Information about Sunrooms and Patios. Which types there are and how to enjoy them.

What is a Sunroom?
The term "Sunroom" is somewhat inexact. Typically, it refers to an area of the home with an abundance of windows designed to receive a maximum amount of sunlight. Sunrooms are sometimes referred to as solariums, conservatories or garden rooms.

For all intents and purposes, a sunroom is a bright and airy room full of windows. It is the getaway around the corner within your own home. Adding a sunroom to your home offers the best of both worlds, allowing you to bring sunshine into your space while controlling the climate and weather within. The attraction of feeling close to nature while being on the comfortable side of a glass wall seems to have universal appeal.

Types of Sunrooms and Patios

An abundance of choices exist in the world of sunrooms. Airy additions could consist of anything from a screened porch to a full-glass conservatory. The most obvious differences exist in the appearance of the rooms, but there is much more than meets the eye.

Screened Rooms/Porches
A screened porch is essentially a regular porch that has had the addition of perimeter walls of large screened panels that allow fresh air to circulate while helping keep out insects. Screened rooms can be an excellent way of getting more mileage out of your patio or deck. Use of this casual area is often limited to the summer and warmer portions of the spring and fall months.

Additions to Existing Walls vs. Converting Existing Rooms
Just as each home varies in its needs and characteristics, each homeowner's choice of approach to adding a sunroom varies. For some, an existing space such as an unused deck or patio or perhaps an architectural alcove may make the perfect new sunspace. For others, adding extra living space is a priority and only a new addition to the existing structure will do.

Full Glass Rooms vs. Partial Glass
One of the most obvious differences in sunrooms is the amount of glass that they contain. While some may be comprised almost completely of glass, others opt for more traditional structures with solid roofs or "knee walls" beginning at the base of the floor and extending up two to three feet. Some sunrooms with traditional rooflines opt to install skylights to allow extra light to enter the space. Whether you opt for a full or partial glass room is a matter of personal preference, specific needs, existing architecture and local building code compliance.

Three & Four Season Sunrooms
Less obvious but perhaps most important in determining the amount of enjoyment you derive from your sunroom is whether you choose a three- or four-season sunroom. While both are enclosed glass rooms, a four-season sunroom includes a fully insulated ceiling and insulated walls as well as insulated-glass
windows. The home's heating and cooling system is extended to keep a four-season sunroom comfortable on even the most flaming summer day or the most frigid winter night.

If the exiting heating and cooling system is not substantial enough to handle the additional load of the sunroom, additional systems such as a baseboard heater or window-unit air conditioner may be added. Unless you live in an extremely temperate climate, only a four-season sunroom will provide radiant relaxation year-round.

Why are Sunrooms so Popular?
Sunrooms are enjoying increasing popularity for a variety of reasons. With Americans spending more time at home, home improvements have increased. With a lower cost of construction than traditional additions and a higher valuation, adding a sunroom is a smart move that assures an excellent return on investment.

For the year-round enjoyment that they can provide, sunrooms are a uniquely special space. If your house seems to hem you in when the outside temperatures head south, a sunroom can bring a splash of sunlight into your space every day of the year.