How To Build Your Own Solarium The Right Way

Solariums are essential additions made almost entirely of glass, which can lead to a greater risk of heat loss. Anyone considering a solarium should only hire a reputable professional who addresses and minimizes that risk by getting all of the proper permits and by following the right construction protocols, including the building code.

The direction of Solarium

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The direction a solarium faces will have a direct impact on the amount of sunlight it gets on an annual basis. For maximum sunlight, a solarium facing south is best.

The Foundation of Solarium

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You should build a solarium over a foundation, and it’s usually between three (3) options:

1. Frost wall. Footings with a basic block foundation on top – imagine a basement with the middle filled in.

2. Foundation with a basement. The solarium sits on top with a basement below it. Homeowners should note that this option costs more and will automatically extend the scope and timeline of the project.

3. Concrete slab with posts. A concrete slab is built on grade and then posts are driven through it to lock it into place, which prevents it from shifting or moving over time. The type of posts a contractor uses will make all the difference.[/one_half]

Glass of Solarium

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The glass used to build solariums is different from the glass used for windows. Most windows today have double or triple pane low E glass. If this type of glass was used in a solarium it would lead to heat loss and condensation, which means the glass will be constantly fogged up, too.

To prevent this from happening solarium professionals use an exclusive multi-coat glass product that keeps the heat in during the winter, and out in the summer and blocks UV rays, all while letting the sunlight in year-round.

The number of coats each glass panel will have depends on where it’s being installed. For example, the glass used for the solarium’s roof can have up to 12 different coatings on the inside of the glass – not the outside. But the glass on the solarium’s walls will have fewer coatings because they will not get as much direct sunlight as the roof, and therefore do not require as many coatings.

The more coatings there are the darker the glass, so pros will use as many coatings they need but the minimum possible.

Fire Safety of Solarium

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There is a limit to how much glass a house can have on either side depending on how close it is to the property line – not the fence, which can be along that same line – because of the risk of fire.

Building code tries to protect homes from spreading fires, and glass is one way they can spread quickly. The further away a house is from the property line, the more glass it can have on that side. But if a house is less than 4ft from the property line it can’t have any glass on that side, and therefore, no solarium. Also, keep in mind electrical fire safety as well. 

Cost & Time

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Often homeowners will have unrealistic expectations about the size of the solarium, how much work is involved, how long it takes, and its cost. It’s the contractor’s job to guide you on what can and can’t be done, as well as your options. A properly constructed solarium can cost anywhere between $30,000-$50,000, depending on its size, and it can take approximately 2-4 weeks to build.

Guarantees

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Solarium professionals include lifetime guarantees on the glass they use to build their solariums. These guarantees are transferable to new homeowners, so if the owner ever decides to sell their home they can include the guarantee as part of the package they present to prospective buyers.

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