sunroom prices and materials

Sunrooms should be constructed with special glasses, qualified windows and good framing materials. Without them and careful insulation, overheating and freezing temperatures will be inevitable.

Be careful with low sunroom prices. There is no miracle. Good sunroom glasses and windows are expensive. Good framing materials aren't cheap. Cheap prices equals low-quality products and overheating and freezing problems not only in your sunroom but very probably in the whole house.

Glass and Windows

Since sunrooms are typically over 50 percent glass, invest on the best glass and best windows you can. That's mandatory for an extended use of your sunroom. Use at least Low-e glass. Do not look for cheap solutions. Do not use common glasses or even if double-paned ones.

If you want to avoid freezing temperatures and overheating, high-quality glasses are crucial. Prefer good “Selective Transmission Glass”. This type of glass reduces heat gains to around 30 BTU's (roof) or 79 BTU's (vertical glass walls). And take into account your climate zone.

See: Glasses and Windows

Insulation

Sunroom insulation is crucial to avoid freezing and boiling temperatures, or to avoid their propagation from the sunroom to the rest of the house. Proper insulation of the adjacent walls of the sunroom, ceiling and roof is also crucial to allow an extended use of the sunroom.

See: Sunrooms and Energy Efficiency

Aluminum framed Sunrooms

Aluminum is extremely durable, resistant to deterioration, and an excellent conductor of heat. But without thermal breaks, aluminum frames will cause extreme temperatures. Be aware of that, when choosing it as a sunroom framing material.

Vinyl and Composite Framed Sunrooms

Vinyl (PVC) is largely used as a sunroom framing material. Vinyl is energy efficient, and resistant to rust and corrosion. But it needs to be reinforced to allow a better strength in larger structures and, above all, vinyl is the worst plastic from an environmental perspective. Vinyl can be a cause of very harmful impacts during its product life and during its manufacturing.

Wood and Steel Sunrooms

Wood is a powerful insulator, and a natural material. It can be a good framing material in sunrooms. Steel framing is also a good option. Both may be advantageous options, though all depends on many details and on sunroom styles and lines.

Summer shades, winter blankets

Do not trust too much in summer shades and winter blankets for sunrooms. Or on exterior reflective materials... They can reduce the sun's radiation, or heat loss during winter... but the most important are the structural conditions, and those depend on the type of glass, windows, the amount of glazing, the surrounding landscape and shade or on the framing materials.

See:

Landscape basics
Passive Solar Cooling
Cooling strategies
Cooling devices
Shade Basics