subject: Sunrooms: Form, Function, And Frugal [print this page] Many people have made the decision to have a sunroom added onto their home. If you have made the same decision, or in the process of making the decision, you will find that there are a lot of available floor plans for sunrooms. You can choose to install a sunroom that you can use all year or for just a season. Even if you plan to use your sunroom for the entire year, you can still save money on energy costs. Using the proper insulation, window treatments, and glass will help you reduce the energy used to heat and cool this room.
What is a Sunroom?
A sunroom is a room that has many windows in order to allow you to enjoy the outdoors without actually being outdoors. They are also called Florida rooms, patio rooms, or conservatories. Sunrooms that are made of curved glass panels that join a glass roof are called solariums and are designed to collect sunlight to be used for heat.
The many windows allow maximum light from the sun and give you a view of your surroundings. Many people use their sunroom as a family room, spa, game room, or office. You can choose to have either a glass roof or a conventional roof such as shingles or tiles. You can match the roof of the sunroom to the roof of your home if you desire. If the roof of your home is a pitched roof with steel roofing, you will be able to put the same roof on your sunroom. It is best to build a sunroom on the
Insulating a Sunroom
You can make the sunroom energy-efficient by making sure that you are installing the correct insulation in the solid walls. Insulation has an R-value that lets you know how well it reduces heat loss and gain. A high R-value means that it is very effective in preventing heat loss. Reputable home contractors will be able to tell you which R-value you should be installing for your geographical area. Be sure to make sure that the frames around the glass, windows, and doors are properly sealed. Use a bead of silicone-based caulk to seal up any gaps. You should also install attic insulation to make sure that you are getting maximum protection from heat loss or gain.
What Else Can Be Done?
Since the glass and windows tend to build up a great deal of heat in the sunroom, you can install a ceiling fan to push the air around and into the rest of the house. You should make sure that you have proper ventilation in the sunroom. You can install solar panels to generate energy to cool and heat the sunroom. The energy you generate could be used toward an in-floor radiant heating system that is installed under the floor.
You can also install double or triple-paned glass that has a layer of argon gas between the panes. This gas provides insulation between the glass layers from the sun. Installing shades or blinds will block direct sunlight to keep your sunroom from becoming too hot. If you do not want to replace your windows with the argon windows, you can glaze the glass walls. Your home contractors and local utility company can also give you steps you can take to help further reduce your energy costs.
