Enjoy the Outdoors All Year With a Four-seasons Porch
Sitting out on your porch during the summer is one of the best things about the warmer weather. You can sit and watch the world go by, read a book, listen to music or chat to friends and family. But you don’t only have to enjoy it during the summer. A four-season porch, otherwise called a sunroom, a conservatory, or several other things, allows you to enjoy the outdoors all year, with extra protection. Instead of having an open porch, you have a room protected by glass that you can heat when it’s cold in the fall and winter. If you’re thinking of having one, you need to consider a few things first.
Difference Between a 3-Season or 4-Season Porch
If you’re not sure whether a four-seasons porch is for you, you might also be considering a three-seasons porch. But what if you don’t know the difference? They’re largely the same, but the former really is designed for use all year, whereas you probably don’t want to use the latter in winter. Generally, a four-seasons porch is heated so that you can use it whenever you want. A three-seasons porch doesn’t have heating, but can still stay fairly warm thanks to it trapping the sun. However, it’s likely to get pretty cold in there if you live somewhere with chilly winters.
Deciding on Location
Figuring out where to put your four-seasons porch is the next step. There are a few rooms you might want to build off to put it in the best position. You also might already have a porch that you want to convert into a sunroom. Kitchens are popular rooms to build off, especially if you want to spend time eating in there. You could also consider your living room, which is another communal room that would give you easy access. But if you want a private conservatory, you might consider your bedroom too. It could be a space just for you, that not even guests are allowed to access.
Build New or Convert an Existing Porch?
If you have an existing porch, you might consider converting it instead of building a new construction. However, you need to think about the pros and cons before deciding if it’s the best thing to do. Converting your existing porch might save you money, especially if you would have to remove it to have space for a sunroom if you don’t choose to convert it. You could save time too, although you will still need to a lot of the things you would need to do if you were building a brand new sunroom.
Traditional or Contemporary?
Thinking about the style of your four-seasons porch is important too. There are many style elements you might consider, but you could just start off thinking about whether to choose a traditional or more contemporary style. Remember to think about the exterior of your home as it looks now. A modern addition could look good, but it might look out of place if your home was designed in a particularly traditional style. If conservatories often look a little old-fashioned to you, you can look for contemporary plans that suit your tastes better. And remember that how you furnish and decorate makes a difference too.
Finding the Right Contractor
If you have the right experience, you might be able to build your own four-seasons porch. It’s possible to go the DIY route if you’re capable of it, but not everyone is. Hiring contractors is often the more sensible option to choose. A firm like Iron River Construction can help you build your porch so you can have a beautiful new living space. When you’re choosing a contractor, it’s helpful to look for one that has experience building four-seasons porches. Make sure you research them thoroughly too, checking on their qualifications and certifications, experience, and client ratings and reviews.
Planning the Interior of Your Room
Of course, there’s also the interior of your sunroom to consider. You’ll need to think about how you want to use your new living space all year. You might enjoy using it for eating, in which case you could set up a dining space. Or you could just use it to relax in the evenings and on the weekends. Plenty of comfortable seating will give everyone somewhere to sit, whatever the weather outside. You can create a cozy, traditional space or make it cool and modern.
An all-seasons porch could be a great addition to your home. Think about how you could benefit from one and whether it might add value to your home.
