Sunroom ideas - Help!

[JB4310]

I have always liked that style. But, due to the particular layout and style of this house, it appears that I will be limited to something added at this gable end of the house.

Yeah I saw your picture, that will be a nice space when you close it in. I thought maybe that company offered gable end fill ins?

That's alot of glass you'll need there, will get pricey.

I got a good bang for the buck with mine, makes my first floor seem bigger now, I have a door from the living room and one from the dining room. made that narrow screen porch that got crowded with 3 people, now we had 20 people seated at 2 banquet tables at thanksgiving and room for serving table as well.

Mine was simple to spec, it was a standard size and fit with little rough in, even the roof angles are close.

Good Luck, JB.

 

[Erik_in_Hoyt]

can you replace the gable screens with ridge vent?
pretty quick, simple, and economical to do, and would solve the potential excess heat issue in the summer.

 

[MarkV]

Like Erik said, add a ridge vent and eliminate the gable end vent.

MarkV

 

[Gittyup]

I would go with low-E glass. Big glass means it should (probably has to) be tempered too. This will keep the temperature moderate. Want to make it seem bigger? Knock down the whole wall and make it a year round space. You'll be glad you did. Heat and cool it with a mini split heat pump and maybe a stove or gas fireplace.

There are a lot of ways to get a "Sun" room. Consider true floor to ceiling windows and fixed, but ventable skylights. Casements give you the best view, but have to allow for space opening outward. Nice full length screens can either be left in year round or taken out.

I did a similar project 3 years ago. Took out 26' of load bearing wall to add a 16 x 26' addition. Used 9' walls on new part with cathedral ceilings (scissor trusses). 7' tall windows and matching doors all around. Four fixed skylights with shades. Heat it with direct vent propane fireplace (furnace rated). Cool it with mini split and one giant ceiling fan. Beautiful! Absolutely love it. My smotheringly small 9 x 10 kitchen now feels 4 times as big.

Whatever you do, invest in good high quality windows and doors. They will make a big difference in longevity, performance, beauty, and resale value.

A lot of work goes into these things, planning and such. Take your time. Design is the key. You can get a beautiful room without spending more by just taking the time to think it out. Then think it out again and again.

Also note that you get a tax break for installing energy efficient windows, doors, and HVAC equipment.

 

[Redneck in training]

Does the roof ventilation has a fan? If it does reverse the flow so fresh air will be drawn into your new sunroom and exhaust on the other side of the house. If it doesn't have a fan add one that is thermostat operated. Make sure that is quiet.

 

[Redneck in training]

We have a hot tub/spa in a screen room now. The room is 18x20, The spa is 8x8 -- unless you plan on having spa parties you can do with a smaller spa - our next one will be a 3 seater instead of this 5-6 seater. AND I want to add a sauna -- around $1500 -- You want 2-3 feet of space around the spa- at least 2 sides - 3 is better. This is for access and tables/shelves to sit your drinks.

Mike,
Your estimate for cost of sauna is IMO way too low as sauna is very expensive wooden box. I built small two person 5'X8' sauna in my house more than about 10 years ago, we did all the work by ourselves and still spent around $2500 just for the cheapest wood I could find, $150 for the door and around $1000 for the electric heater. The wood has to be absolutely clear without even small nuts at least in the places where you can get in contact with it. Nuts will burn you.
Ladia.

 

[Slackdaddy]

10' is to narrow, and with it 30' long - can you say bowling alley ?
12' wide, the 2' will make a major diff.

Slack

 

[mikim]

Do you find that you have sufficient ventilation through the screens?
plenty -- the screen room is between the house and garage so is only screened on 2 sides -- I kept a close eye on the ceiling for awhile for moisture as the ceiling is particle board -- but there has been no problem. The screens are from 18" from the floor to the ceiling -- It's made like those Florida rooms with the plastic windows that slide up and down. The spa sits in a corner with shelves on the 2 corner sides.

 

[mikim]

on the sauna -- I saw one at the Houston home show last week that they wanted $2000 for -- a quick search on the internet shows you can buy one for around $1500 --- All are the IR type that I was looking at. -- 2 seaters - Takes 115v 15 amp and reaches 140 degrees. AND that's all I know about that ..... other than using a commercial one several times at different places .... I've never seen a private one other than that one at the home show.

 

[Redneck in training]

on the sauna -- I saw one at the Houston home show last week that they wanted $2000 for -- a quick search on the internet shows you can buy one for around $1500 --- All are the IR type that I was looking at. -- 2 seaters - Takes 115v 15 amp and reaches 140 degrees. AND that's all I know about that ..... other than using a commercial one several times at different places .... I've never seen a private one other than that one at the home show.

I also checked the internet for sauna prices. It seems to me that they are somewhat (and unexpectedly) cheaper than when I was building my. May be they sell more of them.
As I said before the quality of wood is very important. When assembling the walls sort the boards and put the boards with nuts under the seats and high on walls and ceiling. Use only the best clear boards for the area just above the seating.