How to Insulate a Sunroom

Your sunroom is could be sitting empty most of the time, because it's too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter. Your sunroom can become a place for year-round enjoyment with a few easy steps. Imagine it as a haven--a place to sit and read, eat or entertain in every season. Read on to learn more.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Gloves, mask and protective eye wear
• Lumber
• Fiberglass insulation
• Window glaze

1. Select the insulation. Pick a higher grade fiberglass material for optimum results. Unfaced, friction-fit fiberglass batt insulation is inexpensive and easy to install.

2. Add studs. The 2-by-6 studs are a better choice than 2-by-4. They leave more room for the insulation.

3. Insulate around all the windows and in the corners of the sunroom. Tuck the batts between the wall studs and cut it so it fits snugly around electrical outlets and wiring.

4. Glaze the windows. This will help regulate the amount of heat and light coming in the windows.

5. Choose a high-performance window glaze. Look for one that retains heat when necessary, blocks sunlight and collects sunlight when needed. Low-E glaze is the most common. It reduces heat transfer and will help keep your furniture and rugs from fading.

6. Replace windows if necessary. A fully insulated sunroom should have double pane windows, not single. There is usually an inert gas, like Argon, between the layers of glass. This keeps the outside temperature from getting in.

Tips & Warnings

• Wear gloves, a mask and protective eye wear when handling insulation. Fiberglass insulation can irritate your skin.