Sun Room Kit - Build It Yourself Sun Porch

Some thought must be given to heating the sunroom before any construction begins. If you are building a three season sunroom, which is cut off from the house by a wall and door, supplemental heating may not be needed or desired. If heating is desired in such a structure, a gas or electric space heater may be sufficient.

Heating a four season sunroom deserves a bit more thought and planning. The type of heating system you use will depend very much on the construction of the sunroom itself. It may be possible to extend the ductwork of your present home heating system into the sunroom.

If you are converting an existing porch into a sunroom, other options may need to be explored. If the sunroom addition will be over an existing concrete slab, it is possible to install radiant electrict heating cables on the floor, then tile over them with a ceramic tile. This provides a quite satisfactory way to provide heat.

If the sunroom requires a new slab to be poured, you may want to investigate hydronic radiant heat. PEX tubing may be installed before concrete is poured. Special electric heat cables can also be installed before the concrete is poured to provide an electric radiant heating system to the sunroom.

If you have, or are going to build, a wood floor with crawl space under the sunroom, it may be possible to place a small underfloor furnace or space heater there. Or you can investigate the possibility of using a space heater installed right in the wall joist area, if there is sufficient room. The choice of fuel you use will be determined by what is available to you.

Whatever you decide, it pays to consult a heating technician before you build the sunroom. This professional can help you choose a heating system for your sunroom.