How can I insulate my sunroom ?

Nga21675318
by Nga21675318

My sunroom has a 7 1/2 ft x 9 ft opening into my home. Last winter I covered the opening with 2” foam insulation board. It helped, but eliminated all sunshine from all but my bedrooms. I’m looking for a way to insulate the room so we can have sunshine & enjoy the space. Any ideas?

  5 answers
  • Lisa Lisa on Sep 02, 2018

    Only use the foam board at night. Cover it with something pretty so if you lean it against the walls during the day, you won't mind looking at it. The sun will keep the sunroom warm during the day. Also - use insulated drapes in addition to the foam board at night.

    • Nga21675318 Nga21675318 on Sep 02, 2018

      The sun is unable to warm the sunroom during our Ohio winters. The floor is carpeted, plastic over the windows, insulated drapes up. I’m unable to warm up the rest of the house if I take the foam board down.

  • Dfm Dfm on Sep 02, 2018

    in grocers cold rooms, clear heavy plastic or vynail to keeps the cold in. think clear curtains. do you have cement floor? it can act as a heat sink if the angle of the sun can get to it. caulking can be your friend....take a lit incense stick- the smoky ones, see where air is getting in or out. caulk the spot. an electric fire place could help warm up the area.

    • Nga21675318 Nga21675318 on Sep 02, 2018

      I’ve tried space heaters but they run non-stop & the room never gets warm enough to use. The floor is carpeted. I have the plastic on the windows & thermal drapes up. It just feels as if I’m walking outside when I go in that room.

  • Kc Kc on Sep 02, 2018

    Are you wanting to insulate the sun room or are you wanting a prettier option for the connecting opening?

    Maybe you can make framed "glassed" doors with green house polycarbonate panels. They wouldn't insulate as well as your foam boards but they have a pleasing reeded glass look for day use.

    If you're getting drafts from the sun room windows you can use the ole "plastic sheeting and hair dryer shrink wrap" hack.

    A step up would be installing storm window panels...don't they add a smidge of "double paned" insulating value?

    • Nga21675318 Nga21675318 on Sep 02, 2018

      I want to insulate the room. I’ve done the shrink wrap on the windows along with thermal curtains. The floor has a nice thick carpet on it. Last winter it never got above 50 degrees....if it even got that warm. I bought this place with the sun room already in place. It’s as if there is no insulation in the walls. I’m about ready to “outline” the walls with the foam board since I don’t know what else to do.

  • Dfm Dfm on Sep 02, 2018

    Depending on age of the house, you may be correct that there is no insulation in the walls. My 1950’s fixer doesn’t have any insulation in the walls. Cellulose fiber can be blown in, but it settles ove time. ...leaving the place cold. William, who lurks on this web site was a huge help in getting my place weather sealed. If you do keep the foam board, put it behind dry wall. It can off gas if a fire happens.

  • Oliva Oliva on Oct 29, 2018

    Have you tried adhering bubblewrap to the glass, trather than the plastic sheets? Alternatively, you could try attaching a 2nd layer of heavier plastic sheeting. A 9 x 7.5 ' opening admits a terrific amount of cold air. Can you make the opening smaller?

    Check out William's other posts on this site re: insulation options.

    Using mirrors will bounce more light into adjacent rooms.