Sunrooms add character and style to a home.  In addition, sunrooms provide an excellent place to relax and enjoy the outdoors while still protecting yourself from outdoor elements.  Luckily, basic sunrooms can be easily added to just about any home and can be designed to fit nearly anyone’s budget.

Preparing the Flooring

The first step in the installation of a sunroom is to properly prepare the flooring.  If the flooring is not properly prepared, the final result will be unattractive and disappointing.  To prepare the floor, you need to first level the ground as much as possible.  It is essential for the floor to be both level and square.  If you purchase a sunroom kit, be sure the width and the depth of the floor are exactly as suggested in the plans.  Also, if you intend to add a patio door, a sliding door, or any other type of door leading from the existing home to the sunroom, be sure to take this into consideration when determining the height of the floor.

Preparing the Wall of the Home

Since you will be adding your sunroom to an existing exterior wall of your home, you need to be sure the wall is also plumb, level, and square.  If necessary, add shims to the wall to accomplish this.  It is also usually best to remove the siding from the exterior wall.  In some cases, you might need to add flashing to assist with the transition from the existing home to the sunroom.

Adding the Knee wall

In some cases, it might be necessary to construct a knee wall before moving along further with the project.  A knee wall is a wall that is usually about 3-4 feet high.  It is placed in the attic of the home and is anchored with plates located between the attic floor and the roof joist.  The purpose of the knee wall is to create a vertical surface between the sloping rafters of your home and the floor of the attic.  If you had problems getting the floor for your sunroom level or square, you can compensate for it with the knee wall.

Constructing the Kit

If you purchased a sunroom kit, you are now ready to start putting it together.  Be sure to read all of the directions thoroughly before getting started and make sure you understand them.  If you are unsure about a direction, contact the manufacturer ahead of time for clarification.  Do not get started until you are absolutely sure of how to construct the sunroom properly.  Also, keep in mind that most kits do not require pieces to be cut.  If you think a piece is the wrong size, double-check before making any cuts.

If you did not purchase a kit, you will need to design the structure of your sunroom ahead of time.  This can make the job for more difficult, particularly for a novice, but will result in a sunroom that is unique to your home.