The Facts Behind Four Season Sunrooms

While the sunroom is typically built so that you can view the wonders of nature outside, there's no reason why you can't furnish the sunroom to reflect your personality and interests.

Before you can build your sunroom, there are a few questions you need to ask yourself. Most importantly, of course, is do your local zoning laws even allow you to build a sunroom?

Let's assume that the answer to that is yes. Next you'll have to decide on what kind of sunroom to have. Will you simply turn your current patio deck or back porch into a sunroom, or will you have a brand new addition put onto your house.

There are pros and cons for each, of course. If you build the sunroom onto an existing structure, the cost will not be quite as expensive as if you have to build an entirely new foundation for the room. However, the design for the room might be constrained.

If you do built it onto an existing structure - make sure that that structure can withstand the added weight! The last thing you want is for your new room to settle and crack due to structural flaws caused by an inadequate foundation.

There are several kinds of sunrooms, defined by the type of roof placed on each. The vaulted ceiling of the 'cathedral' type gives such an illusion of airiness and space that it is quite popular. The split-level 'California' type roof gives the room an exciting look. The distinctive curved-eave roof of the Solarium gives a better sight line to enjoy the stars at night, and the Conservatory, typically a smaller room then the others, also has that capability.

Sunrooms are so popular these days that people are using them for activities in which they have not traditionally been used before - such as the kitchen or the bathroom, the dining room and even the bedroom.

But even if you simply want to use your sunroom in the traditional way - as a place to get away from it all and view the great outdoors from the comfort of your own home - there is no reason why you can't decorate your sunroom to match your own individual tastes, from filling it full of growing flowers and plants to having an austere bare-to-the-bones look.

Advance Planning is Key

Have an idea of how you'll furnish the sunroom before you actually buy it. The contractor will be able to tell you exactly how much square feet you'll have, and you'll want to acquire furnishings that will set off and complement the new room. If you're planning on having a room full of plants you'll want to consult with the contractor about the qualities of the floor...if it's going to be used as a sauna then you'll have another set of questions to ask.

If you live in a climate that has an actual winter, you'll have to decide if you want your sunroom to be a 3-season sunroom, unused during the cold winter months, or if you want to be able to sit out there just as comfortably on the darkest winter night. Sunrooms aren't all designed to be useable for that cold season - so you'll want to make sure you purchase the proper high-grade materials designed especially for 4-season sunrooms if this is the case.

Article Source: http://www.diyarticlelibrary.com

Andrew Caxton publishes articles for www.allsunrooms.com . You can find more information and resources on four seasons sunrooms at his website.

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