How to Turn a Porch Into a Sunroom
Converting a structurally sound porch into a sunroom will add more square footage of livable space to your home. Sunrooms are convenient places to relax or entertain guests. You can design your sunroom as a three-season room or a four-season room. To create a room usable in winter, add a heating duct to your home's existing heating system. The end result is an additional room you can use for enjoyment and recreation or as a warm, cozy home office. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Flashlight
- Circular saw
- ½ inch plywood
- Drill
- 8-foot two inch by six inch lumber
- Two-inch wood screws
- Polystyrene insulation panels
- Level
- Pencil
- Measuring tape
- Windows
- Staple gun
- Roll fiberglass insulation
- Wood paneling
- Hammer
- Finishing nails
- Flooring
Instructions
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1
Check the boards of the porch and make sure they're structurally sound. Use a flashlight to look at the support beams under the porch. Make sure all boards are sound before continuing. Replace any damaged wood.
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2
Measure the distance between the porch's posts or pillars. Make sure there's no more than six feet between them. Use two inch by six inch wood for the additional studs. Secure them to the floor and ceiling of the porch. Insert screws at a diagonal through the end of each stud and into the porch ceiling and floor.
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3
Measure from the floor of the porch to the where the bottom edge of the windows will be located with a tape measure. Mark the spot on each stud with a pencil.
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4
Cut two inch by six inch wood to fill in the distance between the studs. Use these boards to create rough frames for the windows. Position the bottom window frame board so the top is even with the marked location from Step 3. Use a level to make sure the board is straight. Secure the board with wood screws and a drill. Insert the screws diagonally through the end of the board and into the sides of the studs at both ends. Repeat this step for each of the bottom frame boards.
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5
Measure from the installed frame board to the height of the window with a tape measure. Mark the location for the top of the window on the studs.
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6
Secure cut two inch by six inch wood between the studs so it lines up with the mark made in Step 5. Use a level to ensure the board is straight before securing it in place with wood screws. Mark this as the top of the window frame. Repeat this step for the rest of the windows.
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7
Cover the floor of the porch with ¼ inch polystyrene insulation panels. Use a utility knife to cut around the studs so the polystyrene fits up to the edge of the porch.
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8
Cut the ½ inch plywood to fit around the studs and lay the plywood on top of the polystyrene insulation panels. Secure the plywood to the porch with wood screws. Fit the pieces of plywood together as tightly as possible. Smooth silicone caulking over the seams between plywood pieces to seal the floor. Allow the caulking to dry.
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9
Cut ½ inch plywood to the height from the porch floor to the bottom of the window frame. Attach this plywood to the outside of the studs with wood screws. Repeat this step for any area above the window frames that needs to be enclosed. Cover the outside plywood with weatherproofing plastic. Secure the plastic with a staple gun.
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10
Install the windows you've chosen according to the manufacturer's instructions. Finish the appearance of the outside of the sunroom. Install siding that matches the rest of the house.
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11
Use the staple gun to secure roll fiberglass insulation between the studs on the inside of the wall.
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12
Remove the exterior siding on the one wall of the sunroom that was once the front of the house.
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13
Cut the wood paneling to the height needed to cover the section of wall between the bottom of the window and the floor and between the top of the window and the ceiling. Secure the wood panel to the studs with finishing nails. Cover the other walls of the porch with the wood paneling as well.
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14
Finish the room by installing your desired flooring.
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Tips & Warnings
Building sturdy walls requires no more than six feet between studs. The porch pillars are going to turn into studs. If they're farther than six feet apart, studs will need to be added between them.
References
- Photo Credit Thinkstock/Comstock/Getty Images
