SUNROOMS - Pg 1 - Pg 2

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A sunroom is best described as a standard construction build room that is designed to allow additional natural light in through a larger ratio of window area than a regular room. It is generally made from block/brick with strong concrete foundations (although there are now many off-site timber and poly bonded combinations available on the Irish market).

Obviously, the ideal orientation is south or southwest. Where that is not achievable, Velux roof windows can bring in the additional requisite amount of light.

The design of the house will dictate the style of your sunroom. Unlike conservatories, sunrooms must blend with what is already there in the façade of the house. A plain nap finish sunroom added to a brick house makes a very unremarkable statement of taste.

A conservatory will look great against any exterior or style because it is an independent building with its own character not necessarily meant to complement but perhaps to contrast with what is already there.

A sunroom, on the other hand, because it is a multi purpose four seasons room, must continue the theme of the house. It must also be in scale to the existing or new house. Nothing looks as bad as to have a tiny little box sticking out of a large house.

The roof of sunrooms should retain the roofing finish of the house whether it be slate or tile. It should also follow that the most obvious part of the room – the windows – should be of the same type as the main house windows, particularly to the front elevation.

Many times, you see a mismatch of, say, Georgian windows on the house and plain windows on the sunroom. Presumably, the logic of this is to let more light into the room. It would be better if the logic of installing larger Georgian windows applied.

The ghastly edifice that can result from such unwise decisions is often because of the lack of consultation with designers and architects.

A common mistake is to take into your own hands the design and layout of a sunroom. Just like any other building, professional rules and techniques apply in the same manner. Aspect, orientation, ratio, optimization of light and a dozen other factors need consideration before ground is broken. That should come from an expert and you are no expert just because you have read a couple of magazines.

Once done right though, the sunroom is easily the most adaptable room in the house. It will serve as a multi-functional facility that can replicate every other room in the house with possible exception of the bathroom!