High End Sunrooms and Pool Enclosures:

 

Pool enclosure design typically calls for a row of patio doors on the long walls of the structure. Attached enclosures will have one long wall. Glass walled sunrooms may also be designed this way. This wall usually sits under the lower edge of the roof sheets and roof framing layout often dictates the framing layout on the wall below. One may use heavier timber roof rafters, a continuous eave beam and 2 x 6's for wall framing. Selecting on-center spacing of 49" for intermediate rafters and use of the Base & Cap System will accommodate standard 48" wide polycarbonate sheets. The first and last rafter should be 48-1/2" from outside of structure to center of first or last Base (rafter), as this lines first and last sheet of polycarbonate with outside edge of first and last rafter.

 

On the walls below center 2 x 6 studs under every other rafter. This will result in rough openings of 96.5" in mid-bays and somewhat less in the first and last bay. 96.5" is the exact rough opening for a number of 8 ft. sliding patio doors, such as Milgard, CertainTeed and Anderson. The last bay opening is somewhat less and can be filled in with a 6 ft. door and a solid (sheer) wall at the corner. Due to the minimal framing between doors it may be best to order doors without the nail-on fins, as overlapping of the fins would occur.

 

Always receive approval of design from your local building dept. In heavy snow load areas stronger, select grade studs may be required.

 

Designers may also use a truss & purlin framing system, resulting in another door/window fill-in option.

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To save on heating and/or cooling costs use 25mm white or bronze on the roof. This will drastically cut down heat gain and often eliminate the need for shade cloth on the roof. Also, the thicker the polycarbonate the less likelihood of condensation.

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Doors: Moisture resistant vinyl, aluminum or fiberglass is a good choice.

 

Windows: We recommend vinyl windows as these are available in custom sizes to fit your vertical wall openings, are moisture resistant and are available in white and brown to match the colors of the Install Components. Keep in mind building codes. Tempered safety glass must be used if the glass is within 18" of the floor or within 12" of a door. For ease of installation, and to cut cost, builders will often use windows and doors on the end walls and polycarbonate above. The top of a glass window would need a slope to match the roof slope. Custom sloped top windows can get expensive.

 

 

-Reload Sundance Supply Site------Design-Install Guide & Samples