1) Post and Screen
1950s – Homeowners have long desired a
way to enjoy the outdoors while
eliminating the inconveniences. Back or
front porches were enclosed by attaching
screening material to wood posts. While
homeowners gained seasonal protection
from insects, the system offered no
protection from the weather, and the
wood posts quickly deteriorated.
2) Single-Skin Aluminum
1960s – To increase the durability of
the enclosure, and offer some protection
against the weather, room construction
evolved. Extruded aluminum channels
replaced the wood posts. A kick panel
constructed of thin single-skin aluminum
was developed to add strength to the
lower portion of the structure. Screen
and windows were inserted above. The
roof also consisted of single-skin
aluminum, similar to that used in
awnings. This design was a structural
improvement over the post-and-screen.
However, the thin aluminum dented,
scratched, faded, chalked, blistered and
peeled over time. Lack of insulation
reduced its functionality to just 3-4
months of the year.
3) Aluminum Sandwich Panel with
Honeycomb Core
1960s – To combat the insulation
problems, a honeycomb core was added to
the aluminum structure. It provided
additional strength and extended the
seasonal use, offering better resistance
to temperature changes. However, made
primarily of cardboard, honeycomb
insulation eventually absorbed moisture,
attracted mold and insect infestation,
and was subject to collapse.
4) Aluminum Sandwich Panel with
Urethane Foam Core
1960s – To improve the honeycomb
product, a urethane foam core was
developed as it does not deteriorate as
quickly when exposed to moisture.
Primarily porous material, urethane foam
eventually absorbed enough moisture to
become ineffective. In addition, treated
with Formaldehyde, urethane was
discovered to be a potential health
hazard to people and pets.
5) Aluminum Sandwich Panel with
Polystyrene Insulation
Early 1970s - Found to be a superior
insulator, Polystyrene replaced urethane
foam. 32 times thicker than a Styrofoam
cup – an insulator that can withstand
temperatures of 200 degrees –
Polystyrene is also waterproof and
creates a 100% thermal barrier. Used
with an aluminum surface, the structure
was still subject to denting, chalking,
fading and all the associated problems.
6) Masonite Sandwich Panel with
Polystyrene Insulation
Early 1970s – To improve on the strength
and durability of aluminum, a new
exterior surface called Masonite was
developed. Used as a sandwich panel,
laminated to a Polystyrene insulation
center, Masonite is a fiberboard
material
created of primarily wood and paper
products. The material succumbed to
rain, sun and snow. Seasonal swelling
and shrinking caused the painted surface
to peel and flake.
7) Fiberglass Laminate Sandwich Panel
with Polystyrene Insulation
Early 1980s – The search for a better
surface continued. A new fiberglass
laminate similar to the material used in
countertops was employed for its
available variety of finish colors and
patterns. However, continued use
revealed its lack of UV resistance. As
UV rays penetrated the laminate it broke
down the bonding between the laminate
and insulation causing delamination.
8) Vinyl with Polystyrene Insulation
Mid - late 1980s – Vinyl products were
introduced to replace Masonite and other
wood-related surface products. The
disadvantages of vinyl included reduced
resistance to weather and seasonal
expansion and contraction. Weather
exposure increased the surface’s
tendency to crack, and become damaged
and discolored. Low resistance to
seasonal expansion and contraction
increased the risk of structural stress
and fractures, reducing the life and use
of the room.
9)
All-Glass Structures
1990s – The idea of bringing the
outdoors, indoors increased in
popularity, bringing a flood of
enclosure companies into the marketplace
looking to install rooms quickly and
inexpensively. The emphasis was on
building “patio rooms” featuring
all-glass construction to maximize
views. Greenhouse and atrium-style rooms
gained popularity, as well as rooms
featuring walls constructed of
side-by-side sliding patio doors, which
were inexpensive to incorporate.
Continued use proved that while outdoor
leisure living gained popularity, the
technology had not yet caught up.
All-glass designs proved ineffective in
controlling interior temperatures, with
other problems like condensation,
structural strength and long-term
durability. A short-lived love affair,
homeowners began rejecting the designs
as a “box on a house.” They were looking
for a “sunroom,” not a “patio room” or
“enclosure.” They demanded a room
designed to more attractively and
naturally integrate with the home, and
provide long-term durability and thermal
properties to maximize temperature
management and use, season to season.
They were looking for Craft-Bilt Sunrooms.
Craft-Bilt SUNROOMS
Craft-Bilt Sunrooms, America’s most
experienced and largest thermal sunroom
manufacturer developed and combined
numerous exclusive features to create an
attractive, strong, thermal sunroom that
overcomes the design deficiencies of the
50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and beyond.
Among Craft-Bilt ’s exclusive features is
TEMKOR, a high-tech, indestructible
exterior and interior surfacing that is
impact, UV, dent, scratch- and
fade-resistant and maintenance free for
a lifetime. Using state-of-the-art
materials and sophisticated structural
bonding processes, this unique product
is integrated into Craft-Bilt ’s
industry-unique thermal Window Wall
System, that features state-of-the art
glass technology for superior
environment management and protection
from ultra violet fading. In addition,
Craft-Bilt leads the industry with an increase
in the Polystyrene insulation thickness
in the walls and roof to maximize
thermal protection and seasonal use.
Ongoing engineering and testing
innovates industry concepts in thermal
sunroom design and development to create
the state-of-the-art sunroom of today.
