Is a screen room right for you, and how are they different from sunrooms?

Imagine the sun peaking up, it’s first rays glittering through the trees. The air is fresh and cool. Aside from the birds chirping their morning songs, everything is quiet while you warm your hands around a hot cup of coffee. There is something special about spending a quiet hour with the tranquil beauty of the great outdoors.

Screen rooms or screened porches provide the feeling and function of an indoor room while blurring the lines between your outdoor and indoor living spaces. Only a thin screen separates you and the outdoors. Whether it’s dinner with the family or just letting the children play, a screen room can add functionality to your backyard while eliminating worries such as mosquitoes and even rain.

Screen rooms by Archadeck of Chicagoland

Screen enclosures are also cost effective when compared to other home improvements. The maintenance of a screen room is minimal and most winterize in no time. If you are looking for a way to use your screen room through multiple seasons, you have a couple of options. Acrylic storm panels can be placed in the windows when you prepare for winter. Placing a small space heater in the screen room allows you to curl up with a cup of hot chocolate as you watch the snow fall, draping Chicagoland with a frosty white blanket.

Custom screened porch design by Archadeck of Chicagoland

Vertical 4-track windows appear to be glass to anyone looking from a distance but are made of a vinyl material instead. These windows come in a variety of sizes but are separated into four sections, allowing you to open from 25% to 50% to 75% This gives you control over the number of outdoor elements you allow in. If it’s a particularly blustery day, open just enough to allow just the right amount of breeze. On a gorgeous summer afternoon, open them all up and enjoy the fresh scent of the season that wafts through your airy screen room.

Screen room with vinyl windows by Archadeck of Chicagoland

In the years that I have owned the Archadeck of Chicagoland, I’ve heard screen porch and sunrooms referred to in a number of different ways. At the end of the day though, the term you use isn’t nearly as important as finding a design that meets your needs. To find that, you’ll need to know the basic differences between a screen room, a sunroom, and an addition.

Custom screen room by Archadeck of Chicagoland

A room addition has a higher ratio of solid walls to windows than a sunroom does. With the added insulation and full HVAC, these rooms are functional year-round. This is basically a new space that is designed to expand your home.

Sunrooms are rooms that are built to maximize the amount of light and ventilation while offering complete protection from rain and wind. The glass intensifies the sun’s rays to heat the room; this is great in the chilly spring and fall seasons. In the summer you can open the windows to allow the flow of a warm breeze. Sunrooms are usually insulated and sometimes heated.

Sunroom by Archadeck of Chicagoland

There are so many options available to you when building a screen porch. From a traditional screen design to a custom three-season room; the sky is the limit. If you would like to take a look at design options or discuss how to put your outdoor dream together, give us a call, and set an appointment to visit one of our showrooms.

Sign up for a free design consultation or call Archadeck of Chicagoland at one of these numbers (847) 250-4100 | (847) 250-4100 | (847) 250-4100 to speak with a design consultant and begin creating your new dream space.