A Beginner's Guide to Sunrooms
Everyone is a beginner at something. You might be an expert at your job but know very little about home improvements, so welcome to the beginner's guide to sunrooms.
What is a sunroom?
Well for sure, if you're reading this article, you're bound to be in the market for one so you must have a good idea about what one is. Sunrooms come in a variety of forms from elegant, glassed-in atriums to closed-in patios that afford views and the entry of sunshine but keep the bugs out on those balmy summer evenings when you want to relax kind of outdoors. Sunrooms are built onto existing houses and may also be variously termed as patio enclosures, conservatories or solariums.
Why would I want one?
Regardless of where you live, a sunroom is an absolute pleasure. If you live in an area where the climate is cold for much of the year, then a sunroom can be a delight to live in. Being a part of the house, it can be heated in the same way, but enables you to enjoy looking outdoors and receiving sunlight while being cozy inside. If your outdoor environment is hot and humid, your sunroom can be cool and insulated but still bright and sunny.
Sunrooms can also add significant value to your home if constructed to look as though it is a part of the integral design. You get extra living space, a real lifestyle addition, and when potential buyers come to inspect your property, they will be drawn to the sunroom for what it means to their own lifestyle.
Types of sunrooms
Depending on who you talk to, there are various ways to describe sunrooms that make them sound like you can't live without them. That could be true, but you may need a bit of translation so that you understand better. Four season sunrooms are meant to be useful year round, in hot and cold weather. There are full glass rooms and partial glass rooms; self explanatory, really. Screened porches are the more basic cousins of something known as a glass conservatory or atrium, but each has its place in different homes. Contemporary or traditional, with an expanse of glass or just some regular windows, there are sunrooms to fit your lifestyle and the design of your home.
Where to start
Before you build a sunroom, you need to consult the building authorities in your area because some structures require permits. Start here so that you have a good idea of what you can consider before shopping around.
There are dozens of companies that offer beautiful examples of sunrooms from the basic to the extravagant, and these are usually elements of ranges that they design and mass-produce to keep costs competitive and installation easy. If you choose, however, you can have an architect design a sunroom that perfectly integrates into your existing home, and have a contractor build it for you. Naturally, the costs involved will be higher but your priorities will determine which way to go.
When you start shopping around, take photographs of your home with you. That will help your retailer to understand what kinds of products to suggest to you and you'll find it easier to explain your needs.