Your Outdoor Living

from Smart Living Fort Wayne - May 27, 2021

Right in Our Region ........................Cover

Ideas to Improve Your Outdoor Spaces

By Peggy Werner

Pandemic restrictions made us realize, more than ever, just how important outdoor spaces are for the enjoyment of our homes. And during the past year, many of us noticed those spaces could use some improvement. But how do we get started?

That’s where W.A. Zimmer of Huntington, Ind., comes in. For 40 years, the company has been helping homeowners to make their outdoor spaces more comfortable year-round by installing maintenance-free, highquality sunrooms, pergolas, patio covers and retractable awnings and screens.

“People usually have an idea of what they want, but they don’t Homeowners enjoy the option of sun or shade from their Skyview patio cover and pergola installed by W.A. Zimmer. know what we have to match their needs,” says Bill Zimmer, who owns the business with wife results and they look awesome, we started offering the product Marcia. this past year.”

W.A. Zimmer takes responsibility for a whole project, start Decades ago, most of the Zimmers’ business was building to finish, including obtaining permits when needed. If the prod- sunrooms. Today, sunroom construction is about 25 percent of ucts they build need servicing, they do that, too. the business. People are enhancing their patios and decks by

“One thing I learned right away is that everyone wants main- adding shades, awnings and screens to make them more livable. tenance-free products,” says Zimmer. “We don’t build anything Since 1983, the Zimmers have purchased about 75 percent out of wood that needs paint and stain. We use grades of high- of their materials from Temo Sunrooms, the largest sunroom and quality aluminum.” patio product manufacturer in the United States.

The company evaluates trending products before offering Zimmer’s first job out of high school was at a home imthem to customers. provement center. There, he learned that helping people to make

One of the newest products to impress the Zimmers is the their homes more enjoyable was what he wanted to do with his Skyview roof – a whole roof or section of a roof made from tint- life. He opened his own business and relocated it in the mided glass, made by Temo 1990s to the present address. The 3,500-square-foot showroom Sunrooms of Michigan. has displays set up indoors and outdoors so customers can see It allows for light while how structures will look at any time of the year. providing a view and A 5,000 square-foot warehouse stores bulk supplies to help protection from the ele- Zimmer cut wait times and cost for customers. ments. A second showroom is planned for South Bend, Ind., and “These roofs have will have its own sales staff and installation crew. taken the place of sky- Sales Manager Ryan Lemon, the Zimmers’ son-in-law, will lights,” says Zimmer. one day take over the business when the Zimmers retire. This “They’ve been around for succession plan will ensure customers enjoy the same quality a couple years and I’ve of products and services they’ve come to expect, Zimmer says. been paying attention to “Customers know that we do what we say we’re going to do see how they’re working and that brings them a lot of comfort.” out for people. Because Learn more by calling (260) 356-1621 or stop in at 1700 N. Bill and Marcia Zimmer and family people are happy with the Broadway, Huntington, Ind. ❚