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Home & Garden Articles
Aspects of Conservatory Sunrooms
Sun 31 Dec 2006 - 06:49
Aspects of Conservatory Sunrooms
By Andrew Caxton
If you have decided to build a sun room, it is probably because you are hoping to be able to use this room through the year - and that means in all seasons. To do this, you need to consider the room's design very carefully to avoid overspending your budget. Everyone knows that insulation is the most important factor in design with a conservatory, for example, but inadequate insulation doesn't necessarily save you money. First, if you have too little insulation (or too much), you may discover that your conservatory sun room is less comfortable than you thought it would be. Secondly, you may end up spending more money in keeping the house warm and cool than you would if you had spent the money in the design phase on proper insulation. You'll need to take a look at the building code requirements for conservatory insulation. and then talk about this issue with your contractor. It's entirely possible that by so spending a little more and exceeding those recommendations, it can save you in the long run - e.g. if you were to dispense with the commonly-used 2x4 studs and use 2x6 studs instead, you would gain an additional insulating 2 inches for your room. After insulation, consider windows. Because they will make up the main cost of your conservatory, you need to choose them carefully. Windows do not only impact your home's appearance. but they have a functional component. Plus, they are a major factor in the construction budget of your sun room.
First. you should think about the type of glazing you require. Glazing isn't just for letting sun in - it should not only let sunlight in, but it should also keep out harmful rays and protect your family and you from the sun's UV.
Some special glazes can retain heat in your sun room, acting as an additional insulation. The insulating properties of windows will depend on their cost and the material from which they are made.
Windows frames made of wood are normally the most expensive option, and these will need some maintenance such as occasional painting or possibly refinishing. But wood windows are relatively efficient too, in terms of energy.
Vinyl windows are very energy efficient, as well as moderate in cost compared to other types. You'll have a wide choice of colors and often a low maintenance requirement.
Finally. windows constructed of aluminum are less energy efficient, but are usually lower maintenance or even in many cases maintenance free. The clad style is very common, and these are relatively maintenance free, with energy efficiency that comes close to wood frames but at a far lower cost. Remember when planning a conservatory that whether or not a window opens and closes will impact their cost. So, the more non-opening, or "fixed" windows that you choose to include in your sun room, the cheaper your overall design will be. Think carefully about which of the windows will need to be accessible and opened or closed, and which can be non-opening in order to give you the flexibility that you need in using the room, without the additional cost of opening windows you won't really be needed.
Andrew Caxton is the author and editor of many resources published at http://www.allsunrooms.com He provides tips and advice about patio enclosures as well as on the patio rooms at conservatory sunroom
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Caxton
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