There’s something about being bathed in sunlight. Whether you’re taking a nap, reading a book, or working from home, it’s just nice to feel Mother Nature’s touch. That’s why sunrooms – sometimes called solariums, sunspaces, or sun porches – are so popular: You get the benefits of windows and patio doors, like natural light and amazing views, without the disadvantages, such as bugs and extreme heat.
Traditionally, sunroom glass was single pane. In the 21st century, we’ve developed double- and triple-pane sunroom windows whose functionality, energy efficiency, and aesthetics combine to produce a thoroughly modern glass sunroom. These contemporary windows and doors feature cutting-edge technology that optimizes the advantages of having a sunroom in your home. If you’re contemplating replacing the windows in your sunroom or building a solarium for your house, consider what these state-of-the-art windows can do for the look and feel of your home.
A Quick History of Sunroom Windows
Not surprisingly, sunrooms have been popular for thousands of years. Throughout most of human history, they were found almost exclusively in the homes of the very wealthy. That was true in America as well. But in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many Americans escaped the summer heat at night by sleeping in a screened-in space called a “sleeping porch.” Eventually, once electric fans and air conditioners became standard, some of these sleeping porches were converted into sunrooms. And today, many more homeowners are looking into sunroom windows for both new construction homes and additions.
Best Windows for a Sunroom
Once you’ve decided that it’s time to build a sunroom in your house or to replace your windows in an existing sunroom, you then need to choose the kind of window you want. There are plenty of good options when it comes to selecting windows for a sunroom, and it really comes down to personal choice. We’ll lay out some options in the following sections.
Sliding Sunroom Windows
Why not consider sliding windows for a sunroom? After all, they offer unobstructed views to the outside due to their vertical meeting rails. Moreover, if you’re in the market for sunroom windows that open, sliders are an ideal choice.
Floor to Ceiling Sunroom Windows
Increasingly popular throughout the country, floor to ceiling windows are an excellent choice for your sunroom. The large sunroom glass panels will usher plenty of light into your space and provide magnificent vistas to the exterior. Additionally, thanks to the latest engineering innovations, these large windows for a sunroom boast a superior energy performance. Naturally, floor to ceiling windows can be a tad more expensive, but sunspace windows’ cost is more than balanced out by the added curb appeal they provide.
Casement Windows for a Sunroom
Casement windows make a great addition to any sunroom. Much like a slider window, casement windows don’t have a horizontal meeting rail, allowing you ample viewing space in your sunroom. Plus, since they’re operable, you can open them on a nice day and bring fresh air into your space.
What to Keep in Mind When Choosing Sunroom Windows
Finding the right windows for a sunroom requires doing your due diligence. Just like any other room in your home, you need windows that are both aesthetically pleasing and functional in your sunroom. Although we can’t cover every possible consideration in this post, we will explore some important topics in the following sections.
Energy Efficiency
In today’s world, energy performance must be a top consideration when choosing windows. Thankfully, nearly all the products on the market today feature warm-edge spacer units, which lessen heat transfer. And most manufacturers offer energy-efficient upgrades like Low-E glass coatings and gas between the panes. Finally, when checking for a window’s energy performance, look for its U-value; an energy-efficient window should have a U-value of 0.30 or lower.
Type of Window Frame
Peruse any building-supply store in your area, and you’re sure to find wood, aluminum, and fiberglass windows. However, vinyl dominates the industry. Indeed, by some estimates, over 80 percent of the windows sold in America are vinyl windows.
Vinyl has become so popular because it’s durable, energy efficient, and available with numerous aesthetic options. If you’re looking for vinyl windows for your sunroom, then you should have no problem finding the right ones for your home. Many vinyl frames feature narrow profiles, giving you even more viewing space on the sunroom glass, and due to the myriad color options available on vinyl windows, you should have no trouble finding a color that matches your interior décor.
Sunroom Window Replacement and Maintenance
Are you looking for replacement vinyl for sunroom windows? Maybe it’s been a while since you’ve replaced your windows, or maybe the previous owner installed cheap windows. Whatever the reason is, you might find yourself in need of sunroom replacement windows. The good news is, most manufacturers today offer a large inventory of quality vinyl replacement products for your sun porch windows.
Of course, even the highest-quality products will need a little maintenance from time to time. In that case, contact your window dealer. Window and door companies typically employ field technicians who are experts at fixing various problems.
In closing, when searching for windows for sunrooms, do your homework to ensure that you’re dealing with a reputable dealer and that he or she represents a manufacturer that makes high-quality vinyl windows.
Sunroom Window Ideas and Inspiration
Now this is the fun part. Once you’ve decided that you do in fact need new sun porch windows, it’s time to consider the numerous aesthetic options available on today’s market. From grids to blinds to bold color choices, there are so many ways to personalize your windows.
Grid Styles
First, let’s talk about grids and how they can complement your exterior sunroom windows. There are so many designs to choose from: Colonial, prairie, Tudor, etc. No matter your preference, you’ll find grids that match your sunroom’s interior décor and your home’s architectural style.
Blind Options
Blinds are another option that can enhance your windows’ appearance. They can also moderate the amount of natural light entering your space and grant a degree of privacy for you and your family. What’s more, window manufacturers now produce blinds between the glass, which provide all the benefits of traditional blinds without the hassles of dealing with exterior cords; plus, blinds between the glass are a safer option if you have pets or young children in the home.
Color Choices
We would be remiss if we didn’t mention color options in a section about window ideas and inspiration. The good news is that vinyl windows are now available in myriad colors. Whereas, in the past, you could realistically only select lighter colors like white or cream, now the options are seemingly unlimited.
Thanks to the latest technology, window frames can reflect the sun’s rays, allowing homeowners to choose dark colors like black, bronze, brown, or forest green. The result is a plethora of color options that would have been unthinkable 30 years ago.
Sunroom Window Screens
Although they’re not as visually striking as grids, blinds, or dark colors, sunroom windows with screens are every bit as valuable. With window screens, you can open the windows on a nice day without worrying about bugs or assorted debris entering your home.
Finding the Right Windows for Your Sunroom
There are so many ways that sunroom windows can transform your space. They bring light into your home, offer tremendous views to the outside, and provide mesmerizing curb appeal.
Ready to begin your search for the perfect windows for a sunroom? MILGARD windows are made with the highest-quality materials and craftsmanship and backed by an industry-leading warranty. Shop our windows to find the perfect option for your sunroom.
