I would not do that. I would say storm windows with low-E glass at a minimum Otherwise you are just making a green house. If you do it right it could help recoup cost when you sell.

hi, thanks for the suggestion. We do have hurricane impact windows for the rest of the house. If a strong hurricane hit us directly we would lose this room, but would lose the patio anyway without the $4500 upgrade idea. Totally enclosing the room (the right way) as i said would cost $23,000 at the low end or stormwindows with low-e would probably be $30,000 or more. We can't afford to do anything above spending $5,000! so its the acrylic windows with mini split or nothing. Just wondering if it would work... would a 24,000 BTU mini split able to cool a 450 sq ft room that has really poor insulation and direct sun exposurer.. Thanks!

There is one way to find out!

maybe use a tinted acrylic with proper shading.

Thanks! plus the screens don't go all the way to ground there is a short wall under them that maybe i can insulate.. and maybe some way to put up walls were some of the screens are..but would still have to look nice.. without resorting to concrete blocks.. hmm..

"I do realize Acrylic has a heat loss 5 times worse than glass of the same thickness. "

do you have a link to this data?

hi,

well I haven't found a definitive answer!

This link:

https://www.hunker.com/12003658/insulating-properties-of-plexiglass-vs-glass

says "acrylic" would need to be much thicker..

this link

https://www.hunker.com/13413847/glass-windows-vs-plexiglas-for-keeping-out-the-cold

says Plexiglass is a little better than glass of the same thickness

BUT..

this list of thermal conductivity

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_thermal_conductivities

shows acrylic having a lambda value of .2 I know there are a lot of varieties of glass.. but typically glass of the same thickness of acrylic has a lambda value of 1.05 or more.

so if a higher lambda value is "better" than glass "seems" 5 times better..

maybe its the other way around.. I would really would like to know!

Thanks!!!

hi

@wstalcup

lower number is better so acrylic would be better for the same thickness, but glass have double pane with gas fill, and all kinds of coating that in reality would make it better than acrylic but $19k better, I dont know :)

I would hope you are right! all of my research has ended up with more questions than answering any of them! there seems to be so many types of acrylics, plexiglass, lucite, etc.. with vast differences in properties.

But Acrylic seems superior to glass for: light transmittance, cost, weight, strength, (not going to shatter), if acrylic gets scratched then can be buffed out, etc.. so IF acrylic was better insulation as well.. then why on earth are 99.9% of the windows out there still made of glass?

I think because glass is a lot more scratch resistant, and easier to break if the fireman needs to get in to save someone - probably more important for a bedroom than a porch.

https://www.plasteco.com/products/glazing-information/

You may be confusung name brands for different types. Most are polycarbonate or acrylic . I prefer polycarbonate but it is more expensive.

I would check code to see what is permitted. I woMuldoon think there would be specifications such as the thickness of the panels and how they are mounted that come into play. Polycarbonate is also a bit stronger that an acrylic panels.

right! glass is more scratch resistant.. but if you were scratch acrylic, "supposedly" you can just buff it out

thanks so much for this link https://www.plasteco.com/products/glazing-information/

makes sense now!

and yes, i'd bet it wouldn't pass code :( but could use it for 10 years or so. and take it down to sell the house

well thanks everyone! I think the moral of this story is that you can't have your cake and eat it too! :) or maybe you can..

If I got:

9 sheets of 60" x 96" 1/8" thick Acrylic sheets

9 sheets of 60" x 96 1/8 thick Polycarbonate sheets

then put the acrylic sheets right where the screen (outside of the patio frame), and then put the polycarbonate sheets surface mounted (inside of patio frame). That might provide a good mix of shading coefficient (acrylic) and U-factor (polycarbonate). This would also act as a "double-pane" for even better insulation. Along with 12,000 BTU window mount AC.. this entire project would come out only to $2,500 bucks! the problem is that the double pane might have a really distorted view looking through it and/or look "too" ghetto. doh! :)

if you could make it look good if say go for it

have you seen this?

https://www.panelite.us/

They make polycarbonate with hardcoat and uv protection. It is used wiindshields and helmet visors and glazing applications.

that panelite website seems to be down :( i will check it later though! ..and yah, my idea about the double pane.. looks like it would have to be completely sealed system or condensation will occur

I would consider doing it with a low-E laminated glass panels, the price difference may not be as much as you think.

but.. then supposedly the aluminum frame that is currently there, wouldn't support the weight of glass windows.. which means completely building new walls and back to the $23,000 dollar price.. oh! also, I would like to be able to return this patio easily to how it is now.. because whenever I sell the house... if this a room under AC.. then it would have to sold with hurricane proof windows/doors.. and/or raise the property insurance and taxes.. but anywho.. thanks so much everyone for going out of your way to offer free and such wonderful advice!

Free advise...we survived for years with A/C by using circulation and shade. Make sure you have shade through-out and install a few fans...

Wstalcup, just wondering if you ever installed the acrylic windows? We are considering doing something similar, but question how well we will be able to air condition it and how well acrylic will hold up over time.