Sunrooms are very practical structures designed to let in a lot of natural light. More broadly speaking, they are constructed in addition to the core house elements.
Largely used as places to relax and enjoy the outdoors without having to deal with the elements, homeowners build sunrooms primarily for personal enjoyment. Additionally, building a sunroom can be a great way to add value to your home.
Whether it is hot outside, rainy, or windy – sunrooms offer a safe and unique shelter from where you can enjoy the weather conditions outside without being impacted by them. For instance, you can observe beautiful spring rain all around you from the comfort of your chair next to the big window.
This concept of sunrooms is becoming a global trend. As of now, it is popular in United States of America, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and across Europe.
Materials Required To Build A Sunroom
The first thing you’ll need to consider when building a sunroom is what type of materials you want to use.
There are many different options available, from traditional wood framing to more modern materials like aluminum or PVC. The most common materials to build a sunroom’s frame include: wood, breeze block, PVC, glass and brick. On the other hand, the roof of the sunroom is commonly built with the shingled roof materials.
You’ll also need to decide whether you want glass walls or screens. Glass will provide the best view of the outdoors, but it can be more expensive. Screens will be cheaper, but they won’t provide as good of a view.
Industry trends show that aluminum continues to grow in popularity primarily because it is not a heavy material, and is endurable. Considering this, it also tends to carry a premium in price.
Heating & Cooling Sunrooms
Another thing to consider is how you want to heat and cool your sunroom.
If you live in an area with mild weather, you may not need to do anything special. However, if you live in an area with hotter summers or colder winters, you’ll need to take steps to keep your sunroom comfortable year-round.
One option is to install a split system air conditioner, which will allow you to cool the room in the summer and heat it in the winter.
If you’re not opting for an A/C system, you’ll need to think about ventilation. Sunrooms can get very hot in the summer, so it’s important to have a way to let out the hot air. A ventilation system will help to keep a sunroom fresh in the summer and regulate the amount of heat in the winter.
Furniture, Decor, And Lighting
While the materials used to construct your sunroom are important, the furniture you use in your new sunroom are also a critical choice.
With furniture is how you can really make the space your own. Consider adding comfortable chairs and a table so you can enjoy the outdoors without having to leave the comfort of your own home.
Another important consideration is lighting. Sunrooms are designed to be bright and airy, so you’ll want to make sure you have plenty of light. One option is to install skylights, which will let in natural light from above. Artificial lighting options are extensive and also important, as they will help you set the ambient in the sunroom.
Getting Your Sunroom Underway
How you want to construct your sunroom depends entirely on you. There are numerous ways and ideas. In this article we identify six ideas as a guide to help you choose the most suitable and enjoyable sunroom for you. So, let’s start.
- The purpose of having a sunroom. This is the crucial question to ask yourself. Once you know what the purpose of your sunroom will be, the following steps will be much more exciting.
- Examine your home. Look around your home for the ideal area where you would setup the sunroom. Usually this is the area where it’s sunny for most of the day.
- Brainstorm on the design. You have the purpose, you know the place. Next thing you need is to imagine how your sunroom will look like. Try to sketch it on a piece of paper or on your computer. In addition, you can also look for catalogs to get more ideas. There are a plenty of possible solutions, and you can customize your sunroom in your own way. While you are planning on design, consider limitations of building if they exist.
- Materials. This is an important part of the process since it is closely related to the design. How you want your sunroom to look like depends on the materials you will use too. We already listed most commonly used materials; however, if you have something else on mind, we would suggest contacting professional construction companies to discuss the options.
- Windows. This is what makes a sunroom special. Big windows give you the opportunity to enjoy the view of nature even when it is not practically possible to do it from the outside (due to various weather conditions). Make sure the windows are designed in a way that allows you a beautiful and broad view for reaching maximum enjoyment. Also, check with the seller for the U-value of windows – the lower the number the more energy efficient.
- Finishing. You now have everything you need to start-up a sunroom of your own. We suggest considering professionals to make your dream sunroom come true. It is a safe option worth considering. You will in addition need electricians and plumbers to make sure your sunroom is fully functional.