SunRooms???

irishboyuk

Im thinking of adding a sun room to the side of my house as it gets the most sun during the day. I would like it to be square in shape and made up with all glass except the small walls underneath the windows. I had a glazer give me a quote and its gonna cost around €6000 for the windows and french doors. I thought this seemed alot. Also he recommended that I dont have it all made of glass as he says they get really cold in winter. I already have two living rooms and a large kitchen so I would only be intending on using the sunroom in the summer months.
Does anyone have any advice on sunrooms... Im trying to way up the pro's and con's so any advice would ve really apprectited.

wazzoraybelle

I wouldn't put a glass roof in as the room can get uncomfortably hot in the summer and v. cold in the winter. I've put in as much thermal mass as possible in my sunroom which further regulates the temperature and makes the room nice and warm even late into the evening.

muffler

wazzoraybelle wrote: »

I wouldn't put a glass roof in as the room can get uncomfortably hot in the summer and v. cold in the winter. I've put in as much thermal mass as possible in my sunroom which further regulates the temperature and makes the room nice and warm even late into the evening.

Agreed.

holdfast

which side of the house is it. south is best. you can use this as a passive design configuration which will reduced your heating bill if properly designed. this will get direct gain and isloated solar gain.this uses the sun energy to heat the building and also heat the air in the sunroom which can be used to infiltrate to the house. thus reducing heating requirments. search passive design on net to read more.

have the roof glazed, again use thermal mass to limit overheating plus use ventilation and special glazing for roof to alslo limit overheating.

dont heat the sunroom it is only a waste of money.

sorry in a hurry. i will edit it later

irishboyuk

i should of said,, im planning on having a conventional slated roof.. also im going to put it on a south facing wall.

jimmycrackcorm

irishboyuk wrote: »

Im thinking of adding a sun room to the side of my house as it gets the most sun during the day. I would like it to be square in shape and made up with all glass except the small walls underneath the windows.

Haven't you just described a conservatory?

sinnerboy

irishboyuk wrote: »

i should of said,, im planning on having a conventional slated roof.. also im going to put it on a south facing wall.

glad to hear this

remember that someone from the first floor may need escape accross this roof in case of fire

the roof , and all its supporting elements have to be fire rated . probably intumescent paint on steel posts in your case . if you must have recessed lights in the ceiling only use CERTIFIED , fire rated .

allow 300/350 euro/m2 for glazing

holdfast

Sorry to cause a fuss, but I think you should consider a glass roof and use the sun room as I mentioned in the above replies. use the sunroom as a passvie solar heating system. a house that is design to these guidelines can use 20% energy than a conventional house smae constuction not designed to include features like the sunroom. I will send you send info on the topic if i can dig it up and you can decide then

sinnerboy

better not to burn to death

not going to say any more

irishboyuk

what id really like to know is whether i should have it all as glass or should i divide the glass with walls? I only plan on using it from march-october time, so not bothered if its cold in winter as i already have two other living rooms. so id like so advice on whether to put in walls or not?

sinnerboy

i would go glass from floor to ceiling in that case

but - external quality ( double glazed ) doors between existing house and sun room and no rad in sun room

Mellor

I'd e agreeing with sinnerboy here, slate room, decent level of glass in walls and good separating door (this means ed as airtight as possible, ad well insulated, double glazed or timber)

As for using it as a passive solar gain element, its true that these can reduce heating bills, by solar gains and also heat buiffeing, all sun rooms will do this to an extent

p1x1e

is €6K about the average price for a small sun room or how much would one usually cost?

holdfast

a ggod air tight door is a good idea just on those sunny winter days open it up and let the pre heated air in. also get it glazed it has a better u value and than a standard upv external door and you will benfit from indirect solar gain