Tips on How to Get the Most from a Sunroom

If you have decided to add a sunroom to your patio, you want to get the most from it, right? And it’s possible. You only need to consider these tips:

Ensure the sunroom is facing the right direction

Everything begins here, as there is no way you will enjoy the sunroom if it’s facing the wrong side. Don’t get it wrong. There is no right or wrong location to build your sunroom. 

You only need to ensure the unit is facing the direction that meets the needs you are looking to achieve. Some of the directions you can install the sunroom include:

North facing: A sunroom facing the north receives low sun levels and partial shade throughout the day. Patio contractors recommend north-facing sunrooms as the best sunrooms to install, but you should be ready to put on the heating system to use the sunroom in the winter.

South facing: South facing sunrooms are the most aesthetically pleasing sunrooms you can have, and they allow plenty of sunlight to get in during the day. Although they are beautiful, you may need a cooling system installed especially if living in the south.

Eastern facing: An eastern-facing sunroom is best if you love taking your breakfast in the sunroom or you love the sight of the sun early in the morning. This is because the sun gets in the sunroom early in the morning, while it’s all shade in the afternoons and evenings.

Western facing: Are you at home mostly in the evening and love watching the sunset? This is the right sunroom to go for. If you live in hot areas, you may need to invest in shades and a cooling system to keep you comfortable.

Ensure that the sunroom is comfortable

Unless you are using the sunroom as the exercise room, you will have to sit, and you need to be comfortable to enjoy the sunsets, have quality time with family, or simply enjoy your creation.

If you visit many sunrooms, you will find most of them packed with wire furniture and uncomfortable wicker. This is because homeowners have the impression that a sunroom is an outdoor unit, so it should be furnished with outdoor furniture. This is wrong.

To be an exception and ensure you are as comfortable as possible, take the sunroom as part of the main house. Like the rest of your house, have plush pillows, upholstered seating, throws, and other pieces that will ensure that you are comfortable.

You also should throw in a side table and coffee tables to have a place to set down your drinks or a book.

The sunroom is a place to relax, and you can also use it to get some work done when the weather is right, so ask an electrician to install electrical outlets to plug in your laptop.

For optimum comfort, take the sunroom as a second living room and furnish it with all the comfortable pieces of furniture you can.

Although it’s crucial to keep your patio sunrooms comfortable, watch out that you don’t waste money on adornments and furnishings that you won’t use or don’t need.

You need to find a balance between comfort and use. If you don’t frequently use a certain piece of furniture or adornment, there is no point in buying or keeping it.

Use the right glass for the window.

The glass you choose for your sunroom has a significant impact on the performance, feel, and allure of the sunroom, so be ultra-cautious when buying it. There are three main glass types for sunrooms you can choose from:

Single glazed glass: This is a basic window glass that features little insulation or UV properties.

Double glazed glass: These are two glass layers with gas or air trapped in between. As you can guess, this glass provides better insulation.

Triple glazed glass: It’s the most expensive glass of the three and provides the highest level of insulation.

When you choose the best glass for your windows, pay attention to the insulating properties of the glass. Of course, you want the glass providing you with the best insulation. After all, you don’t want to be baked in your sunroom as you are enjoying a sunset, do you?

Sunroom experts agree that the minimum glass you should install in the sunroom is double glazed.

Another factor to consider the Low-E coating. An ideal sunroom window glass should have a soft coat Low-E that allows light but reflects the heat. When properly installed, this glass ensures a room is cooler in summer and warm in winter.

The final factor to pay attention to is glass safety. You should go with tampered glass that crumbles when it breaks instead of one that falls off in dangerous shards.

The key to buying the right glass window hinges on extensive research. You should consult with building materials experts and even your local department of building and safety, and they will recommend the best one to go for.

Ensure the space is large enough

The whole point of spending money on a sunroom is to have space you can spend time. If you live alone or have a small family, you can get away with a small sunroom, but if you entertain a lot, your guests will feel cramped and crowded in a small room, and this will prevent them from having a good time.

At the very least, ensure that your sunroom is at least ten feet square. This space is enough for a small grill and a standard outdoor table and chairs.

Upgrade your sunroom to a solarium

Many homeowners believe that a sunroom and a solarium are the same thing, but this isn’t the case. A solarium is completely enclosed in glass (including the ceiling) with the sole intent of trapping in as much light as possible while at the same time blocking the outdoor weather elements.

On the other hand, a sunroom is what architects and designers use to describe any room with large windows (usually running from floor to ceiling).

A solarium is more aesthetically appealing and more comfortable. Unfortunately, it’s pricey to build. Luckily, if you don’t have the budget for it, you can install a skylight instead. The skylight will be cheaper, but it will accomplish the same feat.