A Country-Style Sunroom in Gloucester, MA

Homeowners considering glass additions may find themselves hesitant to add a sunroom if they base their decision on the performance of the cheaply made, prefabricated vinyl and aluminum units that characterized the industry in the 60s and 70s. These units developed a well-deserved reputation for leaks, poor thermal performance, and unanticipated post-installation expenses. While these units still exist on the market (and often run into the same problems), modern homeowners have more options and don’t have to settle for subpar quality. Sunspace Design’s sunrooms are crafted using the finest construction materials, introduce tremendous levels of natural sunlight into interior spaces, and achieve levels of thermal performance which won’t significantly increase your heating or electrical bills.

Today we’re exploring the design and construction of a high quality residential sunroom built in Gloucester, Massachusetts. The client came to us with the goal of expanding their existing kitchen so that the enlarged space could be used for both entertainment and dining. After exploring options with the client, we settled on a glass roof and triangular windows to provide the expansion with adequate light. Our approach lets sunlight flood the new space below while also brightening adjacent areas like the kitchen and living room.

The client’s home had a cabin-like aesthetic and we used a natural wood system to carry that look and feel into the newly expanded interior. Solid Douglas fir framing was the right fit, and the glass roof frame was stained to complete the look. The high-performance glass utilized in the construction provides the sunroom kitchen expansion with a comfortable environment throughout the year. Let’s take a better look at how this Massachusetts sunroom project came together:

Foundation for the expansion has been prepared to the rear of the client’s home.

Another look at the position of the expansion on the client’s property.
Walls are about to go up.

The walls are up!
Weathermate housewrap has been applied to protect the site during construction.

A view depicting the sunroom’s connection to the exterior deck.

This is going to be a quite the expansion!
The additional room will really open up the interior kitchen area.

The ridge beam is going up.

All measurements are double and triple-checked.

With the ridge beam in place, the Sunspace crew begins preparing the site for the roof frame.

The sunroom’s glass roof frame components have arrived from the Sunspace workshop.

The Douglas fir framing elements, still without glass, are being fixed to the ridge beam.

A look at the ridge beam connection.

A view from the interior as the crew continues frame assembly.

After the glass roof’s wood frame is complete, glass is installed.

A look at the sunroom’s glass roof.
Our methods achieve a large glass surface area for maximum sunlight.

With brand new siding, the home’s gable and glass roof junction looks terrific.

Light levels are achieved via new windows, huge glass spans in the roof, and sliding doors connecting to the exterior deck.

The brand new space opens directly to the kitchen.
Thanks to the new floor plan, the kitchen feels bright and airy.

The new space allows for additional dining and relaxation options.
Check out the new bar-style seating!

Another view of the sunroom’s interior…

…and a look at the gorgeous, rustic sunroom’s exterior.
The new siding, finished details, and surrounding greenery create a lovely appearance.

We hope this construction journey leaves you with an appreciation for the multitude of ways that our modern sunrooms offer far more than their outdated predecessors did. Every project we design and build is fully customizable and can include features more common to our other product lines like conservatories, orangeries, or greenhouses if you so desire. And because we have a background in conventional construction, our team is more than comfortable working with virtually any existing structure so that your new space pairs perfectly with the architecture. Contact us today if you’d like to learn more about how we can help you achieve your home renovation goals.