Biergarten Greenhouse / Sunroom Build
Kevin Zone 6b - PIT, PA
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
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Kevin Zone 6b - PIT, PA
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoKevin Zone 6b - PIT, PA
6 years agoRelated Discussions
pic of late figs in sunroom
Comments (3)The Paradiso is a large green fig. Vista is a medium size dark fig. I like the taste of both. Yesterday the sunroom hit low 90s with an outside high temperature of 68F. We are supposed to be mostly highs of 70s the next 10 days. So today I added a shade cloth to the south side of the sunroom, pic below. When it gets colder I'll remove the shade cloth and add some reflective material on the ground to the south side. This will keep the sunroom in the 90s and warm the house to upper 70s to low 80s with an outside high of 60F. My total cost for putting up the poly, framing, and reflective material is probably $300-400. I save way more than that in heating costs very year. Plus I have a cozy 90s environment for figs....See MoreFour Seasons Sunrooms for orchids
Comments (2)If you are speaking of the Four Seasons brand and not using the term generically like some people do, I don't but a couple from my orchid society did and another member still does. The couple summered their plants outside. It still gets hot inside during the summer. They chose it because they liked it the best over the glass greenhouses they looked at. The other member bought one from a demolition sale and two blown knees later, had it up on her property. It does provide cooling challenges for her and her husband built some sort of venting system for it but it still gets hot inside. I looked into Four Seasons sunrooms and they didn't provide venting - only a fan in the roof. A couple in my sub have a home with one attached to it on a south facing wall and they say it gets hot in there. Their windows on that room are open all summer. The insulated high-e glass greenhouse I purchased still gets hot in the summer. I make sure my windows and sliding glass door on the greenhouse are open in the summer to draw air in when the ridge vent opens. If you decide to go with Four Seasons, I would find out if they still offer the fan option and how much air it moves. Another option is to purchase one that has as high a ceiling as possible since heat rises to the top. The only glass sunroom I've know to stay cool in the summer was attached to a house built on a wooded lot....See MoreTips for sunroom in Oklahoma?
Comments (4)Thanks for the replies. Due to the orientation of the house and the location of the back patio, I have no choice on the location. Did I mention it will also be right up under three 50' oaks? So clearly light is going to be somewhat of an issue. However i'm prepared for that since I'm already using them in the house. I grow orchids and they are mostly types that grow in fairly deep shade in Africa and Madagascar, so ironically, the north side light might just be perfect. Anyway, I'm really a lot more concerned about aspects of sunrooms having to do with temperature and humidity. I'm afraid that everything I do to both heat and cool it will eat up my humidity. This thing will be used essentially as a greenhouse. I call it a sunroom mainly because it will be attached to the house and (hopefully) very well insulated. I think the reality will end up being that I'll require some type of external humidifier year round in addition to misters/foggers. I may be able to design into it, an opening that can accomadate a small swamp cooler. That may just be an excellent idea? I guess my main confusion comes with what would be the best way to heat it? One or two small electric space heaters might be enough if it is insulated enough. Plus it should get some heat from the rest of the house. But I'm paranoid about losing power and i think i'd prefer something with natural gas. I think in an ideal world I would use a small gas powered hot water tank that feeds an under floor system. Anyway, any more thoughts? thanks!...See MoreSunroom addition - what's your experience?
Comments (35)We added a 4 Seasons sunroom last summer. We took out the window in our dining room to the West and put in a french door to the sunroom. The window over my sink also looks out into the sunroom so we just took off the screen and open or close the window depending on whether or not the room is being heated/cooled. Works great as a pass thru or just to talk to family in the sunroom while I work in the kitchen. The sunroom is my happy place. It is 20 x 20 and not an inch too big. I moved my dining table out there and put in all the leaves so I can seat 8 easily. We added a couch with recliners on each end plus another recliner and a LCD 46" TV on the wall (plasma reflects more light than LCD). Another corner is my office with my Grandfather's secretary desk, my computer desk and a lateral file than looks like a beautiful wooden chest. And yes I have several big plants that just thrive out there. We installed a heat pump. It sometimes seems a little noisy but work OK. Full windows are on north and south with a sliding door on the north onto a deck. On the west we have a solid panel across the lower portion and the rest is glass up to trapazoids in the peak. We put a wooden beam down thru the center of the ceiling and covered it with oak beadboard. Beautiful! We added 2 ceiling fans that were a must. Each set of windows has one side that slides open so we can get wonderful breezes thru when we want to. We live in the country and enjoy every minute in our room. I have watched turkey right outside the window while I ate breakfast, as well as rabbits, geese, bluebirds, etc. Yes, I am in my sunroom right now!...See MorePKponder TX Z7B
6 years agoKevin Zone 6b - PIT, PA
6 years agoKevin Zone 6b - PIT, PA
6 years agoKevin Zone 6b - PIT, PA
6 years agoKevin Zone 6b - PIT, PA
6 years agoKevin Zone 6b - PIT, PA
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoUser
6 years agoKevin Zone 6b - PIT, PA
6 years agoKevin Zone 6b - PIT, PA
6 years agoKevin Zone 6b - PIT, PA
6 years agoKevin Zone 6b - PIT, PA
6 years agoroseguy
6 years agoKevin Zone 6b - PIT, PA
6 years agoUser
6 years agoKevin Zone 6b - PIT, PA
6 years agoKevin Zone 6b - PIT, PA
6 years agoKevin Zone 6b - PIT, PA
6 years agoTranquil Garden
6 years agoKevin Zone 6b - PIT, PA
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoKevin Zone 6b - PIT, PA
6 years agoUser
6 years ago
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