What Is a Solarium and How Is It Different From a Sunroom?
When you mention having a sunroom installed in your home, you might see a few different terms float around. In addition to “sunroom,” you might see “enclosed porch,” “screen room,” “solarium,” and the like. While many of these can be offered by the same sunspace contractor, they are not interchangeable. In fact, there are a number of differences between a sunroom and a solarium. It’s important to know what they are so you can decide what best suits your home.
What Is a Solarium?
Solariums are often considered sunrooms, but they are in fact somewhat different. Solariums are made up almost completely of glass, with glass walls and a glass roof. The point of a solarium is to let in as much sunlight as possible while still being indoors. Because everything is enclosed, you can enjoy the weather without the adverse effects such as rain, snow, wind, and debris. Solariums are also sometimes called conservatories.
What Is a Sunroom?
Sunrooms are also meant to let in considerable sunlight, but they are not exclusively windows. Typically, they are made up of windows and screens with a solid ceiling. Sunrooms often include doors or patio doors so that you can easily step outside, but you’ll still generally feel as though you’re inside within a sunroom. They’re often also insulated or connected to heating and cooling systems — or at least a fan — so that you can stay comfortable throughout the year.
Pros and Cons of Each
Sunrooms and solariums are similar, but they each offer different advantages and disadvantages. When it comes to a sunroom, the pros include: year round use (especially with an all-season thermal room, often functional windows, low maintenance, and versatility. Sunrooms can serve as a bedroom, a game room, or a breakfast nook, among other things. On the side of cons, they don’t offer a full view of the sky, though you can have skylights installed.
Solariums, on the other hand, show the sky as the ceiling, so that’s one of the biggest pros. However, with that beauty comes high maintenance. You’ll have to clean the glass of bird droppings, pollen, and debris. In addition to the con of high maintenance, solariums are also much more expensive and less energy efficient, so they tend to be more expensive in the long run, as well.
Having a sunroom installed does not mean losing out on optimal sunlight. Sunspace Texas offers several sunroom templates, from screen rooms to all-season thermal rooms. We can even add skylights and other features to add even more sun to the room. But you’ll be able to enjoy indoor comfort as you take in these outdoor views. Interested in a sunroom or enclosed porch of your own? Contact Sunspace Texas today for more information or a free estimate to get started.
