Expanding Your Footprint with a Sunroom

Adding a Sunroom

A major focus of home design today is making the transition between indoor and outdoor living more seamless. The back yard has become more like an individual room with its own unique design while living spaces are often crafted to bring more fresh air and natural light inside the house rather than being completely closed off from the outdoors.

A sunroom addition helps accomplish this goal, and it’s a great way to make home and garden feel like one unified space all year long.

Some things to consider as you’re planning your sunroom:

Shake Up Your Shape

Sunrooms don’t have to be square! They can come in any shape or size and can be situated at an angle to the house (think “connected gazebo”) instead of a simple box tacked directly to the back of your living area. And if your home’s architecture complements it, opting for curved walls with a panoramic view makes a major style statement.

Add Something Unique

Consider unusual architectural features that will set your addition apart. Extras like skylights, pergolas, cupolas, columns, and copper roofing bring loads of personality and charm. And a cozy terrace on top can add a whole new dimension to your entertaining space. (If you’re considering a flat-roofed addition but you’re hesitant because of the possibility of leaks, know that contemporary construction techniques and materials have greatly minimized that problem.)

Mind the Sun

In siting your new addition, think about how and when you’re going to use the room and where the sun will be coming from in the morning and evening, both in winter and in summer. For a truly year-round room, you’ll want at least four hours of direct sun a day so that winter will be bearable, but excessive afternoon sun in the summer can make your room less usable unless you invest in proper shades or other sun-blocking techniques such as pergolas. A southern exposure is often the prime sunroom location for those living in New York state.

Invest in Energy-Efficient Windows

You want to bring the ambiance of the outside indoors — but not the temperature swings. If you’re planning a wraparound wall of windows, it just makes sense to use the most energy-efficient ones you can so that you’ll be comfortable and spend less to regulate the temperature inside. (You’ve probably figured out that this is our specialty — read more about our efficient, locally made windows here.)

Give Yourself a View

A sunroom is most satisfying — and most comfortable — when it’s placed next to garden space instead of just an expanse of boring grass. Plan to plant trees [LINK to tree blog post] or shrubs that cool your space, shield you from the prying eyes of neighbors, and give you something beautiful to contemplate while you relax in your new favorite room.

Go with a Pro

Don’t underestimate the value of a professional installation. Sunrooms really aren’t a job for the do-it-yourselfer, despite all the DIY sunroom kits available for purchase that claim to shave thousands off your investment price. You really do get what you pay for! We’re experts at installing custom, multi-season sunrooms that complement the existing character of your home, are properly ventilated and insulated against the elements, and (of course) meet or exceed local building standards. We handle all the details involved with obtaining the proper permits, we use only our own Comfort Windows staff for installation, and we guarantee our work.

Sunroom projects are highly individual and there are lots of factors involved in quoting a price. So let’s start a conversation — tell us what you’d like and we’ll set up a time to talk with you so we can provide you with a detailed free estimate.