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Sunroom kits? Structual insulated panels?

17 years ago

Has anyone used a sunroom kit? I would like to hear feedback on this type vs site built sunroom with traditional techniques. I started off wanting a large screened porch by my seasonal allergies were killing me yesterday (they are bad here in Maryland) so I am rethinking my plan. I had read that the structural insulated panels of the prefab kits are quite effective for four season sunrooms. Any comments as to sturdiness and perceived value?

See below quote

"We hate to do the same old truss or rafter style roofing that everyone else does. Why not go with the wave of the future and let us install SIP's or structural insulated panels.

SIP's are pre-insulated panels that are engineered to span further and offer more support and structure than traditional wood construction. To everyone else, it's new technology, but we've been using them over 20 years.

SIP's can be custom cut to incorporate an existing roof. They can be shingled like the house or faced with a waterproof white aluminum stucco finish."

Here is a link that might be useful: one site's samples of prefab sip sunrooms

Comments (3)

  • 17 years ago

    SIP panels that I researched are for walls and roofs----hard foam sandwiched between two sheets of OSB. Openings can be made for conventional windows/doors and even skylights-----but nothing like in those pictures.

  • 17 years ago

    Please let me know what you find out! I'm looking into a dining room addition that will also serve as access to the back yard.
    I've requested info from various 4 season room companies and hope to find something soon!

  • 3 years ago

    Stay away from pre-fabricated sunrooms. I paid $54k for a 12 x 12 Joyce Manufacturing pre-fab sunroom. Alot of their marketing is false, they promote heavy use of vinyl and the only vinyl is the windows. There are a ridiculous amount of design issues with them. Heavy use of aluminum and aluminum skinned walls. Aluminum conducts cold and heat. This room, even with low-e windows and foam walls and foam advertised elsewhere, is so much colder than brick and wood, and vinyl sided and wood three seasons rooms I had in two previous homes. And their walls and roofs were not insulated.


    There are a ridiculous number of gaps created by the nature of the unit. Picture vertical supports made of aluminum with horizontal supports going over them. They horizontal pieces go over them - they don't lay flat. Everywhere that happens, cold air comes in.


    Joyce advertises low-e windows, but they don't say you've got to shove in weatherstripping along the window track because of all the cold air you can feel flowing up and in. I've spent hours and hours putting weatherstripping in all of the gaps.


    The installers also had to come back and rehang the exterior door three times. It hangs slightly crooked and lets cold air in. Before the 3rd time they came back, you could see daylight thru the top of the door.


    Pre-fabricated is a big, expensive regret. never again.