We recently completed a home addition that featured a three-season porch. This got us thinking about how homes in Minnesota are designed and built to take advantage of the beautiful outdoors. Being able to bring the outdoors in takes special design and planning when building or remodeling homes—especially when an addition is involved.
Here are some things to keep in mind if you are planning to build a three-season porch to take advantage of all that Minnesota has to offer.
Benefits of a Three-Season Porch
The three-season porch (a.k.a. sunroom or sun porch) is the cousin of the deck and gives homeowners a versatile new living space. These rooms allow you to enjoy the outdoors with the benefits of the indoors such as shade and protection from insects.
A three-season porch is an economical alternative to a full room addition, as it can be built from scratch or on top of an existing deck or patio. The lack of heating, air conditioning or other mechanical systems in these spaces also keeps costs down.
Location and Design Matter
A three-season porch should act as an extension of the living space in your home and a connector to your backyard. Three-season porches ideally face south to capture sunlight for warming the room in cooler months and positioned to maximize airflow to cool it during warm months.
The design of the three-season porch should complement both your home and the outdoor setting. An experienced remodeler and designer can help you select the ideal location and customize the plans to fit your home and needs.
Add Amenities
Three-season porches allow for a variety of amenities to customize the space. Ceiling fans are popular additions, as they enhance airflow and cool the space. Consider including an area for mounting a television or wiring speakers for music. Adding on an outdoor fireplace creates ambiance and improves warmth during cooler months. Skylights can also be incorporated to allow more light and heat into the space.
How Do You Use Your Three-Season Porch?
Tell us your ideas and suggestions for getting the most out of this space. Leave a comment here, share your pictures with us on our Facebook page or send us a message on Pinterest. Feel free to give us a call! You can reach us at 952-361-8664..
Photo credits: Excel Builders
Company: Excel Builders, https://www.excelbuildersmn.com/