Homeowners who want to add a sunroom onto their house will be pleasantly surprised at the number of options available to them. After considering what type of sunroom will work best and the budget for the investment, a homeowner must then get in touch with a reliable sunroom contractor to put the plan in motion. When a homeowner decides a conservatory sunroom is the right addition for their home and family, they are choosing a truly unique structure that guarantees the most light and a feeling of truly being outdoors.

Conservatory Patio Rooms vs. Conservatory Sunrooms

A contractor will likely want to clarify whether a conservatory patio room is desired or a traditional conservatory sunroom. This can perplex the homeowner who does not do their research and can be disastrous if there is not clarification! There is one basic difference between the two structures.

A structure that is composed of all glass walls and with a glass paneled roof with a central beam is called a conservatory sunroom. They are fully insulated with heating and ductwork throughout. While these rooms were once considered only a place for wicker furniture and plants, they are now being used as kitchens, living rooms, bedrooms and studies. Their energy efficient windows are especially durable and made to block out harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun while providing maximum exposure to natural light.

Conservatory patio rooms are built on top of an already existing structure, such as a deck or a cement slab where a patio would be. In order for a conservatory patio room to be built, the slab has to be strong enough to hold the weight of not only the structure but the snow or water that may fall on it throughout the year as well. These are commonly referred to as '3 season sunrooms', as conservatory patio rooms are not typically built to be used year round.
Beyond a ceiling fan, there are no heating and cooling systems installed. This makes them less expensive than conservatory sunrooms but not fit for use as a kitchen or bedroom.

It is typically the goal or aim to be able to use a sunroom year round. In order to do this, a comfortable temperature must be maintained even in the heat of summer and the coldest of wintry weather, so a fully insulated conservatory sunroom is what a majority of homeowners have in mind when they choose this option.