Sunroom Plan
The term sunroom is fairly generic in that it describes a room, with open sides that lets in plenty of light and allows reasonably unrestricted views of your surroundings. You will see that there are several specific types of sunroom plan. One of the difficulties in browsing different manufacturers is that they each may give different name to a type of sunroom structure. However, what follows is a fairly commonly adapted terminology that allows us to look at types of sunroom plan.
Sunroom
This is a room that is proud or protruding from the house (one wall adjoining the house and three walls outward facing into the garden) and is largely of 'clear' construction. That is the wall are mostly made of glass and the ceiling is usually either made of glass or another transparent material. However, for reasons of preventing heat build up it could be made of wood or some other light blocking material.
Conservatory
A conservatory is very similar to a sunroom and in fact the term sunroom or conservatory is regularly interchanged when describing glass structures adjoining properties. However, one could say that a conservatory would more typically have a glass or transparent roof and they are most associated with traditional English 'sunrooms' that became popular during Victorian and Edwardian times.
Solarium
A solarium is fairly similar in design to a sunroom or conservatory. It is typically of lean-to construction on the side of a property, being made mostly of glass or transparent material where the sloping roof curves down from the house toward the outside wall of the solarium. A solarium is traditionally a place where one could convalesce in a warm sunny room to speed up the recovery process.
Enclosed Porch
This is a covered area, where one wall of the structure is formed by the house and at least one wall is a window or screen that allows views of the outside but keeps out insects and possibly the weather. An enclosed porch can be at the rear, front or wrapped around the sides of the house. The latter allows the enclosed porch to be used at different times of the day. For example if it is too hot then move around to the North side. when thinking about enclosing a porch remember the floor. If you have placed screens or glass around you and a roof on your head any insects may have access to you through gaps in the floorboards. This can be dealt with by a screen under the floor.
Open Porch
This is sometimes known as a veranda and is a covered area or walkway formed adjacent to a house with one of it walls being formed by the house and at least one other wall providing reasonably clear views of the outside. Even though the porch is largely open it may be worth thinking about insulating the roof as this is where much of the heat gain will come from.
Sunroom Plan
Specific details for a sunroom plan are easiest found on the internet at sites selling DIY or self-build sunrooms and conservatories.