What to Consider Before Designing a Sunroom

Do you enjoy entertaining outdoors? If you are like many homeowners, you'd love to serve your guests dinner under the evening stars, but you haven't figured out how to do so in all types of weather, and under all conditions. For instance, how do you deal with bitter cold nights or days that are uncomfortably hot? And what about those pesky bugs...how do you work around them? Well, the answer may well be to opt for a sunroom!

A sunroom is a separate screen-enclosed room that is connected to your house. Your guests will love it. In the summer, the sun shines through the floor-to-ceiling walls and windows; the greenery is perfectly visible through the screens; and the seclusion provides a perfect getaway. Visitors can even hang around on snowy days, counting the falling snow flakes in your comfortably heated sunroom.

For all intents and purposes, a sunroom is a big "camping tent", only more luxurious...and much more durable. With that in mind, you may ask, how is it that the floor stays dry? The secret to a moisture-proof floor is an insulated floor system.

Insulated Floor Systems Keep Sunroom Floors Dry

The best sunroom floors are generally made out of a 6" plank with 2 pound expanded polystyrene between two surfaces of 7/16" O.S.B. (Oriented Strand Board). This floor can be installed at any level above grade level. If you use a Fiberglass reinforced plastic surface laminated to the bottom side, it creates a superior moisture barrier unmatched by other floor systems.

And don't worry about leaks from a rainy day. "With today's sophisticated structural bonding processes, you don't have to worry about leaks," says a dealer.

Now what sort of siding or eaves should you choose for your sunroom?

Straight Eaves - Plenty of Space

You can't beat the spaciousness of a straight eaves sunroom. Place a sliding door near the front, center, or near the house, and there's space galore for you and your guests to mingle. Many designers/owners add a ceiling fan.

Curved Eaves - A Posh Respite