Sunroom facts for kids
A sunroom is a special room in a house that lets in lots of sunlight and offers great views of the outside, all while keeping you safe from bad weather. People also often call it a solarium. The word "solarium" comes from Latin and means "place of sunlight".
Sunrooms have been around in different forms for a long time in Europe. Today, they are very popular in places like Europe, Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. Some sunrooms are even designed to use the sun's energy to help heat and light them naturally. In Great Britain, a small sunroom might be called a "conservatory."
Contents
What is a Sunroom?
.jpg)
A sunroom is a room built to let in as much natural light as possible. It often has many windows or even walls and a roof made of glass. This design helps people enjoy the outdoors from inside, whether it's sunny, rainy, or cold.
Sunrooms can be known by many names, such as "Florida room," "garden conservatory," "patio room," or "winter garden." Even though they have different names, they all share the main idea of being a bright, sunny space connected to nature.
How are Sunrooms Designed?
_(Anemometer).jpg)
Most sunrooms that are added to a house are built with clear, strong glass, often called tempered glass. This glass usually sits on a low wall made of brick or wood. Sometimes, the entire room is framed with wood, aluminum, or a type of plastic called PVC, with glass on all sides.
To add privacy, some sunrooms use frosted glass or glass block instead of clear glass. In places like Florida, sunrooms often have screens to keep bugs out and jalousie windows, which are windows with many horizontal slats that can be opened or closed.
A "solarium" is usually a bit different from a typical sunroom. A solarium is mainly built to gather sunlight for warmth and light, rather than just for views. It often has walls and a roof that are almost entirely made of framed glass. These types of rooms are often found in colder places or where the sun is lower in the sky, to maximize heat and light. A regular sunroom, on the other hand, usually has a solid, opaque roof.
How Sunrooms Have Changed Over Time
In the 1960s, companies started making it easier and more affordable to add sunrooms to homes. They developed special systems to enclose patios or decks. These early sunrooms often had lightweight roof panels, single-pane glass, and frames made of aluminium.
As technology improved, sunrooms began to use better materials. This included insulated glass, which helps keep the room warmer in winter and cooler in summer. Frames also started to be made from vinyl or a mix of vinyl and wood.
More recently, special blinds and curtains have been created for sunrooms. Many of these can be controlled with a remote control. Some modern sunrooms even have special flooring that provides radiant heat, making them cozy even on cold days.
Images for kids
-
A sunroom in Tokyo, Japan
-
A German "Wintergarten" with open blinds and anemometer (top left)
-
Revolving solarium in Jamnagar, India designed by Jean Saidman
See also
- Arizona room
- Observation car
- Porch
- Smart glass
