Contractors giving free estmates for bathroom remodeling in Tampa.

The Tampa Sunroom

by Hal Major

Adding a sunroom to your Tampa home to increase the living space is a smart choice. And, what respectable Tampa home doesn’t have a sunroom? A well-designed and built sunroom extends your year-around living space and provides a little growing room for your family. With the proper ventilation system your sunroom can be used as a guest bedroom, a game room or that special place you get away to once a day. I love having my morning coffee in the sunroom. Here are some tips and ideas for adding a great sunroom to your home.

Sunroom location

Would like the sunroom to get a lot of sunshine? Perhaps you would prefer a partially sunny and shady retreat. If you want to gather in as much sunshine as possible then the sunroom should be built on the south side. The southern exposure captures the sun most of the day. This is an ideal location if you plan to use part of the sunroom as a greenhouse. A western exposure is the next best spot for lots of sunshine. The north and east sides are the best locations to build if you prefer to keep the room shadier and cooler. Of course, the size of the sunroom you want will also dictate where it can be located based on the property boundaries and all building codes and ordinances.

Sunroom walls and roof

Your choice of the type of walls and roof for the sunroom will be dependent on its intended use. If a greenhouse sunroom is what you want, then you’ll want a glass roof and the top half of the walls to be glass. If you are looking for a room with that outdoor feel, but some protection from the sun and with lots of fresh air, the insulated sunroom roof with screen walls is a smart choice. The roof of the sunroom can be matched to your existing home’s roof or a custom roof can be ordered or built. In either case, you will want to make sure it is well insulated.

Skylights and windows

Since it is a sunroom, you will want to allow as much light in as possible. Otherwise, you will have basement. Adding skylights and windows provide the open feeling while protecting you and interior of the room from weather damage. The room will probably be used all year, then you might want have it air-conditioned. You will want to install insulated windows and skylights. If the room has sun exposure for several hours of the day, you may want to consider having “smart windows” installed or at least multi-pane thermo windows and reflective skylight covers. If you decide not to air-condition the room, you can use standard single pane windows with built-in screens and skylights that open to let the room heat escape. Be sure to check all building codes and ordinances for hurricane construction requirements.

Doors

Always have a door installed between the main living area and the sunroom. Unless your home is more than 20 years old you can probably match the new door to the existing doors in the rest of the house. Installing a door allows for privacy if the sunroom is used occasionally as guest bedroom or a romantic spot. An exterior entry lock might be required by the building code. A door from the sunroom to the outside must have an exterior rated door and provide the same level of security as any other entry doors in your home. Again, if the home is 20 years old or newer there is a good probability of matching the other entry doors on your home.

Ventilation

Chances are you will want the sunroom air-conditioned. This especially true if it is to be used for purposes other than a sunroom on occasion. Professional contractors recommend that an independent air-conditioning system be installed. This allows the room to be cooled only when in use, whereas if the sunroom is hooked into the main system it will be cooled anytime the main house is. Even shutting off registers won’t stop some cooled air to escape. Having a sunroom added to your Tampa home calls for a reputable and experienced contractor. Get three or four estimates, ask for recent references and check with the references to help guarantee you get the sunroom you want. Your new Tampa sunroom will give you the extra space you need and the enjoyment you want.