Sunroom Roof Ideas

Roofing Materials

• Roofing materials not only change a sunroom's appearance but also affect the amount of light that penetrate's the room's interior. Regarding the passage of light, transparent, translucent and opaque materials are the three general categories of sunroom roof materials. Transparent materials, such as glass roofs, allow the most light and heat to enter a room and allow the room's occupants to view sky or landscape beyond the room. Translucent materials, such as frosted vinyl roofing panels, let dim light enter, so objects beyond the roof are fuzzy or indistinguishable. Opaque materials, such as asphalt shingles, block light and prevent a view of the sky or landscape.

Shed Style Roof

• A standard shed style roof has a single slope that spans between two walls. A shed roof typically consists of dimensional lumber joists. Shed roofs are generally inexpensive, fairly easy to install and accept all types of roofing materials. Applied to a sunroom addition, the raised side of a shed roof connects to the existing structure's wall or eaves. Attaching the shed roof's single, horizontally-level connection to an existing structure requires less renovation than more complicated roof designs and more effectively directs water away from the main structure. Compared to more complex roof shapes, the shed roof appears utilitarian.

Gable End Roof

• Spanning between the opposite walls of a structure, a gable end roof's two sloped planes meet at a peak to form an upside "V" shape. The flat vertical walls on both sides of the slope's planes are called "gable ends." Whereas the interior height of a shed roof sunroom decreases as the roof extends away from the existing structure, the interior height of a gable end roof sunroom remains the same. Although attaching a gable end roof to a flat, exterior wall is relatively straightforward, connecting a gable end structure to an existing home's roof requires substantial demolition and renovation.

Specialty Roof Designs

• Specialty sunrooms include solariums and alternative roof shapes, such as multi-sided, gazebo-style structures. The term solarium or, less frequently, conservatory refers to a sunroom with floor-to-ceiling glass and a glass roof. Constructed of a custom metal framework, solarium-style sunrooms usually have a single sloped shed roof.