A sunroom addition to your home adds both beauty and function. More importantly, it increases your living space and can add years of enjoyment to the time you spend in your home. A sunroom can mean different things to different people, as the word sunroom is a general term that encompasses the gamut from a screened-in porch to a three-season room to a room that can be used and enjoyed year-round—a four-season sunroom. Here we look at each option more closely.
Screened-in Porch
A screen-in porch is an addition that has a roof to protect you from the elements and harsh sun, and screens in lieu of windows. Screens allow for air flow while keeping out pests such as flies and mosquitoes. A screened-in porch is the addition that lets you enjoy a living space that is about as close to outdoors as you can get without actually being outdoors. These additions can be built with electricity to accommodate lights and ceiling fans, and furnished and decorated to suit practically any style. As a rule, homeowners get the most enjoyment out of their screened-in porch during the warmer summer months.
Three-season Sunroom
A three-season room takes a screened-in porch to a different level. As the name implies, this type of room is intended to be used during three seasons of the year, typically early spring through late fall (and sometimes even into early winter), depending on climate and location. These rooms are usually glass-enclosed or have single-pane glass windows. Some are built with sliding panels that let you raise screens up and down to whatever height you want and a special non-glass panel rises (or lowers) in its place. Energy efficiency is not usually a homeowner’s priority for windows in this type of room. Three-season rooms may be insulated, but because this type of room is not intended to be used during cold winter months, the amount of insulation may be less than that used in a four-season room.
Four-season Sunroom
Homeowners who want to maximize the living space available to them year-round will want to consider adding a four-season sunroom. A four-season room most closely resembles the other interior rooms in your home in terms of function and usability, but it allows you to enjoy outdoor views every day of the year—through hot and cold seasons. The windows in a four-season room are usually double-paned insulated glass, which means you can heat and cool the room efficiently. A four-season room, with its natural light, can serve as anything from a quiet retreat to casual entertaining space. In other words, homeowners can customize this additional living space to meet whatever need they may have.
If you are thinking of adding a sunroom, Sovereign Construction Services can help. We will explain all your options and walk you through the process. Call Steve today at 610-639-2986!