Sunrooms and Their Benefits for Your Chicago Home

A sunroom is an addition on the side of a house which makes it possible for you to enjoy the landscaping and scenery that surrounds your home - all from inside your home. It can also be called a sun porch, patio room, sun lounge, conservatory, solarium, garden room, or a Florida room.
 

Sunrooms have got numerous benefits. For instance, they protect the occupants of the home from undesirable weather conditions like rain and strong winds. Rain can cause colds and other unfavorable medical problems. When it rains you will not need to move to your living room; you can enjoy the sight of falling rain safely from inside.
 

Sunrooms also allow in a lot of sunlight for warmth and lighting. You will therefore use natural light and not electric light. This saves on the cost of electricity and you can instead use the money in other productive ventures.  
 

Sunrooms provide extra space for your family. Construction of traditional room additions using bricks or stones is a very costly venture, and it may not be something that is possible with the design of your home. This is where the sunrooms can prove to be handy.
 

Three and Four Season Sunrooms in Chicago

As the name suggests, a sunroom is a small addition to the main house built of large windows to offer a clear view of the outdoors and it lets in a lot of sunlight. Sunrooms are often created of vinyl, aluminum, or wood frames fitted with glass. They may also include shingle roofs to match with the rest of the home's exterior. You can get an octagonal style, square, or rectangular-shaped sunroom.
 

There are a number of things a homeowner in Chicago can do with a sunroom. It can be used as a garden area, reading room, playroom for the kids, guest bedroom, or as a family room. While they may vary in shapes, designs, and sizes, they all play an essential role in the functionality of a home that every homeowner loves.
 

Three Season Sunrooms
 

A three season sunroom allows you to enjoy the beauty of nature without having to leave your home. This type of sunroom is great for relaxing and enjoying a nice spring day. It allows you to have access to the morning sunlight without the need of going outside the house.
 

Unlike a four season patio screen enclosures, you won’t have to install heating and cooling systems, plumbing, or apply insulation which can add up.
 

The major downside to a three season sunroom is that the majority of them have poor thermal-insulation. For this reason, they may not be appropriate if you want to use it throughout the year. And that’s why we have four season solariums, as well.
 

Four Season Sunrooms
 

This type of outdoor screen room is an alternative to a three season sunroom. It is typically well-insulated so that it can serve you all year round. This way you can enjoy your patio screen enclosure during the summer or winter. It usually includes quality insulation in the glass, walls, and ceiling to prevent unnecessary transfer of heat.
 

Besides enjoying this room all year long, it can act as a dining room, playroom, a place for guests to sleep, and so forth. There is no doubt that your visitors will enjoy being in your porch appreciating the outdoor light and outdoor view – while enjoying your company at the same time. In addition, a four season sunroom will protect your furniture and other important materials against elements, such as fading and other damages that can be caused by UV-rays, wind, snow, and other adverse weather conditions.
 

Of course, owing to its incredible benefits, a four season sunroom is more expensive than a three-season sunroom. They also need more maintenance than its three-season counterpart, but you can opt for those made of vinyl, which require little or no maintenance.
 

Both 3 and 4 season sunrooms are worth your money. As you plan to purchase one, do your homework and get advice from experts. Remember, you get what you pay for.

What to Consider When Thinking About Sunroom Installation in Chicago

A sunroom, sun porch, sun lounge or sun parlor is a small room installed on the side of a home. It is designed to make it easy for homeowners to enjoy the outdoors while being protected from hostile outside elements, such as wind, rain, insects and cold or hot weather. It is sometimes referred to as a conservatory, patio room, Florida room, garden room, or solarium. The room is usually constructed of wood, vinyl, or breeze block. If you are thinking of installing one in your home, the following guidelines can help you get the most out of your investment.
 

Understand the Difference Between a 3 Season Sunroom and 4 Season Sunroom
 

A 3 season solarium is constructed to be used in the summer months, which can vary from a duration of 4 to 8 months. This means that you will not be able to use this type of a sunroom during the winter season. A 4 season sunroom is designed to be used in both winter and summer months. In other words, it can be used year-round because it can be heated and cooled.
 

Windows
 

Almost 90% of a sunroom is made of glass. When planning to install a sunroom, you will need lots of huge windows. So, the material, shape, color and price will play a huge role in the project. There are tons of windows available to choose from, and you will want to make an informed decision. Today, double and triple pane glass windows are available to help regulate heat during summer and cold during winter months.
 

Materials
 

It is extremely important to choose the right material that you want your sunroom to be constructed from. This decision will not only determine how your sunroom addition will look, but how much money and time you’ll need for maintenance purposes. Vinyl windows are less expensive, beautiful and need no maintenance. Wood windows are extremely attractive, offer a vintage touch, can be painted to match the home, but they require a great deal of maintenance. Aluminum is strong, light, can be painted into different attractive colors, and it is energy inefficient and requires maintenance.
 

Location
 

This is perhaps the most important factor to consider when constructing a sunroom. Deciding on the right location for your conservatory should be the first step when planning an addition. In the southern climate, a northern exposure will be appropriate. In the north, however, a southern exposure will be needed. Eastern exposure will be best, especially if you want to enjoy the morning sunlight.


 

Sunrooms Bring the Outdoors Inside to Your Chicago Home

Sunrooms are amazing additions to homes, giving homeowners a taste of the outdoors without the bugs, rain, and other harsh elements. Sunrooms are also called patio rooms, solariums, or enclosures. These rooms are made with glass and screen and are built on a wood or concrete foundation.
 

A sunroom can offer a good place for relaxation. We all know that enjoying the morning sunshine is what every homeowner wants. It enhances your mood and helps vent stress and frustration. The free natural sunlight and heat from the sun will replace the artificial heating needed to keep the house warm during the cold seasons. A sunroom offers a perfect place to enjoy the natural sunlight without the risk of being exposed to adverse elements, such as UV-rays.
 

Before thinking of adding a sunroom to your current home, or new home, you should note that energy efficiency is the single most important aspect to consider. Select materials that will improve your home’s energy efficiency. In case you are renovating an existing house, the first thing you want to consider improving your home’s energy efficiency - and a sunroom can be one of the solutions.
 

When you are planning to install a sunroom, you will want to make sure that it is designed to match your home’s style and look. Choose a sunroom color and plan that complements your home and that will serve many purposes, as well. Sunrooms can offer an extra space, or in other words, they can be used to add space to your home. You can enjoy being indoors, but still enjoy the beauty of the outdoors. Depending on how you made your decision, you can enjoy using your sunroom during three seasons, or four seasons (all year round).  Also, this helps to increase the value of your home. People want to purchase properties with sunrooms because they love them. And they are always ready to pay an additional fee for a home that features one. 
 

It is vitally important to understand how the different materials used to make sunrooms work. For example, vinyl sunrooms are typically less expensive than wood sunrooms, and they need little maintenance. Vinyl is strong, durable, and more energy efficient than aluminum. If you want a well-insulated sunroom, choose either a double or triple pane glass window for the new room.
 

When shopping for a sunroom, focus on getting the best materials you can afford.  You may want to seek advice from building contractors or visit a sunroom sales area to learn more about them so that you can make an informed decision.

Building a Three or Four Season Sunroom in Chicago

A sunroom is a small addition to your home that allows you to enjoy the outdoors without actually being outside. This addition offers you the ability to enjoy nature in the comfort of your home. Since they have large glass windows, sunrooms are loved by many homeowners for the amount of daylight they allow in. With a sunroom installed in your home, you can enjoy the morning sunlight without being exposed to the harmful elements of the outdoors, such as insects, UV-rays, winds, pests and pollen.

 

The two most popular types of sunrooms include a 4-season sunroom and 3-season sunroom. The 4 season rooms are basically designed to cater for all seasons. You can use them all year round. Four season sunrooms are usually constructed with energy efficient glass, have efficient HVAC systems and higher quality insulation.
 

Because a three season sunroom lacks many important features, it’s obvious that it can get extremely hot during the summer seasons or very cold during the winter months. That’s why many homeowners prefer four season sunrooms over three seasons ones.
 

The large windows or glass walls that these sunrooms allow for a sufficient amount of daylight to enter inside. This helps to make the room bright and attractive. As said before, the large transparent windows of sunrooms also allow you to enjoy the surrounding landscape and other things on your property.
 

Unlike bedrooms, bathrooms, and kitchens, which have their own specific roles within the home, sunrooms are quite versatile. While some homeowners may use their sunrooms as an entertainment room for hosting guests, others may use them as a place for reading. Others may use them as a dining room, and still yet, others may use them as a living room.
 

Four season and three season sunrooms are also good when it comes to energy efficiency. However, you will need to invest in 4 season sunroom if you want to save significant money on heating and cooling costs.
 

While the choice of four seasons or three season room is based on your preference, taste, and budget, choosing the right type is of utmost importance. Both are great when it comes to enjoying the surrounding scenery. You can enjoy the morning sun without having to worry about heat, UV-rays, mosquitoes, and other harmful factors.

Important Aspects to Consider Before Sunrooms Installation

Sunrooms are simply extra interior rooms, and are usually made of glass materials. These rooms are often common in extremely cold areas as they allow sunlight to warm the house during the day. A well-designed sunroom can enhance the overall image of your home and offer you a peaceful haven to release stress.
 

Sunrooms provide homeowners with a platform to enjoy the natural beauty of the surrounding outside areas while sitting on the patio or deck. This could not be possible in an open space due to heat, insects, rain, and cold. Therefore, the sunrooms were developed to protect people from hostile weather conditions and enhance their outdoor enjoyment. Well-designed sunrooms can make the space fascinating and peaceful for a person to spend some quality time alone or with friends.
 

Planning a Sunroom
 

There are several things you need to consider when planning to install these rooms. These factors include: location, construction material, design, windows, and installation.
 

Location
 

The location where you want to install your sunroom will depend on the weather conditions of the region where you live. In colder climates, the room should face southwards to provide adequate sunshine to the space. In warmer climates, the sunrooms ought to face northwards to create enough shade during the day. If you are fascinated with watching the sun rise and set, you might want your sunroom to face either east or west.
 

Construction Material
 

Aluminum and vinyl are the most common materials used for the building of sunroom structures. Vinyl is well-known for its thermal insulation properties.
 

Design
 

There are a variety of design options available to choose from. Straight patio enclosures are versatile and are perfect for every home. Sunrooms with curved eaves will increase the size of your home. However, they will need a lot of installation space. If you have a bigger space, conservatory sunrooms would be the best choice. If you have a lot of space in terms of height, you should choose cathedral designed sunrooms. The large glass windows and ceilings will make your home really stunning.
 

Windows
 

The most essential part of a sunroom is a window. It should be made from high quality materials which are strong and energy efficient. Single pane windows should be avoided because they’re less energy efficient. Double-pane and triple-pane windows consist of two and three glass layers, respectively. The spaces between the glass-panes are filled with gas—normally argon gas—to provide insulation. You can choose either of these two depending on your budget and needs.
 

Installation
 

Installation should be left to the professionals. They know what they are doing and have the tools and materials to get the job done quickly and efficiently.