^ new jersey or NE'ers

[greekypie]

One of the homes we are considering has a gorgeous sunroom w vaulted ceiling and 2 skylights, a recent addition to the home. It is beautiful and is on separate HVAC control/zone.

How much of the year would we likely NOT use this space due to cold weather or heating costs to maintain comfortable climate?

My only point of reference is our drafty sunroom in Massachusetts (not weatherized) and I know it got below freezing in there on a regular basis.

[LoveTrains]

If it is properly done, I would think you could use the room all year.

I am in New England, and the short sale I am trying to buy has a beautiful sunroom on the back that was a recent addition. I anticipate using it year-round.

ETA: My in-laws in CT just built a similar addition to their home - vaulted ceiling, tons of windows, skylights, seperate hvac.

They use it all the time, too - all winter and all summer. It has a very efficient heating system that is a gas fireplace that essentially heats the entire room, and then it has one of those awesome mitsubushi a/c units that goes up in the top of the wall.

[mrs.spunky]

My parents' friends have a room like this in their house, and use it year-round. They are in NJ but I am not sure of their utility costs as they have a geothermal system.

I would say a recent addition to the home would have better insulation and be more energy-efficient than something constructed even 10 years ago.

[Deleted]

Our sun room is not well insulated and has virtually no heat--we still use it April-November. So I think a new one that has both those things should be liveable year round without a huge cost.

I'm in NNJ

[greekypie]

Great! I want to be able to use it year round if possible.

[Deleted]

My friend has one and uses it year round. Its well insulated. Id love one!

[dragonfly08]

My sister had a sunroom on her old house (I no longer live in NJ but she still does). In the winter, they often ran the gas fireplace for a little extra heat, and atmosphere, and were pretty much comfortable in there all year. And the doors/windows in there weren't even as efficient as they could have been so with a newer addition that likely has better insulation you should be fine.

[Susie]

My parents use their sunroom (in NJ) year round.

[midnightmare81]

We use it year round as well. Its fully insulated like the rest of the house, just all windows. Not sure on the cost to heat, as we have radiant heat in our floors, but temp wise I don't notice a difference between the sunroom and the rest of the house. Its actually my fav room in the house, esp in the winter cause its a great way to get some sun and natural light without freezing your ass off. Its also beautiful when it snows

We are also in NNJ