Conservatories, Sunrooms - Your questions Answered
Miscellaneous USA/Canada

Please note: Most of the answers we feature here are from 1999 - early 2002. We endeavour to keep all links etc up to date, however if you spot any errors please let our webmaster know at It should also be noted that some replies may change in light of changes to legislation especially with regards to Planning Permission and Building Regulations. To submit a new question or to query an existing question visit http://www.ask-questions.com/yabbse/index.php.

Ref:10
Question submitted by Mary

My home has a lovely 10X15 foot back porch which I would like to enclose for a year round sunroom. It has a cement slab with 4 poles holding up the roof. I want to put a hot tub in the room when it is complete. any ideas on how I can make my dreams come true?

This question answered by Robert Ottaway of Westview products - You can enclose this porch with windows/glass, the sunroom structure would replace the poles that hold up your current roof. You would need to make sure that the sunroom was engineered with enough strength to support the current roof. You would need to include casement window or a vent fan to keep the moisture from the hot tub from building up. Westview use Alaskan Yellow Cedar in sunroom applications that have a high moisture content. This wood species has an extremely high resistance to rot. I think a Westview Sunroom would be perfect for this application, check us out at www.westviewproducts.com.

Ref:09
Question submitted by Barron

Our planned first-floor conservatory will apparently need a box gutter to shed water away from the adjacent second story deck. What do these usually cost? This gutter will be used on one 13 foot roofline. Thanks.

This question answered by Robert Ottaway of Westview products - Hard to answer this question without a little more detail. However, the best thing I can tell you is that gutter companies install by the foot and have a minimum charge. Call a local gutter contractor in your area, describe your situation and he will be able to give you a ball park figure. If you are concerned about the gutter going on your conservatory and matching the look of the structure you will need to contact your conservatory manufacturer and see if they sell gutters as options.

Ref:08
Question submitted by Randy

What are the dimensions of the glass panels used in the sunrooms?

This question answered by Robert Ottaway of Westview products - At our company the width for our standard bay is 35 1/2" inches - center to center. The glass panel itself would then be 34"x76". Do note we don't actually have a modular unit. We order glass for each job and carry no inventory of standard sizes. The above however represents the most commonly used dimension.

Ref:07
Question submitted by Jim.

I will be adding a 3m x 5 m sunroom in the Pacific North West of the US. The room will face SSW. My question is: would it be a worthwhile investment to have a thick cement slab as the subfloor of the sunroom. The logic being that if I put down a tile or slate floor, the slab can absorb a great deal of heat and re-radiate it in the evenings. What do you think?

This question answered by Robert Ottaway of Westview products - "A sunroom can act as a very good passive solar heat collector, and in the early 80's qualified for the solar tax credit available at that time. A 4-6" slab with a tile floor would work fine as a heat sink. In the Northwest our climate is such that in our cool sunny fall, winter and spring days you would store the heat and then as the temperature falls the heat is released during the night and the next day. However, we can have warm summers and the heat gain would be more than you want and would need to be controlled. You can do this by shading your windows and providing cross ventilation and roof ventilation.

Ref:06
Question submitted by Jeff.

Please can you give me any tips on conservatory ventilation?

This question answered by Robert Ottaway of Westview products - The answer to your question depends very much on what you consider you will use your conservatory for. Will it be for gardening, or a living space that is open to the main living quarters or perhaps a separate room? If as I suspect you wish to have your conservatory open to the house all year round, then my recommendation would be for cross ventilation, with windows that open on either side of the sunroom, and operable skylights in the roof to vent the warm air. Ceiling fans can also be added to circulate the air effectively.

Ref:05
Question submitted by Glenys.

Can I have some Information on the type of glass and type of structure I should use for the climate I have...very cold winters (-5°F) to hot summers (~75°-80°F)

This question answered by Chris Edwards of Classic Conservatories - One of the most effective ways to reduce heat gain and loss is through upgrading the glazing in the room. Glass packages can be produced to improve the efficiency through the addition of some or all of the following components: 1. Hard coat or soft coat low e glass 2. Argon or Krypton gases. (Inserted inside sealed unit) 3. Thermoplastic spacer bars to separate inside and outside glass 4 Triple glazing with a third pane or reflective film (heat mirror) Another possibility would be to add a sandwich of Styrofoam (between 2 inches to 4 inches thick) inserted between an aluminium or vinyl skin in the roof panels. This would probably be the most fuel efficient, however, you should consider that this would cut out light from the typical sunroom or conservatory.

Ref:04
Question submitted by anonymous.

Can you make some suggestions on the best type of glass to use for insulation?

This question answered by Robert Ottaway of Westview products - The product that I most recommend is the PPG 1000. This product features a Low E coating on the glass that helps retard heat transfer in and out. (Mostly in, as it is made to retard the sun rays) There are other products, like heat mirror, which has a cellophane film in-between the glass panes. Personally I prefer not to use this product because the warranty is half of the PPG product, and the cellophane has a tendency to wrinkle.

Ref:03
Question submitted by Dean.

I have been looking for a book or software on how to build a gazebo that would be partially enclosed for use with a hot tub but have been unable to find anything that has more than 2 or 3 different options. Do you have any suggestions?

This Question answered by Tina Dunlop - You are correct - Gazebos are not very well represented in terms of "How to" books. Perhaps that's an opportunity. Anyway try this link.. http://www.h2othouse.com/html/gazebo_plans.html You will also find there details of a publication I particularly like "Gazebos and Other Garden Structure Designs" - excellent publication if you can get it.

Ref:02
Question submitted by anonymous.

We would like to build a sunroom in the future. In the mean time we would like to pour the slab and use it for a patio until we are ready to build the sunroom. Is it very difficult to set the footings and pour the concrete ourselves? Or would there be a cost savings to prepare the area and then have someone come in to pour the concrete? Your input would be greatly appreciated.

This Question answered by Tina Dunlop - I am based in the UK and what you propose is certainly quite common here. I'm not exactly sure on the "building permit" situation in the US - so you may wish to check if there are any specific local standards. I suggest you check out this link - it gives some photographic details which may be helpful. http://www.bradyrooms.com/sunrooms/site.asp I do not consider it very difficult to set the footings and pour the concrete yourselves (hard work though). Personally I would be inclined to prepare the area myself and get someone in to pour the concrete. They will have the correct "tools" and will make "light work" of it compared to the rest of us. You may also like to check out the step by step construction guide on this site.

Ref:01
Question submitted by Curt

I currently have a patio that is 14 x 21 feet wide. The foundation in not completely level due to drainage slope. There are also a few cracks in the patio. Would it be possible to seal the cracks and erect a sunroom on top of this patio, connecting it to my home, or would it be too much trouble and would it just be better to pour a new foundation and start from scratch?

This Question answered by Tina Dunlop - Occasionally you can use an existing patio - especially if it's reasonably level. However as yours is not then it will best to start from scratch. It's worth noting that the sunroom structure (which can often be a considerable investment) relies on you having a sturdy and sound foundation/slab. If you where to place your sunroom on a base which was less than sound you can be almost certain of problems in the future. You may well save money initially but end up spending far more in the future.