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History of Sunrooms
Heritage, gray vinyl sunroom
12' x 16' Rectangle Sunroom
Shown with Heritage Gray Vinyl Siding
& Dual Black Asphalt Shingles
Once sheet glass was invented and used to make windowpanes, it wasn’t long before people discovered that it had some fascinating characteristics. Of course, they loved it for its ability to keep out rain, snow, dust, wind, bugs, animals, noise, and intruders, while still affording an advantageous view. Beyond that, however, they were also quite taken with its capacity for intensifying the heat of the sun. Ever since then, humans have found many ways to use that power for many beneficial purposes.

One of the most well-known uses for windowpanes is in the construction of greenhouses. As everyone knows, these structures are made mainly of glass, and they harness solar heat for use in growing plants, trees, and flowers, in cold weather. They also allow the cultivation of various forms of flora that are indigenous to tropical climates, in colder regions.
 
It is believed that greenhouses, as we know them today, were first constructed in Italy in the 16th century. Called giardini botanici, which means botanical gardens, they were originally used for housing the exotic tropical plants that were brought back to the country by explorers. After that, it didn’t take long for the idea of greenhouses to spread to nearby countries, and then, throughout Europe. Greenhouses were separate structures, usually found in the backyards of the wealthy. As the science of botany grew, however, their presence became common on university campuses.

In England, greenhouses were often called conservatories, because they were used for conserving plants and flowers. In France, where they were used to keep oranges from freezing, they were called orangeries. As the popularity of the pineapple grew, so did the presence of pineries. In many places, including the United States, greenhouses are also called hothouses.
 
At the same time that everyone was discovering the usefulness of the greenhouse in the growth and nurturing of plant life, the value of this concept in relation to human health was also being explored. This led to the creation, and instant popularity, of sunrooms, also called solaria, from the Latin, sol, meaning sun. These rooms were built onto houses, and usually had three walls of windows that went almost completely from the floor to the ceiling.

Also common in hospitals, solaria were frequently used to help people recover from illnesses. Whether it was influenza, pneumonia, pleurisy, tuberculosis, or the common cold, people were often advised by doctors to spend as much time in these rooms as they could. Even those who were completely healthy could hardly resist basking in the warmth of the sunlight that bathed an entire room.
 
The advantages that sunrooms provided in collecting the sun’s rays for the purpose of home heating were also quite obvious. In fact, the energy crunch of the 70’s brought about the advent of the double-paned sunroom, as most of the earlier versions had used only single panes. Today, with all of the concern over global warming and the necessity of finding alternate energy sources, the subject of solar heating has been brought to the forefront again.

As a solarium is still a common section of a modern hospital, the sunroom is still in vogue in all styles and sizes of homes. In some cases, especially when the house is very large, it may be referred to as an atrium, or a Florida room. Health issues, botanical pursuits, and energy crises notwithstanding, nothing beats a room with a view; and a view that’s as big as all outdoors is simply irresistible.
 
Sunrooms are, in fact, more popular than ever. That’s no surprise, as they handily accomplish the objective of one of the biggest trends that we’ve ever seen, which is our relentless efforts to bring the outdoors inside, and the indoors outside.

Of course, since we’re talking about a 21st century sunroom, it goes without saying that it must be able to multi-task. Keeping in line with our other great passion of having a sanctuary in our own backyards where we can detach ourselves from the fray, the modern sunroom is, likewise, detached from the house. Other attributes on its résumé include its ability to act as an entertainment room, a home office, a spa, a guesthouse, and, essentially, as anything else that one wants it to be. Furthermore, unlike most of us in the working world, this gorgeous structure can practically get by on its looks alone.
 
At Fifthroom.com, we offer a huge selection of the most beautiful sunrooms available anywhere. Using our Sunroom Designer, you can create a spectacular sunroom in just a few steps, choosing from dozens of options, including several colors of vinyl siding, shingles, shutters, and trim, as well as finished interiors, insulation, ceiling fans, cupolas,window boxes, and more. You can build as many as you wish, save them to your own personal gallery, and change them anytime you want.

We are proud to present you with this assortment of top-quality sunrooms, and we’re confident that they are the best that you will find. We are dedicated to bringing you the ultimate outdoor living experience, and with our sunrooms, you’ll be able to enjoy that experience year-round, for years to come, and, to top it off, with a breathtaking view.		 Octagon sunroom
12' x 12' Octagon Sunroom
Shown with White Vinyl Siding, Aged Redwood Asphalt Shingles
& Decorative Single Door
 
Fifthroom also offers a large variety of outdoor furniture and décor that can make your Sunroom your own.
 


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