The Benefits of Sunrooms

By Roselyn James

You've seen sunrooms on television. Some of your neighbors may have them. Maybe you've even dreamed of having one yourself. You imagine sitting in the morning light, drinking coffee and reading the newspaper. You're warm and comfortable regardless of the weather outside.

Many people think of sunrooms as quiet rooms filled with plants and natural sunlight. They think of them as a place to unwind at the end of the day or to enjoy the morning without worrying about weather or insects. While it's true that sunrooms can provide a relaxing environment, they also have many other uses.

Sunrooms can expand your entertaining space. During parties, people often gather in kitchens, but they can become overcrowded and hot. You can give your guests more space and fresh air by taking the food, the drink, and the conversation into a sunroom. Serve dinner without flies landing on your guests' plates. Add plants to bring the outdoors in and have a picnic. Entertaining in a sunroom can be as festive or intimate as you'd like.

Imagine spending summer evenings in your sunroom with a loved one, listening to chirping crickets, and being able to enjoy it without mosquitoes and other pests. Open the windows and vent the skylights to let in the crisp night air. Roll out sleeping bags or equip your sunroom with a cot and sleep under the stars.

Sunrooms can also help chase away those winter blues. Cold and lack of natural light makes winter a difficult season for many people.  With a sunroom, you can spend your days getting that much needed sunshine without being cold.

Kids can use it for a playroom without bundling up when it's cold or overheating when it's warm. Set up your exercise equipment and watch the landscape while you work out. Curl up in the sun with a good book without having to shoo bugs away. Install a hot tub and have a few friends over. Open holiday gifts with a full view of the winter snow, all in a temperature controlled climate.

Unlike screened-in porches, sunrooms have tempered glass ceilings, which let in the light. They can also be insulated, making your sunroom useful the entire year. You can decorate it for the holidays and entertain guests even in the coldest months.

If you want more space in your home, but don't want the hassle of building a traditional room, sunrooms are an excellent alternative. They can be built on concrete foundations or over existing decks. Construction is quick—sometimes as little as two or three days—which means less inconvenience for the homeowner.

Because of quick construction and the type of materials needed, sunrooms are also less expensive to build than traditional rooms. Framing can be made of aluminum, but vinyl provides better insulation. Walls and ceilings are made of insulated glass and tempered for safety.  Venting skylights, as well as windows that open, improve air flow and cool the room during the summer. You can install a small gas heater or use your in-house heating system to keep your sunroom warm during the winter.

Sunrooms are a desirable and attractive addition. They can increase your home's value, marketability, and living space. They add tranquility and fresh air, and bring more of the outdoors into your life. We all need sunlight. It boosts our energy and elevates our moods. It helps keep us healthy. What better way to enjoy it than in a sunroom?

© Doityourself.com 2006