An uncommon, though certainly not rare, sunrooms have gained popularity as homeowners spend more time at home and seek expansion of their living space, particularly in the unique setting a sunroom can offer. Some homeowners building an addition will look at using traditional walls, but replacing those walls with glass to create the sunroom that extends the space into the backyard and creates an atmosphere unlike any other in the home.

            According to the National Association of Realtors, the average cost of a 200-sqaure-foot sunroom addition runs around $31,000, while the average return on the investment hovers near the 70 percent mark. As with many remodeling projects, the renovation, the more unlikely a homeowner is to recoup the investment.

            Yet, sunrooms are rarely a home project looked at in much the same light as kitchens and bathrooms, the two most investment savvy remodeling tasks. Rather, homeowners predominantly view sunrooms as a project aimed at producing one result: in-the-moment enjoyment. Homeowners like a sunroom as an added space separate from the main living area of home and as a place that has a distinct and unique feel. They’re looking at how the sunroom will enhance their life.

            Most often, sunrooms woo homeowners seeking a multi-purpose space to accommodate entertaining or daily relaxation. People are looking at the sunroom as something that can be used regularly.

            A sunroom’s presence can enhance the overall look of the home, allowing other spaces to inherit one less function and flooding in the home with natural light with its window-dominated walls. Sunrooms also foster a compelling connection with the outdoors, specifically on home sites with more dramatic landscape or views and they are that wonderful transition between the inside and the outside. Sunroom enclosed space brings added security and protection from nature’s elements.

                                                                                            POSSIBILITIES AND POTENTIAL

            3 or 4 season sunrooms can be one of the most multi-functional areas of a home. With such diverse uses, sunrooms hold vast possibilities for finished, details and elements. Over the years, we outfitted sunrooms with a wet bars and granite countertops to serve as a buffet area, whirpools and a lap pools, witnessed homeowners use the sunroom for entertaining guests and, in many cases, breakfast or dinner dining.

            We also constructed two-way fireplaces, typically separating the sunroom from the kitchen or the sunroom from the yard and provided built-in grill access, a practical feature as the sunroom typically rests adjacent to a kitchen entrance.

            To maximize the sunroom’s impact and use, we provide some time-tested tips:

            Do fill the space with windows:

It’s almost universal, that a sunroom is far more glass and far less drywall. Windows foster the home’s connection with the outdoors and capitalize on the space’s most overwhelming purpose- to create a space that is unique to the home. Consider transom windows, which intensify the natural light and sunroom’s dramatic look.

            Don’t limit yourself to the three-season room:

At the minimum, investigate spending the added money to create a year-round sunroom space. Unlike the screen room, sunrooms are created for year-round use, often by extending HVAC components into the space for comfort in June as much as January. The extra investment brings flexibility and better resale value.

            Do use volume ceilings:

High ceilings are another universal trait in the most dynamic sunrooms. Combined with windows, the volume ceilings provide the feeling of space, openness, and luxury.

            Don’t be bashful on size:

If the land can accommodate a more ambitious project, homeowners should not be bashful about creating a larger space. The dramatic flair created by the use of various windows and volume ceilings is multiplied in a larger space. The 10-foot-by-10-foot space is simply not enough.

            Do consider continuity:

If separating the sunroom with a doorway, most elect to go with a different flooring finish, an aesthetic decision that consciously labels the sunroom as a unique, distinctive space. If the sunroom is open to the home, the continuity of flooring, and even color in some instances, will help ensure a uniform, connected look.

  As of a deck material, they picked IPE hardwood decking. If you haven’t heard of Ipe, it’s an imported exotic hardwood from South America, which is responsibly harvested from managed forests to provide truly renewable resource. It also called “Brazilian Walnut” or “Ironwood”, it’s one of the densest, most rot, insect and fire resistant woods, that doesn’t even float. It will last 100+ years without preservatives. It’s very difficult to work with, but the end product was definitely worth the added effort. Every end-grain cut must be sealed with a wax emulsion, every fastener must be pre-drilled with the correct sized pilot hole. Try and drill in to Ipe, or just drill to small of a pilot hole, and you will snap the screw.

  To secure Ipe decking, we used hidden deck fasteners “Ipe Clip” and on the edges and fascia, we used Ipe plug. There are no visible fasteners, so deck looks clean and elegant.

  To hide edges of  pregroved deck boards around perimeter of the deck, I created a border with two courses of the deck boards.

  Homeowners chose to install metal railing made by Fortress, which is virtually maintenance free, made of 100% pre-galvanized and powder coated iron and is known for optimal vision, strong and sleek profile. Because of the special brackets, I was able to run low voltage wires for the deck lights hidden in the railing.

Sunroom construction is primarily associated with residential additions, but it is increasingly used in commercial buildings.  The clean, elegant glass and aluminum style of a sunroom scales beautifully to the larger spaces that businesses need to increase their profits.

At the Abt Electronics campus in Glenview, Illinois, our company recently completed the expansion of the Abt-owned Jolane’s Café restaurant. 

Jolane is the given name of Jewel Abt, who with her husband David founded Abt Electronics in1936.  The old world café and restaurant is named in her memory, and was so popular that in 2009 the Abt family decided to expand the restaurant by 1800 square feet. 

Jolane's cafe before

Steel beams for extra support

Construction in progress

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Choice of sunroom construction for the “conservatory” addition converted a large outdoor patio into sunlit indoor space that is used year round.  They now have additional capacity for increased business every day of the year, as well as a unique facility for private parties or special events.

As the photographs attest, not only did it blend beautifully with the architectural style of the existing building, but it features the distinctive mahogany interior that graces the rest of the building.

Inside view

Sunroom construction brings indoors the beauty of sunlight, blue sky, and green trees.   In addition, Jolane’s Café also features sliding glass doors along its outside walls.  Fresh breezes circulate in the conservatory, and the comfort of being indoors co-exists with the closeness of nature.

Jolane’s intimate, friendly space demonstrates well the flexibility and adaptability of sunroom construction.  In addition, it provides these characteristics and benefits –

• Space that is was wasted – or is used only part of the year – can now be used profitably year round.  Jolane’s expanded year round space increases its capacity, providing more profit opportunity in every season.
• The building style is flexible, clean, and elegant, and fits well next to many styles of existing architecture.
• The virtues of natural light and air are easily introduced into a sunroom construction addition, resulting in a “greener” building.
• The costs of sunroom construction are about the same as those for traditional construction, but the actual construction time is faster, giving you a space that is ready to use in a relatively short time.

 The energie efficient glass used in a conservatoire  construction lets in light but not heat. Super MC Low-E clear tempered safety, dual seal glass provides optimum balance among visible light transmittance, glare control and superior solar control. This new technology glazing has a Light to Solar gain Ratio of an unbeatable 2.04, placing it at the top of it’s class. The room is cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.  Energy costs for a typical application may fall by 200% compare to our competitors solarium systems.

View at night

  These instructions are based on a study conducted by the Vinyl Window and Door institute on the efficiency of cleaning products and their effects on the appearance of vinyl frames after two years of outdoor exposure.

REGULAR MAINTENANCE

• Wash using soft cloth or soft bristle brush.
• DO NOT wash sunroom with a high pressure spray.
• Sometimes, you my want to use a mildly abrasive cleaner such as Soft Scrub, Ajax, Bon Ami, etc., but the use of any abrasive material could have a negative effect on the sunroom glass surface and the frames.
• DO NOT use cleaners containing aggressive organic solvents such as chlorine bleach, liquid grease remover, strong soaps and detergents containing organic solvents, nail polish remover and furniture polish/cleaner because they could affect the surface appearance of the vinyl.
• INSULATING SUNROOM GLASS: can be cleaned with any non-abrasive glass cleaner and soft cloth.
• LOW EMISITY GLASS: our LOW-E sunroom glass packages can be cleaned with any non-abrasive glass and soft cloth. The LOW-E coating is applied to the inner surface of the  patio enclosures insulating glass unit and cannot be scratched.

    SUGGESTED CLEANERS

• BUBBLE GUM: Fantastik, Murphy Oil soap, Windex, solution of vinegar (30%) and water (70%)
• CRAYON: Lestoil       
• DAP (oil-based caulk): Fantastik
• GRASS: Fantastik, Lysol, Murphy Oil Soap, Windex
• LIPSTICK: Fantastik, Lysol, Murphy Oil Soap
• LITHIUM GREASE: Fantastik, Lestoil, Murphy Oil Soap, Windex
• MOLD & MILDEW: Fantastik, Windex, Solution of vinegar (30%) and water
• MOTOR OIL: Fantastik, Lysol, Murphy Oil Soap, Windex
• OIL: Soft Scrub
• PAINT: Brillo Pad
• PENCIL: Soft Scrub
• RUST: Fantastik, Lysol, Murphy Oil Soap
• TAR: Soft Scrub
• TOP SOIL:   Fantastik, Lestoil, Murphy Oil Soap

NOTE: References to proprietary names is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to imply that there are not equally effective alternatives.

  At this house we installed a second story sunroom addition over an existing roof deck. The homeowners wanted to create a little private oasis of their master bedroom. First, we replaced a regular 3’ swing door with the new 6’ double swing French door, which now leads from the master bedroom in to the new energy efficient sunroom. The outside walls of the sunroom were finished with a cement board siding, to match the existing house.

House before sunroom addition

Seawall gets installed

Sunrooms. They Bring Nature Home. Are you lucky enough to be surrounded by fine outdoor greenery — and in need of a way to make it more a part of your family’s indoor life? Millennium Construction has the affordable answer. Our beautiful sunrooms allow nature, with its loveliness and tranquility, to truly express itself within. Imagine gloriously sunlit windows and stylish glass doors transforming an entirely new indoor relaxation zone — into a habitat of natural grandeur! Each sunroom created by Millennium Construction is custom designed and expertly crafted to make the most ingenious use of space and its natural setting.  Waterfront Splendor Consider this recent example of a sunroom we completed for a riverfront home. The homeowners sought to extend their living area and take advantage of the spectacular river view through all four seasons. Our solution was to transform an existing outdoor deck into a solid foundation for a fully enclosed sunroom.

New, reinforced deck

A heated and expertly insulated floor was then added, complete with porcelain tiles. Fragrant cedar siding was utilized to lend character to the connecting wall and contemporary windows, doors and paneling were used to enclose the whole — while creatively maximizing the stunning vistas. Perfect year-round climate control is ensured within what is now the family’s new favorite relaxation room. The cost for all this? Less than you might imagine.

Sunroom completed