Sunroom Roof Options

An important component of your new sunroom is its roof.  The roof will keep you protected from rain and weather and can also provide an additional venting source to help keep the room cool.  Venting can be from installed skylights that open and close or simply from ceiling fans that hang from the roof ceiling to circulate air as well as give the room more of a definitive style.  Keeping your room cool on hot summer days is important if you want to be comfortable in your new sunroom.

Roof Styles

There are several roof styles to choose from.  Some can be built as a solid structure of wood, aluminum, or vinyl, while others may be built almost entirely of glass to allow for the most light entry.  To help you become familiar with each sunroom roof style, we have listed most popular for you below:

• Cathedral
  • Ideal for creating a larger open space
  • Looks like a standard pitched roof
• Cross-Hipped
  • Design from putting two hipped roofs together
• Curved Eave
  • Common in solariums and studio sunrooms that feature lots of glass
  • Instead of straight angle where the roof and wall intersect, this area is curved allowing more light to enter the room as well as provide for a unique design
• Flat
  • Common design for studio sunrooms
  • Can be problematic if you are in a climate with heavy snow or rain
• Gambrel
  • This sunroom roof style looks similar to the popular red barns you see
• Hipped
  • This style does not contain any flat sides--all roof sides are sloped
• Mansard
  • Has two different roof slopes on either side
  • Popular with victorian style conservatories and sunrooms
• Pyramidal
  • Common in conservatories with the dome ceiling.
  • Opens the room to give a larger feel
• Straight Eve
  • Unlike the curved eave style, there is an angle created where the roof and wall intersect. The angle will depend on the slope of the roof which is typically dependent on the slope of your home's roof
  • Common in studio style sunrooms

Sunroom Roof Materials

The materials used to built your sunroom roof will determine whether your room can be used year round or seasonally.  There a few common materials used in the roofs construction.  First, if the roof is made of insulated roof panels, it will be able to withstand temperature fluctuations.  Typically, the level of insulation is determined by what is called an R Value.  The higher the R Value, the better the insulation and the easier it is to maintain the desired temperature.  Insulated roof panels usually consist of a plywood sheathing on the exterior allowing for multiple roofing materials to be applied. 

If the roof is made from polycarbonate roof panels, it is not going to be suited for year round living.  Sunrooms using this roof material are typically geared towards growing plant life as they allow maximum light to enter the room.  The insulation properties of polycarbonate panels is similar to that of glass.

The construction of your existing home will play a large role in determining exactly what your roof is made of.  If your home has wood shingles, for example, you will want to make sure the roof on your sunroom matches so that it looks like a natural extension of your home. 

Get Sunroom Pricing and Build a Room That Works For You

We offer Free Sunroom Quotes from top reliable contractors who are in your local area.  Let us help match you with a sunroom pro today to help you with your project.  The process is easy and there are no obligations to purchase.