Screened in porches can be tricky to design. That’s because they walk a fine line between interior and exterior. Not only do these outdoor rooms expose themselves to nature’s fury, they are expected to be just as cozy and inviting as a living room. Not only are porches supposed to protect you from insects, heat and cold, it should also keep you warm when it’s cool and cool when it’s warm. As contradictory as it may sound, porches are the only types of rooms that can achieve these conflicting results.
Many factors must be considered before the perfect porch can be added onto a home. Topography, existing vegetation, layout and proximity to roadways are some of the first issues that must be tackled. Then, the porch must be positioned in such a way that the rising and setting of the sun hits at just the right angle. Some porches can even be detached. Either way, porch building and designing takes much planning. According to Qualified Remodeler,
The sun travels in predictable paths throughout the day and, in turn, the seasons. Given this predictability, a design can be achieved to bring in or protect from the sun, depending on the desired outcome. Sunlight early or late in the day is low, whatever the season, while the angles of the sun at midday vary dramatically during the course of the year. In latitudes away from the equator, winter sun comes in low at noon, whereas summer sun is nearly directly overhead. With attention to roof overhangs, the midday sun can be blocked or allowed in as desired. Morning and afternoon sun can be blocked, as well, with solid or movable means. The dependability of the sun’s movement is relatively easy to accommodate with considerate design.
If you’d like a sunroom added to your home but you don’t know exactly where to begin, Outdoor Environments can handle to job. Call us in Kansas City/Overland Park at 913-897-2706.
Image from Vintage Ginger Peaches
