A sunroom is great for entertaining, relaxing and resale. The National Association of the Remodeling Industry estimates that across the nation, sunrooms pay back at resale more than 70 percent of the homeowner’s initial investment.
A typical sunroom is a 100- to 200-square-foot enclosure added onto an existing house, with single-pane glass and windows that can be opened to let fresh breezes in and shut to keep out wind and rain.
“We’re getting more requests for sunrooms that feature floor-to-ceiling glass walls and doors to maximize outdoor views,” said Ken Sekley, president and CEO of Patio Enclosures, North America’s largest manufacturer and installer of sunrooms. “Our advanced manufacturing capabilities and in-house engineering staff allow us to offer sunrooms that blend seamlessly with existing architecture while matching the needs and tastes of the homeowner.”
Styles abound
Sunrooms come in a variety of styles and roof designs, including slope roof, gable roof built with foam or wood, solarium (curved or straight eave glass roofline) and English-style Victorian and Edwardian conservatories with glass or polycarbonate roofs.
Sunrooms give a feeling of being outdoors while providing most indoor comforts. Some sunrooms make the perfect spot for a spa, complete with a hot tub, but that’s just one possible use. Other applications include entertaining friends and family and providing space for exercise or recreation, a home office or studio, or simply a tranquil spot to unwind with a good book.
Before buying, determine how you’ll use a sunroom. Year-round use likely will require supplemental heating and cooling as well as double-pane, low-e glass for optimal energy-efficiency.
Sunrooms often can be built where conventional additions can’t be because of building codes and zoning ordinances that restrict backyard additions. A sunroom isn’t considered a square-footage addition to your home; it’s considered a patio addition. A sunroom also can add living space in an area where there are underground obstacles to conventional construction.
Sunrooms often can be constructed in just as a few days and may be built over existing decks, insulated deck floors or structural thermal panels.
Because a sunroom can be comprised of as much as 75 percent glass, doors and windows should be tempered for safety.