Sunroom

"Sun lounge" redirects here. For the streamlined sleeper-lounge car, see Sun Lounge (railcar). For the outdoor furniture, see Sunlounger.

A sunroom in Tokyo, Japan

A sunroom, also frequently and traditionally denominated a solarium and sometimes a "Florida room", "garden conservatory", "garden room", "patio room", "sun parlor", "sun porch", and "winter garden", is a building, either attached to or integrated into the primary building, such as a residence or office, that permits abundant sunlight and views of the landscape while sheltering from adverse weather. "Sunroom" and "solarium" have the same denotation: "solarium" is Latin for "place of sun[light]". Solaria of various forms have been erected throughout European history. Presently, the sunroom or solarium is popular in Europe, Canada and the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. Sunrooms feature passive solar building design to heat and illuminate them.

In Great Britain, which has a long history of formal conservatories, a small conservatory is sometimes denominated a "sunroom".

Design

An integrated sunroom is specifically designed with many windows and climate controls. An attached sunroom is either erected during construction of the building to which it will be attached or is a later addition. Attached sunrooms are typically constructed of transparent tempered glazing atop a brick or wood "knee wall" or framed entirely of wood, aluminum, or PVC and glazed on all sides. Frosted glass or breeze block is used to add privacy.

A solarium is typically distinguished from a sunroom by the former being specifically and primarily designed to collect sunlight for warmth and light as opposed to being primarily designed to feature scenic views, and by being composed of walls, save one, and a roof that are entirely of framed glass. These are typically erected in higher latitude (low angle of sunlight) or cold (higher altitude) locations. In contrast, a sunroom sensu stricto has an opaque roof.

A German "wintergarten" with open blinds and anemometer (top left)

Technologies

During the 1960s, professional re-modelling companies developed affordable systems to enclose a patio or deck, offering design, installation, and full service warranties. Patio rooms featured lightweight, engineered roof panels, single pane glass, and aluminium construction.

As technology advanced, insulated glass, vinyl and vinyl-wood composite framework appeared. More recently, specialized blinds and curtains were developed, many electrically operated by remote control. Specialized floorings, including radiant heat, have also been adapted to both attached and integrated sunrooms.

See also

• Arizona room
• Porch
• Smart glass

References

• "Sunrooms and Sunspaces". US Department of Energy. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
• "Passive Solar Room". Ecolution. 1997. Retrieved 2014-04-03.

External links

Media related to Sunrooms at Wikimedia Commons