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Think of a sunroom, sometimes called a sunspace, as a productive living area in your home with different benefits in different seasons. In spring and summer, a sunroom provides a relaxing living space. In winter, its also a great place to grow food plants. Even better, a sunroom can help heat your home! I estimate that a well-designed sunroom addition can pay for itself in less than five years through savings on food and home heating.

To realize the full benefits from your sunroom addition, youll need to incorporate the basic elements of passive solar design: orientation, glazing, thermal mass, insulation and ventilation. If you apply these principles, you shouldnt need to heat or air-condition your sunroom you will be able to keep this living space at a comfortable temperature by using natural systems.

Would a sunroom work for your house? If your solar exposure gives you at least four hours of sunlight around midday in midwinter, the answer is probably yes! The sunroom design strategies described in this article will work in almost all U.S. climate zones and southern Canada. However, you may want to research beyond the level of detail presented here to fine-tune your design for your specific climate, especially if youre trying to optimize your heating potential.

You will want to orient your sunroom toward true south (which is usually a few degrees different than magnetic south) to best take advantage of the suns low angle in winter. There are several methods for finding true south. In general, orienting the solar window 20 degrees off true south reduces your solar gain by only 4 to 5 percent. On the other hand, if your glass is oriented 45 degrees off true south, solar gain will be 18 to 22 percent less.

There are several types of glazing you can use for your sunroom, but I recommend glass because it traps more heat energy than plastic and because its durable. Plastics do not work as well as glass for trapping long wave heat energy, polycarbonates can scratch and yellow over time, and films are just too fragile for a house.

Dual glazing should be used in all but the most temperate climates, such as southern Florida. In colder climates, including much of the Northeast and northern Great Plains, triple and sometimes even quadruple layers of glass work best. I recommend clear, uncoated glass for sunrooms. Avoid reflective glazings and the newer low-e glass because they prevent much of the solar energy from entering through the glass, and they reduce the solar spectrum. If you want to grow plants in the back area of your sunroom, I also recommend skylights to bring in overhead sunlight.

For optimum winter collection of light and heat, sunroom glazing should be tilted so its perpendicular to the suns angle at winter solstice (Dec. 21). However, for several practical reasons, Ive selected vertical glazing for my ideal sunroom design. Believe me, Ive tried the tilted glazing on sunrooms, and its not the best choice for a living space.

Here are a few of the many advantages of choosing vertical glazing instead:

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Plan the Perfect Sunroom Addition - Green Homes - MOTHER ...

BUILDING PERMITS

PMT2014-05013 1075 Redwood Ave.; $450,000; Granary LLC; Boulder Home Builders LLC; New detached single-family home. 3,272 total square feet of conditioned space including 120 square feet of finished basement. 1,576 square feet of unfinished basement. 602 square feet of attached garage. and 279 square feet of covered deck and porch. Scope of work includes associated MEPs with a gas fireplace and stucco finishes. See TEC2012-00021 approval.

PMT2014-05128 5555 Airport Blvd.; $591,026.40; Yew Tree; CRB Builders LLC; Agilent Technologies Phase 4 interior remodel of 7,740 square feet. Second floor fitout within an existing tilt-up concrete panel and steel structure building shell. No change to the exterior shell or footprint will be made. Scope of work includes associated MEPs, a new elevator, and an engineered stairway.

PMT2014-05276 3633 21st St.; $150,000; Del Mar; Melton Construction Inc.; Minor interior remodel (250 square feet) and large new deck (1,616 square feet) for single-family dwelling. Includes electrical work.

PMT2014-05420 3141 Ninth St.; $150,000; John Moore; Defrees Design & Development; Additions to replace an existing office footprint to allow for a new crawl space and foundation for a new office and additional mudroom and larger master bedroom (472 square feet). Remodel work of 24 square feet also included. Scope of work includes associated MEPs to include a new utility sink and extension of existing hydronic heating.

PMT2014-05580 1001 Arapahoe Ave.; $15,000; City of Boulder; Interlock Construction Corp.; This is a supplemental application related to the cafe tenant finish that was originally permitted under PMT2013-06589. Scope of work beyond the original cafe approval includes additional electrical work for new appliances/equipment and additional plumbing work to accept new fixtures above and beyond what was included in PMT2013-06589.

PMT2014-05642 2865 Iliff St.; $155,200; Kenneth Jackson; Modafferi Construction Inc.; Remodel of existing house. Enclose existing entry (48 square feet). Vault ceilings under existing roof at living room and dining room. Add egress windows to basement bedrooms. Install new plumbing fixtures, upgrade electrical, relocated furnace, add evaporative cooler, install new windows and build new deck (36 square feet) at entry.

PMT2014-05660 5050 E. Euclid Ave.; $61,350; Kristine Johnson and Michael Mencimer; Faurot Construction Inc.; Upper level remodel of 811 square feet plus addition of 32 square feetinto former attic area with new dormer above. Scope of work includes associated MEPs.

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Boulder building permits: Feb. 9, 2015

Livvie DeLuca has a love of old things, even chalkboards.

When the old school was being torn down on Fourth Street, I wanted a piece of chalkboard and John Howard was there taking pictures. He asked them for me and instead of a piece, a got a whole chalkboard, DeLuca said.

That chalkboard, she said, is now in the sunroom of the home she shares with her husband, Michael, and her daughter, Rosalia, in Penn Borough.

My husband does woodworking and he framed it. It is a lot of fun. We write to each other on it, said DeLuca. Her family home once belonged to her husband's grandfather.

After meeting Howard, who is one of the founders and longtime members of the Jeannette Historical Society, DeLuca joined the group.

I started going to the historical society meetings when they were at the library, but my daughter was very small and I didn't do much then, said DeLuca.

Now that her daughter is in fifth grade, DeLuca is part of what Howard calls the Thursday Group, a dedicated group of city historians who meet at the historical society office on Clay Avenue every week to catalog, archive and take care of any business that needs to be handled.

I come every Thursday and I work on the old photos. I scan them into the computer and organize them, said DeLuca.

In addition to her chalkboard, DeLuca, who was also a substitute teacher at Jeannette McKee Elementary, salvaged a gate across from the Dollar General when they were building the store.

I use it as an arbor in my garden, said DeLuca.

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Penn resident enjoys history and repurposing old things

Time Lapse Video of Construction Addition in LaGrangeville
Time lapse video of New Dimension Construction #39;s recent project. Watch a sunroom addition get built from the ground up in under 5 minutes!

By: New Dimension Construction

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Time Lapse Video of Construction Addition in LaGrangeville - Video

29 CHAUCER DR, NEWARK, DE 19713 - SPACIOUS BROOKSIDE PARK RANCH!
Welcome to single floor living! Enjoy this spacious 3bedroom Ranch home in Brookside Park. Situated on an oversized lot, this 1700 square foot home backs to...

By: WilmingtonHomesGroup

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29 CHAUCER DR, NEWARK, DE 19713 - SPACIOUS BROOKSIDE PARK RANCH! - Video

Sunroom Addition in Tampa!
"An All-Weather-Room is a great addition, even in Florida!" - Angi Brittain. These clear vinyl windows create screen rooms and open in a variety of ways: sta...

By: The Eva Claire Corporation

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Sunroom Addition in Tampa! - Video

BLOOMINGTON Keith Thompson is a self-admitted "sucker for historic properties."

So when Diane and Bud Sullivan approached him in 2008 about investing in the historic Asahel Gridley property at 301 E. Grove St., neither Thompson nor his wife, Diane, could resist. Gridley was a state senator credited with getting the Illinois Central Railroad to roll through Bloomington, was a friend of Abraham Lincoln and the city's first millionaire.

"It looked like something that might be OK," said Keith Thompson about the restoration project.

Granted, the 1860s Gridley mansion and the 1937 apartment buildings in front needed a lot of work, but Bud Sullivan was a contractor and Diane Sullivan, then president of the Old House Society, was passionate about restoration work, so the Thompsons were convinced it could work.

But two years went by and little work had been accomplished. The city began citing numerous code violations. By 2012, the property went into foreclosure, the Sullivans owed $807,558 on the property, according to legal documents. Their original loan from Thompson was $644,500. Diane Sullivan had already moved from the community and Bud Sullivan moved away later.

Thompson was the highest bidder at a foreclosure auction ($700,000) and the property, and all of its problems, were now his.

"It came down to an emotional decision rather than a financial one, stupid for a banker," said Thompson, a senior loan officer with Mortgage Services Inc. "I'm sure someone would have knocked it down."

But now, about $1 million later, the renovation is complete and Thompson can focus on finding tenants for the mansion apartments.

One of the eight apartments already is taken, by Thompson and his wife.

"I'm glad he took it on," said Laura Walden, coordinator of the Old House Society's Architectural Salvage Warehouse. "It was too overwhelming for anyone else. He's done a great job. Hopefully it will last forever."

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'Emotional' restoration of historic Gridley mansion nearly complete

23482 Glenmoor Drive Parker CO 80138
For more information contact Dave Umphress at or 303-330-7894. This fabulous two-story in the king-pin cul-de-sac of Villages of Parker was the jewel in the ...

By: ListingsMagic

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23482 Glenmoor Drive Parker CO 80138 - Video

Christmas bouquets light up a room

image credit: photo SUBMITTED

According to research, fresh flowers lift everyones spirits and are the gift that makes people the happiest, especially so during these cool, dark days.

Fresh flowers add so much colour to the festive season and they do not have to cost a great deal. Garden centres, florists and some larger stores all have super selections at this time of year. Although prices will vary, always buy quality and look for both fragrance and varieties that last.

With proper care, their lifespan can be almost doubled. Cleanliness is the single most important factor in making fresh flowers last. Dirty vases are no place for fresh flowers. Not only should they be clean but a few drops of bleach should also be added to the water to kill any bacteria that can reduce the capillary action of water flowing up the stems. The water should be warm and the addition of a packet of floral preservative will greatly extend the lifespan of your cut flowers. Curiously, Sprite soft drink is one of the best floral preservatives.

It is always a good idea to re-cut the stems on all fresh flowers the moment you receive them but it is very important for you to make that cut while the end of the stem is held underwater. Special machines are available to florists for doing just that. Another re-cut should be done in about a week to keep that water flowing. Research has also proven that exposure to constant, rather than fluctuating temperatures, increases the lifespan of flowers. In other words, keep them at a reasonably cool room temperature rather than in a hot sunroom by day and in the cold at night.

With so many great local growers in our region, the selection of fresh cut flowers is truly amazing. Fresh cinnamon-scented carnations and long-lasting chrysanthemums are very traditional but I would suggest trying a few different flowers that have great keeping qualities as well. Locally grown anthuriums are unique and look stunning when combined with Christmas greens and berries. They are also very reasonably priced, as are cymbidium orchid stems, another long-lasting flower. Colourful, exotic alstromerias fit in nicely with any bouquet and will go the distance even with mums. If you are really tropical minded, South African proteas last and last.

Spring flowers are now here and ready to bring a breath of fresh colour to brighten our winter spirits. Tulips, pussy willows and iris push aside those winter blues.

Some of the most fragrant flowers are Oriental lilies, Polianthes tuberosa and freesias. Just a few stems are sometimes enough to fill your whole room with a delightful perfume.

To accompany these flowers, I suggest you use some traditional Christmas greens. Noble and silver fir boughs are very dark green, fragrant and classy looking. They are also flat and easy to work with. The soft, wispy branches of white pine are certainly another favourite, both for perfume and longevity.

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IN THE GARDEN: Christmas time is a time for a little colour

Texas Rooms And Windows is YOUR Best Choice for Custom, Room Addition Quality Sunrooms. AND...Texas' ONLY Source of Composite Patio Rooms & Enclosures!

We also Offer Folding Wall Systems, Luxury Patios & Shade Covers. 3 Season Screen & Glass Patio Rooms & Pool Enclosures. Custom Room Designs, 3D Rendered Drawings. We let you see YOUR Sunroom Design on YOUR home before we start your job!

At Texas Rooms And Windows, our list of products and services is growing all the time.

Do you have a special project? Please, let us know.

Chances are, we can accommodate your needs.

NOT in Texas?- Nationwide Services -Not in Texas?

Sunroom Secrets... ... and everything else you need to know! Soon we''ll be updating our remodeling blog with weekly and monthly specials, and information about sunrooms, additions, conservatories, windows and all types of home and garden related tips and advice for homeowners. Come by and let us know what you think! You can also ask any type of question and will post answers to help other homeowners in the future.Thanks for stopping by... Click the link below to go see: Sunroom Secrets... ... and everything else you need to know!

NEW!- We have added new blog sites that we will be updating monthly with Remodeling Ideas and helpful links for Exterior Remodeling specific projects such as Siding, Roofing, Windows and Doors, Coatings, paints and more... Check out our new Exterior Remodeling and Home Improvement blog!

We have most recently added and will be working on the latest blog that will deal with all things GREEN and Energy Efficient. We are constantly testing, using and trying all types of energy efficient products and technologies, so we are going to share them with you in our Green Remodeling Ideas blog. We will give you links to suppliers of energy efficient products, other sites to help you learn more and insider information about the products we have used along with the results of our testing.

PLEASE Don't forget to subscribe to our blogs so you will know when we post new and helpful information. And...Don't forget to let us know about any type opf remodeling, home improvements or energy saving upgrades you have tested your self. We always love to hear from you!

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Sunroom, Window, Patio, Additions & Remodeling Information ...