Sunroom

[Droff]

Anyone put in a sunroom on the back of their house?

Not sure on where to go on info other than just doing a search. We're looking at around 27'x16' with basically 2 walls of windows, heated and cooled. I can do some construction type work but not sure what I can do in this regard or if there are builders of these out there that will work with my pace of effort....

I would assume these require a footer just like typical construction does..? We've got a concrete patio that already covers most of this area, but no footers around the edge of it.

Anyway, any suggestions/experience of what not do is appreciated.
Thanks.

 

[turkeyrun]

I'm guessing they are available, but no idea where to purchase; F-i-L bought a kit, we installed ourselves, back in '80s.

Was pretty straightforward and simple. Search of the Interweebs should show something.

 

[foghorn918]

My step-dad built theirs using 3 patio doors to enclose their patio. The roof already was there covering all of it so he didn't have to do a lot of wall framing with all the patio doors. He didn't do anything concrete wise like a footer, just built on the existing patio. Patios if done right should have a thickened slab at the edges.
Problem with theirs is that it's not heated or cooled. He should have used 1 less patio door and put in a window or two so he could have put a thru the wall or window ac heat unit.

 

[swampratt]

I have done 3 of them and one we put in a little wood burning stove for heat and it had a hot tub in it .
For coolness the owner just leaves the sliding patio door open going into the house.

Lots of windows in 2 of them.
The add on I did on my house I removed the sliding patio door and left it open and trimmed it out in wood.
My add on has 2 rooms and does not look like an add on.
There is a den on the other side of the exterior wall I tunneled through it at the bottom where the floor register is at for the central HVAC and put a plate over the register in the den and made it blow into the add on room.

That may be an option for you.

Permits may need to be pulled in your area.
I did not pull any permits. It's my house and they can pound sand.
But if you go to sell it it can burn you on the deal.

Insulate it very well and go for 6" walls.
And know this Argon filled windows block out a lot of sound which is beneficial in noisy areas.

 

[Droff]

I'll have 3 walls to put up, likely putting in a mini-split for heat/air. If I frame it myself I figure I'll have a 2' - 3' knee wall with windows going the rest of the way up to 8'. Maybe 3-4" between windows, don't know yet.
Hadn't considered the 2x6 route, mainly due to the amount of glass we'll have but I can look into it as it will be insulated. I've got one outlet on the patio now but expect to run wire for a new circuit, I have room in the box for a breaker. We've already got a french 6' patio door that swings open on one side to use for getting into the sunroom, could maybe replace that with a french door that has both of them opening. Not so sure I want that open all the time.

City does require a permit but I've done a good bit of changes to the house over the years, adding electric and some plumbing without getting any permits, so not sure on the path this time. I've always been told if I sell it, those un-permitted additions wouldn't help with an appraisal/value of the house and could be an issue during a home inspection. As far as inspection, just pull the breaker out of the box and say it isn't in use.
I don't know, but our plan is not to sell, which is why we're adding a sunroom.

I figure we'll go with a metal roof but I have no idea how to tie it into the current roof or if I need to do anything with the existing soffit. Most likely, I'll go with a roofer/builder for this part of it.

 

[trekrok]

If it was me I'd frame it just like a room addition, so you can count the sq/ft if/when you sell it. I don't think it would cost that much more than a four seasons type sunroom and would likely be more energy efficient.

 

[Big House]

If you have a lot of windows/doors, install some tint on them. It will get hotter than a stripper on Saturday night.

 

[swampratt]

Most windows sold today are Low E and reflect heat away from the glass.
But something you will not know unless it happens to you is Low E does not last forever.
I installed Low E windows in my house myself in 1998 or early 1999 and about 6 years ago I noticed it was now quite hot standing in front of the windows.

I researched life span of low e windows and sure enough they last 20 years maybe a bit less maybe a bit more.
Sucks!
Cleaning them did not degrade them all the south facing ones act the same and 2 never get cleaned. but they do not get dirty either.

Things to know.

 

[Droff]

If it was me I'd frame it just like a room addition, so you can count the sq/ft if/when you sell it. I don't think it would cost that much more than a four seasons type sunroom and would likely be more energy efficient.

It'll have heat/air/electric, so regardless, it will be counted as a living space, based on what I do with a permit. If I frame it, it'll mostly be just like a regular room, only with more windows, hence 'Sunroom'.

But something you will not know unless it happens to you is Low E does not last forever.

Things to know.

I wasn't aware of that, good to know. What I would likely do as well is put some anti-glare/anti-heat film on the glass to help with that. Some type of shades inside also.

 

[trekrok]

It'll have heat/air/electric, so regardless, it will be counted as a living space, based on what I do with a permit. If I frame it, it'll mostly be just like a regular room, only with more windows, hence 'Sunroom'.



I wasn't aware of that, good to know. What I would likely do as well is put some anti-glare/anti-heat film on the glass to help with that. Some type of shades inside also.

I'd do some more checking on whether throwing a mini-split in there is going to automatically add sq/ft. Maybe, but I've had family have to argue to get it included. And it wasn't an aluminum frame type room. Good luck!