it with sliding glass doors. In some cases we use standard, “of the shelf” doors. However, for best result we recommend to use custom doors and custom windows. Just remember that all open patios have a sloped concrete floor at a ground level. It is important to have a level concrete floor and at list 3’ to 4’ above the ground level for any patio enclosure or sunroom. To achieve a level floor at the proper height we pour new concrete over the existing concrete floor. This type of design and construction can be used for room additions, patio enclosures and sunrooms. Each type can be cooled or heated efficiently as long as we use high quality of insulated glass and size up the air conditioning and heating unit properly.
To see additional photos go to http://www.azenclosuresandsunrooms.com/ or contact me at: avi@azenclosuresandsunrooms.com

How Much glass should a Sunroom have?

By definition a sunroom is a room with mostly glass walls and some times with glass roof. How can we determine how much of glass in the walls and should you consider a glass roof? The answer depends on some factors that need to be examining carefully.
Geographical Location and climate conditions. Most sunrooms in the North and Northeast have glass roof and almost 100% of glass walls. In such a cold climate the sunroom will allow a solar heat gain. However, in the South and southwest we try to reduce the heat gain by reducing the glass area and by providing some shading.
View consideration: In hot climates, glass walls or glass roof are used only to take advantage of the view. No reason to install glass and increase heat gain, in areas with no special view. In cold climates you want to have glass for heat gain even if view is not important. Just remember, more glass will result in more heat gain and less glass will result in less heat gain.
Heating and Cooling: We install many sunrooms in the Phoenix Valley, known as the “Valley of the Sun” where view is the number one consideration for having a sunroom. Properly designed with proper orientation and shading can have a sunroom that is comfortable livable even in the hot Arizona summers with temperatures above 100. It is important to size up the heating and cooling system correctly by paying attention to the heat loss and gain calculations. In wall cooling unit is effective in small patio enclosures and sunrooms. However, heat pump unit should be used in large patio enclosures and in most sunrooms that have a lot of glass.
Conclusion: talk to experienced patio enclosures and sunrooms professional http://www.azenclosuresandsunrooms.com/ or send me e-mail avi@azenclosuresandsunrooms.com with your questions.

All Glass Sunroom

All glass sunrooms have maximum amount of glass in the vertical walls and a glass roof. of course, all glass used are tempered for maximum safety. A popular glass roof is the "curved roof". However, all glass sunrooms can also have a flat glass roof. It is recommended to shade the glass roof in an areas like the Phoenix Valley area. Also it is recommended to have the sunroom face the North and not the South.






Here is a sunroom with all glass flat roof. Note the slope of the roof. The larger the slope the less chances of developing roof leak in the future. The glass roof is made from tempered glass. It comes with insulated low "E" glass and can also be ordered with a regular clear single glass. Sunrooms can be cooled by a regular air conditioning unit or by a mini split heat and cooling system. It is important to size up the HVAC system correctly by taking an an account of the large size of glass and the orientation of the structure



This sunroom enclosure was added to an existing patio in order to achieve a large recreational space. It was erected in one day by a 3 men installation crew. Note the air conditioning wall unit on the side wall and left of the sliding glass door.



Make sure to re visit this blog again. Future articles will describe all types of patio enclosures and sunrooms as well as various types of patio roof covers. In the meantime you can go to this link http://www.azenclosuresandsunrooms.com/ to see additional photos.

Also, feel free to contact me avi@azenclosuresandsunrooms.com for any questions that you might have

Convert Open Patio into Sunroom

You can convert your existing patio, with roof or without, into a beautiful sunroom enclosure. There are basically two types of sunroom enclosures to consider. The modular type which is a factory made sections that will be fitted and installed at the job location. The second type is a custom built that offers almost unlimited option in design, materials and finishing. Both cost just about the same and in some cases the custom built might cost less.
So how would you know what type to have? One way is to check this Blog often and read my future articles about enclosures and sunrooms. I am going to display photos of actual sunroom enclosures with related comments.
The final decision of the type of enclosure might be made by your HOA. Several of the new communities in the Phoenix Valley will not allow any of the modular sunroom enclosure and will only approve a custom built enclosure that will look like the house. Not only the same exterior colors but also the same exterior finishing.
I will be happy to answer any of your questions regarding patio enclosures, patio roof covers and sunrooms. Write to: akagan1@cox.net
To see many photos of enclosures, sunrooms and patio roof covers go to: http://www.azenclosuresandsunrooms.com/