Sun Porch Structures

Consider Sunroom Kits

• Existing porches or patios make appropriate starting points. For example, you can order a premade sunroom kit to install on your existing patio. If you have a solid 10-by-15-foot slab, you can build a sunroom to use as a living room or entertainment area. These sunroom kits are typically erected onsite by the retailer in about seven to ten days.

Build Porch Enclosure

• A sunroom enclosure can be built with energy-efficient windows. If your wooden or concrete porch is well made, you may want to enclose it with wood framing and windows. This type of sunroom area is often cheaper than ordering a premade sunroom kit. You can use recycled materials and do some of the work yourself to save money. If your carpentry skills are sufficient, you can do all of the framing on weekends or vacation days.

Create Sufficient Insulation

• Insulation is vital for building a room you will enjoy. The goal of creating a sunroom is to build a space that doesn't get overly hot or cold. Adding insulation in the ceiling rafters may be necessary if you are enclosing a porch that's been in place for some time. Overhead insulation, along with insulated walls and insulated glass areas, will keep the sun's rays from overheating the structure and keep heated air or cool interior air from escaping too rapidly.

Build Living Space

• Constructing the space as a room works best. Design and build it to serve as a space for furniture and specific family activities. Don't add glass overhead or you will wind up with a greenhouse instead of living space. The room will work for growing plants with overhead glass, but you won't be able to watch television or enjoy sitting in the room with too much sunlight coming in. You can, of course, install a skylight to add more natural light to a sunroom area that has a large roof space.

Use Upscale Materials

• Mixing materials gives a high-end look. You can, for instance, use stacked stone on the exterior or inside the glassed-in room. Leaving open beams constructed of heavy timber or exposed wood works well with large sections of glass, too. Buy glass that is built for this type of space, however, because large sections of glass pose a safety risk if they are not made especially for sunrooms. Standard glass panels or safety glass panels can break if they get too hot or too cold, so install glass materials recommended by building experts for sunroom enclosures.

Build Deep Flooring

• Flooring mass prevents overheating. If your concrete slab is three-feet deep, for example, it will absorb the sun's rays more readily than a wood floor or concrete slab only eight inches deep. If your budget will allow, consider adding a layer of cut stone or bricks to a sun room floor. At night, the floor will release the heat back into the room.