dcsimg
PRINT E-MAIL SHARE

Sunroom Styles And Shapes

Shannon Lee | Improvement Center Columnist | January 30, 2012

Sunrooms make a beautiful addition to any home. Whether you're considering an add-on or converting an existing room, sunrooms are a great way to bring the outdoors inside.

7 sunroom styles and shapes

Not all sunrooms are created equal. Some have walls of glass that allow sunlight to pour in, while others have sections of glass that can be covered with blinds or curtains. Shapes can be square, rectangular or circular, depending upon the area, age and size of the home. Some have sloping roofs made of glass, while others make use of skylights.

The most popular and traditional styles:

  1. The four-season sunroom has plenty of insulation in the ceiling, walls and windows. For best results, a home's heating and cooling system should work efficiently, year-round.
  2. Three-season sunrooms usually don't have as much insulation, which means they may be uncomfortable during the coldest months of the year.
  3. Sunroom additions invite sunshine to a home's interior and provide bonus living space.
  4. Converted sunrooms turn porches, decks and other indoor-outdoor space, into budget-friendly structures. The goal is usually to make that area of the home more frequented.
  5. Full glass sunrooms are built from sheets of glass that can withstand the elements. Sometimes, all of the walls and the ceiling are made of glass.
  6. Partial glass sunrooms have a sturdy roof made of traditional or modern materials with walls made of glass. Partial glass sunrooms might also have large picture windows set into traditional walls.
  7. Screened porch sunrooms combine glass panes, walls and screens. Screened-in sunrooms are built for seasons when temperatures are comfortable.

Sunroom design and pricing

The shape of a sunroom is largely dependant upon the structure of your home, and how you want the finished product to look. Most sunrooms resemble rectangles or squares, but oval and circular-shaped sunrooms are common as well.

Like most home additions, sunroom design depends upon budget. CostHelper.com points out that a simple screened-in porch can run $500 to $1,500, when you do-it-yourself and buy your own materials. On the other end of the spectrum are custom, newly built sunrooms. Those price tags can run $60,000 to $70,000, or more.

Regardless of how much you can afford to spend adding sunshine to your home, planning ahead is essential. At Home Improvement Center, we help you get the job done right.