Choosing the Perfect Windows for Your Newton Sunroom Addition

May 5, 20160

A Newton sunroom addition is your opportunity to bring the beauty and light of the outdoors inside, while leaving the rain, sleet, snow and bugs outside. A sunroom is the ideal place to relax and read a book in climate-controlled comfort or set up a game room or entertaining space. There are a vast array of options for putting your sunroom to great use. There are also more window options than you probably realize. Read on to learn what to consider when choosing windows that will provide the best ambiance and energy efficiency for your space.

What Material Do You Want Your Windows to Be Constructed Of?

The three most popular window material options are vinyl, wood and vinyl- or aluminum-clad. Here are the pros and cons of each.

Vinyl — Typically priced between $300 and $800, vinyl windows are the most economical windows. These no-frills windows are low maintenance because they don’t need to be painted or repainted. The drawback is they are available in white and only a few other colors. They do the job but don’t really add any aesthetic pizazz and may look out of place on a high-end home.
Wood — Usually priced from $400 to $1,000, wood windows are classic, have an upscale look and can easily be painted or stained any hue you wish. Over time, repainting or re-staining may be needed. As with anything made of wood, repeated exposure to moisture can cause wood rot.
Clad — Priced from $500 to well over $1,000, these windows provide all the benefits of wood without the drawbacks. These are wood windows, but the exterior is coated in vinyl or aluminum to make them low maintenance.

Add value to your home by adding a sunroom.

Adding a sunroom can add value to your home.

Do You Want Your Windows to Open? If So, How?

If you don’t care if your windows open, prefer a seamless look reminiscent of a wall of glass, and/or want maximum insulation, fixed windows fit the bill. If you do want to let the breeze in (or the heat out), consider:

Hinged windows (awning hinged windows open from the top and casement hinged windows open from side to side).
Horizontally-sliding windows come in a large array of styles and don’t obstruct your view of the outdoors.
Bay windows are built into the sunroom and provide an ideal space to build a bench underneath.
Double-hung windows are easy to clean, versatile and deliver the best ventilation of all the window styles.

What Type of Glass Do You Want?

You may be surprised to learn not all window panes are created equally! Your glass options include single-, double- and triple-glazed panes. Basic single-glazed glass (the least expensive option) lacks insulation, middle-price-point double-glazed glass features two layers of glass sandwiching a layer of air or argon gas for improved insulation and the priciest option, triple-glazed glass, provides outstanding insulation. Whichever option you choose, make sure your window glass is tempered so it will shatter in little pieces rather than jagged shards if broken.

If you’re a bit overwhelmed by all of your sunroom window options, skilled Newton home improvement contractors can help you make a smart choice for your specific home.

Colony Home Improvement specializes in designing, building and remodeling homes and has completed many room additions in Newton and the surrounding areas. Building sunrooms is one of our favorite projects because we know customers will enjoy them year-round. If you’re considering adding a sunroom in eastern MA, contact us for a free consultation.

What to Consider Before Adding a Sunroom in Eastern MA

If you’ve ever wished you could bring the outdoors into your home and enjoy sunlight and the sights of nature year-round, you can! Adding a sunroom in eastern MA allows you to enjoy the serenity of nature, even on days when the mercury dips into the single digits. A bright sunroom can be a cozy spot to curl up with a good book or the ideal spot for an inspiring home office. Before you begin looking for a home improvement contractor to tackle your sunroom addition in Dover, MA, there are a few decisions you should make.

Is It Allowed?

Before proceeding with any construction project, check your plat to see if you are subject to setback or easement restrictions. If you live in a historical district or HOA community, find out if your sunroom design plans need to be approved before you proceed.

Where Should It Be Located?

Living in Massachusetts, we often deal with frigid winter temperatures but rarely experience oppressive, unrelentingly hot summers. A southern exposure makes the most sense for a Massachusetts sunroom. Building your sunroom with southern exposure will maximize the amount of sunlight the room will receive each day and help heat it in winter.

Add value to your home with a sunroom addition.

A sunroom addition can add value to your home.

What Should It be Constructed Of?

It’s not possible to build a room entirely of glass so you will need to decide which material you’d like to use for the sunroom’s supports, which are the components that will connect the windows in your “room of glass.” Vinyl, aluminum and wood are all options. Supports with vinyl exteriors covering internal metal reinforcements are the affordable, lowest-maintenance and strongest option. Vinyl also is a good insulator, which can reduce your utility costs. Wood supports cost the most and requires periodic maintenance, but some people prefer that look. Aluminum costs more and doesn’t insulate as well as vinyl. However, many designers like to combine vinyl vertical supports with aluminum supports for the roof, since aluminum is stronger.

Is Your Contractor Knowledgeable and Qualified to Build a Sunroom?

When looking for a home improvement contractor for Dover and the surrounding area to build your sunroom, make sure they have built sunrooms before. Unlike adding on a regular room, a sunroom requires specialized expertise. Sunroom windows and doors are of paramount importance. A builder with experience with sunrooms will know it’s usually best to choose windows and doors with durable roller wheels on stainless-steel tracks. The last thing you want is for your doors and windows in your door-and-window-filled room to stick. Additionally, contractors knowledgeable about sunrooms will know whether a sunroom’s design will be best served by using surface-mounted electrical boxes and conduits to run wires and mount outlets or by using electrical raceways instead.

Once you’ve done your homework to make sure you’re allowed to build a sunroom and have a general idea of what you want it to look like and where you want it built, it’s time to find a skilled contractor. Colony Home Improvement has extensive expertise building sunrooms, as well as all kinds of beautiful home additions. Contact us! We’d be happy to look at your space and provide you with a free estimate.

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