4 Essential Things to Consider Before a Adding a Sunroom to Your Home

It is helpful not to be too impulsive when adding a sunroom to your house. It is safe and wise to fully consider and understand some important things about sunrooms before going into this type of home improvement. It is necessary to take into consideration the following: concept of a sunroom; misconceptions about sunrooms; two types of sunrooms; and, cost to add a sunroom.

A sunroom is a general term that refers to a solarium, a patio, a greenhouse, and an atrium. It is an additional room that provides enough sunlight at the same time protection from wind and rain. It is a dream home improvement for many. Yet, before jumping into a project such as this, it is helpful to consider the following things first:

Concept of a sunroom

A sunroom addition would generally do not have a central heating and cooling. It has a lower cost per square footage as compared to other additional rooms in the house. Its primary purpose is to provide ample light for reading and for plants too.

Misconceptions about sunrooms

The following are the three common misconceptions about adding a sunroom:

• Does not need a building permit - it isn't true. You need to secure a building permit when making such addition.


• Cost less compared to a stick-built addition - not always the case. Sometimes, sunrooms could cost more due to a lot of extras and add-ons.


• Does not need a foundation - building a foundation for your sunroom is basically needed, although, the type of requirements for foundations might vary depending on what your localities impose.

Two types of sunrooms

A sunroom is classified into two types:

• Prefabricated sunroom - is also known as greenhouse type. This constitutes mainly aluminum and glass materials. The sunroom is being fabricated in another place and then shipped to your place. You can assemble it yourself or you can ask your supplier to install it for you instead.


• Stick-built - also known as site-built sunroom. This type would require you to a hire a contractor to construct the sunroom as you would have built any regular addition room. The whole job is done on-site such as the laying of foundation, framing of walls and building of roof.

Cost to add a sunroom

A sunroom would vary in its cost. There is sunroom manufacturer that charges $ about 19,000 with about $ 900 for shipping. This is the cost for a large size sunroom, which is about 24 x 15 feet. A medium size, which is 9 x 15 feet, would cost about $ 11,000 and a shipping rate roughly at $ 700.

Unless one is able to give utmost attention to every detail that relates to sunrooms, he won't definitely have a full appreciation of it. In fact, in order to have the best sunroom addition, it is necessary to fully understand the concept of such project.

8 Beautiful Kinds of Flowers to Brighten up Your Sunroom

Here are eight beautiful kinds of flowers that will grow well in your sunroom making it attractive and inviting: abutilon, geranium, buddleia, African violet, plumbago, bird of paradise, thunbergia, tropical hibiscus. Because a sunroom is the extension of your home, it is important to know the kinds of flowers that thrive in a sunroom.

Sunrooms are quite popular these days. They not only make your house attractive but also help you unwind---at the comfort of your own home! You can read, study, think, or do just about anything in your sunroom. It can be an ideal place for relaxation especially if you fill it with flowering plants of various colors and scents.

Think of your sunroom as your small garden. You can plant different kinds of flowers for different seasons. So whether it’s summer or winter, you have choices of flowers to decorate your sunroom with, including climbers. Here are some beautiful kinds of flowers that will help make your sunroom attractive and inviting:

Abutilon

Abutilon thrives in an unheated sunroom. Its red and yellow flowers have a red base with five petals and appear during the summer season. However, it must be tied to a wall for support.

Geranium

Geraniums bloom profusely and will make a nice addition to your sunroom. They are inexpensive, propagate easily, and not difficult to care for. They have aromatic leaves, especially the peppermint- and spicy apple-scented varieties, which add fragrance to your sunroom. Flower colors also vary, from white to pink to magenta.

Buddleia

Buddleia is a strongly scented flower that is ideal for a sunroom with a large space. Each individual flower is tubular. The colors of the flower vary, with white, pink, red, purple, orange, or yellow, depending on the species and cultivars.

African violet

African violet is ideal in a moderate temperature and blossoms in an area that is not too exposed to direct sunlight. It tolerates daytime temperatures of up to about eighty-five degrees Fahrenheit. Its flower colors range from pink to blue to purple.

Plumbago

Plumbago blooms all year round except for the coldest winter months. A white- or blue-flowered variety is available. You can place it in a container that will allow the spilling of flowers over the sides.

Bird of paradise

Bird of paradise is called such because its flowers resemble a colorful bird. It’s an eyecatcher not only because of its uniquely shaped flowers but also because of its overall unique features. It produces blue and orange flowers and can be placed in a sunroom whether winter or summer.

Thunbergia

Thunbergia is also called Bengal clock vine, clock vine, or sky flower. It thrives in a sunroom with temperature above fifty degrees at night. Its growth slows or stops in cool temperatures. It has lovely large blue flowers, which makes it an ideal addition to your sunroom garden.

Tropical hibiscus

The tropical hibiscus plant needs a lot of light to bloom. Thus, it is ideal to place it in your sunroom, especially during summer. It may still thrive in winter but will likely bloom less and grow less. It produces flowers in a variety of colors---salmon, peach, orange, and yellow.

A sunroom is the extension of your home, where you can enjoy the warm rays of the sun and the accompanying cool breezes. It is also the place where you can enjoy nature, minus the worries about inclement weather or insects. Thus, it should be decorated in a way that will make you come back to that place often. Planting the kinds of flowers that thrive in a sunroom will greatly help.