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Tips Of Choosing Windows For Your Sun Room

27 February 2016

James Riley

Most sun rooms have one thing in common: they all involve a lot of glass. Choosing the right type of glass and windows depends on the style and function of your sun room. If you are planning on building a sun room, or you want to replace or improve the glass on an existing one, there are some steps that need to be done first.

What type of sun room do you want?

Whether you are building a completely new sun room, or changing an existing room into a sun room, you need to decide on how you will use it. Do you just want a room with several windows separated by a small space and a solid roof, like a gable or studio style sun room, or do you want one that is all windows, including the roof, like a solarium? Are you planning to use it mostly as a greenhouse or exercise room, or do you want to have an insulated area where you can enjoy the views from your home. Knowing which kind you want helps with deciding on which types of glass you will need. Even if you are only replacing the glass on an existing structure you will still need to consider how the room is going to be used.

Decide on the window style:

Next, decide how your want your windows to work or if you want them to open or close at all. You can have all your windows able to be opened or you can have your sun room be totally insulated from the outdoors with mostly fixed windows like a solarium. Opening options include sliding windows, crank-open windows (also known as casements) or double-hung windows which slide up and down. Most of these types of windows are similar in cost, except for the double-hung windows, which are usually more expensive.

Decide on the glass:

The type of glass you want or need depends on where your sun room is located and how much insulation you need. All sun room glass should be tempered against breakage regardless of the type. If your sun room faces the south or is in the sun most of the day throughout the year, then you might want to look at double-pane or triple-pane glass. This type of glass is great for rooms that don't have good air flow or you want to keep totally insulated such as a solarium. There's also tinted type of glass called "single solex" glass which blocks ultraviolet rays and reduces heating from the sun. Single-pane glass is generally not recommended, except as a temporary replacement, because they tend to break easily and provide poor insulation.

No matter how you use your sun room, be sure to pick the best types of windows and glass for your purpose. If you need help deciding on your windows, contact a glass company, like Valley Glass Inc, and see what options they provide and what advice they can give.  

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