Sunrooms are beautiful additions to the home. They let in a lot of natural
light making the house look more spacious and bigger. They inspire creativity in decorations and
provide the ideal room for artistic expression such as reading books, artwork
or just lounging. If you have room for a sunroom and are wondering where to
start, here are a couple of tips.
Use your patio
You can use your patio to create more functional space in
the house by installing a screen room. Screen rooms are extensions of your
existing patio, deck or balcony space. The great thing about turning your extra
patio space into a sunroom is you get a room that you can use all year round,
not only during summer. You can do this by installing single pane glass windows
and doors to create a three season sun room, which offers protection from
changes in weather for most of the year.
In case you want to make the room functional all year round,
you will need to install energy efficient double panned glass windows and
doors. These insulative windows will help keep the cold out and lock the warmth
in especially during winter and vice versa during hot summers. You can use the
room at any time of the year by setting up insulation and a HVAC system for
heating and cooling in winter and summer.
Size
The sunroom size is determined by its use. If you need a
small nook, a home office or a pet area, you only need a couple of square feet
to create the ideal space. However, if you want a lounging area, dining room or
living area, you will need to make a greater financial commitment to it.
Remember you also need to buy new furnishings to decorate the room too.
Location
You need to very selective about the location of the sunroom
in relation to the sun, especially depending on its use. If you do not want to
receive too much direct sunlight then a north-facing sunroom will work great. It will help to minimize the
amount of heat absorbed in the room, especially in warm climate zones. East
facing sunrooms catch the morning sun while it remains shaded during the hot
afternoon. This is a great position for people who are early risers or plan to
use the room more in the mornings. West facing sunrooms receive the most light
later in the afternoon while south facing sunrooms receive sunlight all day
long and are extremely suitable for cold climate areas.
Sunroom materials
Aluminum is great for structural support in the sunrooms.
This lightweight and low maintenance material is very cost effective.
Unfortunately it is not a good insulator and this is why it is only suitable
for screen rooms that do not have HVAC systems. Vinyl is the most durable,
strong and efficient material to use for structural support in sunrooms.
Finally, the type of glass you use should be double or triple panned if you want to install a
HVAC system and maintain a high level of energy efficiency.
Posted by: Apple Enclosures http://www.appleenclosures.com/
