If you’ve ever stayed in a cottage, you know just how cozy a sunroom can be. Despite what you might think, sunrooms aren’t just for summer. In fact, they’re especially useful during the wintertime, when it’s chilly, but you still want to soak up all the rays you can. These little sunspots are treasured for their natural light and can be a versatile addition to any home.
Find Your Purpose
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The first step in remodeling or adding a sunroom, as with any home renovation project, is having a plan. A good starting point is figuring out what you want this space to accomplish. This may seem like a no-brainer, but your sunroom can be used for more than just catching rays. It can be a breakfast nook, an entertaining space, a greenhouse, a kid’s playroom, or anything else you can imagine. Having an idea to start with will shape the way the project proceeds. It can influence everything from the building location to the furnishings, so start dreaming!
Adding On
The type of project you’re doing depends on your existing home layout, your budget, and the amount of space you have. There’s no one perfect solution when it comes to adding on, as everyone’s home is different. However, many homeowners choose to use an existing porch as a base for a sunroom addition. It makes sense, as you won’t have to build extra structural supports for your sunroom, and it can trim your costs. It’s not necessary, though: you can add a stick-built sunroom wherever your home’s layout allows for it.
Of course, one of the main considerations when building on is how much sun exposure your sunroom will get. Since the sunroom is all about sunshine, you’ll want to choose a spot that gets plenty of it. Four hours of good light are ideal. To capture the prime hours of sunlight, a south-facing location is your best bet. And if you can swing it, there’s nothing better than a sunroom overlooking a beautiful view.
Follow the Rules
Keep in mind that if you’re building an attachment, even if it’s on top of a porch or deck, it has to abide by your local codes and regulations. The addition should fall within property lines, and there are several permit processes you’ll have to go before you start. You may even need to get an architect to sign off on the final design. This can lengthen the remodeling period, but it’s essential to do things safely and by-the-book.
Size Matters
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Bigger is not always better when it comes to adding onto your home. You’ll need to think about how much green space you’re willing to lose. And, as previously mentioned, your sunroom addition needs to play by the rules. Codes may only allow you to build to a certain height or length. Remember to stay within the limits of your own property, or you might have a problem with your neighbors. A cozy and humble sunroom can serve you just as well, if not better than a huge one.
The Old and the New
While adding on can be thrilling, it’s worth noting that a stick-built addition may not blend seamlessly with the rest of your home. Especially if your home is older, it can be difficult to perfectly match the appearance both inside and out. However, your designer will do everything possible to make the aesthetics of the two structures go well together, even if they’re not a mirror image. On the outside, you can adjust the existing roofline to give the units a smoother transition. Inside, you can run the same flooring into the new unit, or paint the adjoining room to match.
Insulation and Heating
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Your home’s original HVAC system probably wasn’t set up to accommodate a few hundred additional square feet of space, but that’s okay. You can add a small and discreet additional unit inside the sunroom itself. For additional temperature control features, you can install blinds or shades to keep extreme heat at bay. Energy-efficient windows will retain heat in the winter and air conditioning in the summer, while ceiling fans help circulate cool air.
Your Sunroom Specialists in Maryland and DC
For this project, you want to make sure you have a team behind you that knows renovations inside out. Whether it’s an addition or a remodel, Winthorpe’s design-build team will give you a space that will enhance your life in every possible way. Reach out today, and let’s get started
