Buildings

Sunroom design using Sketchup

Sunroom location.
Sunroom location.

The Mission: To design and build a sunroom for our home. Using SketchUp software for the first time, using it to think though the process and steps. Work with local suppliers of glass and aluminum.

 

 

 

The total cost so far, $3,057.75 (all prices include the 15% sales tax):

  1. Total time invested – 29 hrs: The breakdown; 2 hrs (drawing plans, speaking with suppliers), 12 hrs (construction), 12 hrs (applying 3 coats of stain), 3 hours (making the 3 canopy panels)
  2. $539.85 for lumber, screws, lag bolts, screen door hardware pkg, weatherstripping, caulking, deck stain, door sweeps, expanding sealant tape, mending plates, solid brass cup hooks, 3 inch paint roller refill.
  3. $225.00 for canopy cloth, sewing supplies, wood sticks and hardware.
  4. $50.00 for 24 inch x 26 ft of aluminum sheet metal
  5. $1197.33 for 6 panels of 1/4 inch safety laminated glass, sized 24×84 inches
  6. $541.93 for 7 lengths of 2 inch x 12ft two piece snap-lock aluminum tracks (to keep glass in place)
  7. $225.40 for 14 lengths of 14ft screen bar (to make screen frames)
  8. $52.90 for 160 ft of screen rope (rope used to secure screen to screen bar)
  9. $13.80 for 36 screen corners
  10. $211.54 for 45 feet of 48″ wide screen mesh, grey color.

The Process: We had intended to purchase a manufactured sunroom but our funds had to be directed elsewhere (higher priority). Besides, teh manufactured sunroom cost over $9,000.00. We still want a sunroom, we just have to do it on a much smaller budget. So here is where we plan to put the sunroom. Up on the deck at the top of that long string of stairs you can see table and chairs. That’s where I’m going to put the sunroom addition. The house faces west and the winds primarily blow north and south (up and down the lake).

This is the first time using SketchUp to build a working model. So away we go!! Start with a floor footprint, 140-1/4 inches wide, and 96″ front to back (from the house going out onto the deck). Start with the bottom plates for the three walls.

Sunroom Sketchup design footprint
Sunroom Sketchup design footprint

Next we add the vertical and horizontal supports that attach to the house. Which, in itself will be a little tricky because the house is built to R2000 specs in 2005. The outer shell of the house is not OSB, it 2″ thick rigid foam. Not exactly the “solid support” required. If I’m lucky, since these verticals are near the exterior, there will be the built up corner studs to anchor into. The vericals are 2×4, the horizontal header is 2×6.

Sunroom Sketchup design 2
Sunroom Sketchup design 2

Playing around at this point. The slope of the roof coming off the house is 4:12. The dotted line follows that for the sunroom. The big panel is the space needed for a screen door about 34×81. The sort piece of 2×6 was thrown in there to represent where the house bumps out onto the deck, 35.5 inches. At this point it looks like a standard screen door will not work if I want to follow through with a 4:12 pitch.

 Sunroom Sketchup drawing 3
Sunroom Sketchup drawing 3

Playing around with what sort of slope I can use. I first had inserted lines for a 4:12. Now I will insert a slope of 3:12. It looks like it will provide a bit more headroom but we won’t know until the numbers work themselves out. I’m going to go with the 3:12 for now and see what happens.

Sunroom Sketchup drawing 4
Sunroom Sketchup drawing 4

With a decision made to use the 3:12 slope, we now have to shave off the horizontal header that will go above the house door. I suppose I could leave it standard dimension lumber (2×6 D4S, actual dim 1.5×5.5) but I what a completely flat surface for the aluminum extrusion framing I am thinking about using for the glass roof. The lumber is 1.5″ wide, calculated for a 3:12 slope I need to remove 0.375 inches. The picture here shows where I start to remove the excess material.

Sunroom Sketchup drawing 5
Sunroom Sketchup drawing 5

Ok, getting a little closer, picture getting a little clearer.

Sunroom Sketchup drawing 6
Sunroom Sketchup drawing 6

South side verticals in place. West side (front) verticals in place. Now I’m trying to decide on what sort of rafter tie-in method to use. Either sit on top (west side), or notch in about 2.5″ (north side). Not sure. Opinions are welcomed.

Sunroom Sketchup drawing 7
Sunroom Sketchup drawing 7

From this top down perspective, you can see I added two vertical pieces (2×4’s) in behind the vertical 2×6’s and the front header. This piece will serve 2 functions; tie in the header and the verticals, and to act as a spacer (of sorts). With the 2×4 in place, centered on the 2×6, it gives a 1 inch lip which I can make use of to position framing for screen panels.

Sunroom Sketchup drawing 8
Sunroom Sketchup drawing 8
Sunroom Sketchup drawing 9
Sunroom Sketchup drawing 9

Now, what to do about the glass going on the roof?

Next

A Newfoundland born Canadian with a life long interest in woodworking, baking and anything else that peaks my curiosity.

3 Comments

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