Building Insulated Acrylic Window Sun Rooms

The addition of a new sunroom is an excellent choice when looking to add more living space to your home. If you consider building a sunroom in your house, there is consideration in term of choice of windows. In general, there are at least two choices, acrylic and glass windows, herewith some of the comparison and description of both materials.

The cost of an acrylic window in most cases is lower in comparison to an equivalent size glass window. One reason acrylic windows are less expensive is that glass is thicker and weighs more. With acrylic sunroom window density ranging from 1150 to 1190 kg/m3, they are almost half the density of glass sunroom windows which range from 2400 to 2800 kg/m3. Since acrylic windows are less dense it also means they weigh less than glass windows. The density of the acrylic window makes them cheaper to manufacture, transport and takes less time and manpower to install. The savings are generally passed on to the consumer, making acrylic sunroom windows the more affordable alternative to glass sunroom windows.

Glass windows are a much better option when it comes to both durability and clarity. As far as durability is concerned, at the end of the day acrylic is just a type of plastic. Even if you take as many precautions as possible the chances of scratching an acrylic window are far greater than that of a glass sunroom window. Glass windows can scratch as well, however, it has a resistance to scratching many times greater than that of acrylic windows. All it takes is one mishap of someone or something scraping against the acrylic window. Depending on the severity of the scratch, you may be faced with having to replace the entire section of the acrylic window.

Another inherent flaw of acrylic is its inability to stand up to the suns strong UV (ultraviolet) rays, and can possibly turn yellow over time. There are many plastic materials out there that claim to be “UV Resistant”. That is exactly what it is, resistant not UV proof. No acrylic is UV proof. Over the long run, there is no additive that can make plastic/acrylic stand up to UV light as long as glass. Eventually, the elements will get to it. If you are looking for a sunroom that offers the best clarity, then we definitely recommend glass windows.

Building the Sunroom

Building the sunroom, apart from the window the framework is required. A heavy-duty extruded aluminum framework combined with 2″, 3″, or 4″ thick wall panels with EPS (Expanded PolyStyrene) foam core can do chosen. There are many choices from textured aluminum, rugged stucco siding, rough sawn cedar siding, or many different panels styles to find the look that blends perfectly with the house design and appearances.

Another part that is also vital for building sunroom is the roof. There are many roof styles available include gable and studio. The solid roof features insulated LRP (Laminated Roof Panels) that have a unique EPS foam core can be used. This core is a great insulator against the outside elements. Options include 3″, 4″, and 6″ thick roof systems, skylights, and electrical raceways for ceiling fans and lighting.