Glass enclosed additions to the home like this one from Four Seasons Sunrooms offer not only protection from the elements but also the best of the sunny outdoors.
Steadily growing in popularity, sunroom additions have become the nation’s fifth most popular remodeling project, according to the National Association of Remodeling Industry. And industry professionals agree: when you add a sunroom to your home, you are creating more than a living space–you are inviting the beauty of nature inside. And while the word sunroom has several definitions including: conversion, conservatory, and cathedral, the style that you choose will be a direct reflection of you.
CONSERVATORY, CATHEDRAL, OR CONVERSION?
The conservatory style is derived from the greenhouse–a classic and elegant style of sunroom. Made almost entirely of glass, the conservatory allows natural light to enter from all angles, regardless of the location of the sun. The conservatory is generally either designed for a private space, like a den or a study, or for plants, like a greenhouse, according to Jim Molinelli, Architect, ARDO Contracting, in Columbia, Maryland. “Conservatories are a great option if you have the space and the vision,” he says. “They are cool, historic, and quite unique. The conservatory adds a traditional touch to any home.”
To bring in light but still provide the security and privacy of traditional walls ARDO Contracting created this cathedral style sunroom.
Chris Lochasio, Director of Sales for Owens Corning SunSuites agrees but adds, “Although they are traditional and unique, only a small percentage of people actually choose the conservatory-style sunroom because they are not as energy efficient in the cold weather.”
True, and to overcome that disadvantage Four Seasons Sunrooms has patented a highly-efficient glass used in the manufacture of their sunroom windows and doors. Clad with CONSERVAGLASS PLUS™, Four Seasons’ sunrooms, solariums, and conservatories are designed to offer not only high visibility and low reflectivity but also energy efficiency. A credit to the technology, CONSERVAGLASS PLUS™ recently received ENERGY STAR qualification for superior efficiency.
Although technology is improving the efficiency of conservatories, according to Lochasio “they still are the most expensive style of sunroom to build. Consider conservatories the Ferrari of sunrooms.” And like exotic automobiles, custom conservatories are the products of elegant design and top-quality manufacturing. As such, companies like Lancaster Conservatories, Tanglewood Conservatories, and Blue Diamond Conservatories are specialized in the design and construction of such elements as glass walls and roofs. Tanglewood, a Denton, Maryland-based operation, for example offers exquisite, custom design and craftsmanship by a staff that focuses 100 percent of their attention on one thing–the conservatory.
Cathedral-style sunrooms are typically defined as sunrooms with soaring, high ceilings, according to Molinelli. “The cathedral style sunroom generally has vaulted ceilings and sloping roofs with a main center beam.” He recommends that the cathedral-style sunroom should be designed with energy efficient windows and siding.
The sunroom conversion, perhaps the most economical option, generally works the best when there is a pre-existing patio or a screened-in porch, notes Case Design/Remodeling’s Charles Khiel. “One of the sunroom conversions that we worked on began with a screened-in porch,” Khiel says. “The client wanted to utilize the space year-round. Everything had to be considered to do this. We put in dry wall, recessed lighting, and made it comfortable.
We were able to utilize natural light and as a result, mixed the outdoors with an indoor living space.” He added, “It not only adds beauty to the home, it also adds value.”This is true particularly when the sunroom feels as if it is part of the architecture of the home. According to Lochasio, today’s sunrooms are typically customized so that they blend seamlessly with the rest of the house. “We now use a lot of custom features including wood floors and fireplaces,” he says. “The trend of sunroom technology is no longer aluminum framing. [Sunrooms] can be made to be an extension of the home.”
A conservatory sunroom like this from PAtio Enclosures offers 270-degreee unobstructed views of the landscape.
DETERMINE YOUR NEEDS AND BUDGET
The first thing experts suggest when planning a sunroom is to check local zoning laws, building codes, and whether or not there are any size restrictions. Then, investigate your options by speaking with contractors and neighbors and visit showrooms to get ideas that you may not have considered. Decide which features you want and determine which style will best fit your needs. “Consider what you will be using the sunroom for,” advises Molinelli. “Is it going to be an office, a playroom, a television room, a living room, or a sitting room? Determining your intentions for use will help you and your contractor to decide which style of sunroom is best for you.”
Furnishing the room is also a major consideration. Molinelli points out that many materials will fade in direct sun, and he typically advises against televisions because of the glare often caused by the glass walls. “Still, regardless of what your focal point is, there should only be one. If you have to have a television in the sunroom and that is going to be your focal point, you may not want to have a fireplace also.”
If the only thing holding you back from starting your sunroom is the cost, a quality sunroom can be built with energy efficiency and budget in mind. As consumers become increasingly concerned with energy efficiency and cost savings, such leading manufacturers as SunSuites by Owens Corning and Four Seasons Sunrooms are offering sunrooms with more energy efficient window options that prevent heating and cooling issues. “For example,” says Lochasio, “Owens Corning’s SunSuites Sunrooms offer Energy Star® rated fiberglass windows featuring Solace IG-366 Glass to provide year-round comfort and up to 40 percent energy cost savings. While the cost to build a sunroom can range from $10,000 to $70,000 and into the hundreds of thousands for conservatories, “the price range varies according to size,” says Molinelli. “That’s obvious, but also know that a smaller sunroom can be just as satisfying. It all depends on who does it and what your vision is.”
Rebecca E. Jones-Paulsen is a regular writer for ChesapeakeHome.
Contacts:
ARDO Contracting: ardoinc.com or 410-290-9899
Case Design/Remodeling: casedesign.com or 800-513-2250
Four Seasons Sunrooms: fourseasonssunrooms.com or 800-FOUR SEASONS
Gilday Renovations: gilday.com or 301-565-4600
Owens Corning SunSuites: owenscorning.com/around/sunroom
or 800-GET-PINK
Patio Enclosures: patioenc.com or 800-480-1966
Tanglewood Conservatories: tanglewoodconservatories.com or 800 229 2925
