Greenhouse Kits Offer Sturdy, Simple Rooms
QUESTION: I want to add an efficient sun room to my house for casual living area and to grow some plants. My budget is limited. Are there do-it-yourself sun room kits available so I can lower the cost?
ANSWER: There are many new designs of do-it-yourself sun room kits available. These new kits are efficient, and some can help heat your home in the winter, too. Some manufacturers offer more than 140 standard kit sizes.
Many of the new do-it-yourself sun room kits simply bolt together like huge erector sets. Parts are precut, predrilled and color-coded. They include the required screws (rustproof stainless steel), seals, etc. Once the ground area is prepared, one can be erected over a weekend.
The least expensive kits use aluminum extrusion frame members and special double-pane clear plastic glazing. It is shatterproof and is UV stabilized to resist the sun’s damaging rays. This produces a lightweight, yet strong, sun room. You can build these lightweight kits right over an existing deck.
One convertible (to a porch) sun room kit has quick-change clear thermal pane window panels that snap out to expose screens creating a summer porch. These lightweight panels are stored behind the lower glazing panels.
Frame material is important for aesthetics and efficiency. Extruded aluminum is strong and simple to assemble. In all but the mildest climates, choose a frame with thermal breaks to save energy and block condensation.
Wood framing is more expensive, but it is attractive and offers more design flexibility. It also is a natural insulator. A curved eave (curved transition between the front and roof) is especially attractive.
One new sun room kit, by SunRoom Design, uses an aluminum exterior frame that is covered with natural oak wood on the interior. This unique design uses a super-strong interlocking wood-aluminum joint instead of adhesives.
The type of glazing is most important for an efficient, comfortable sun room. Clear or tinted double-pane, low-e argon or Heat Mirror glass is most efficient. Double-pane crystal clear acrylic plastic is also effective.
A unique sun room option is a semi-circular design, Sun Crescent. It is actually five-sided and assembles easily. It adds openness to any room.
During the summer, adding afternoon shading can increase comfort. Several kits have built-in frame channels to hold sun-blocking screens or shades. Some use manual crank screens or shades. Others have motorized shades that can be controlled by automatic sun and temperature sensors.
Write for Update Bulletin No. 764 showing a buyer’s guide of 14 sun room kit manufacturers and accessories listing designs, styles, frame types, glazing options, ventilation and shading options, prices and a greenhouse plant selector guide. Please include $2 and a business-size self-addressed, stamped envelope; mail to James Dulley, Los Angeles Times, 6906 Royalgreen Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45244.
Can Moving Damage a New Refrigerator?
Q: I have a 1-year-old, high efficiency refrigerator that I plan to move to a new apartment. I heard that it will be damaged or its efficiency reduced if it is laid flat. Is this true?
A: New refrigerators, made within the past five years, should not be damaged if they are laid flat for transportation. Many are shipped this way to the retailer. If it has the coils on the back, don’t risk damaging the coils by laying it down.
Once you move your refrigerator to the new location, place it upright at room temperature for several hours before turning it on. This allows the compressor oil to drain back to its proper location.
Dimming TV’s Bright Color Will Save Little
Q: I watch a lot of TV at night. Will it use less electricity if I turn down the brightness knob?
A: A large color TV uses a lot of electricity; feel the heat given off from the back of your TV to get an idea of how much. Turning down the brightness a little won’t really cut your electric bills.
Using efficient lower wattage or three-way light bulbs in your TV room often allows you to turn the TV’s brightness down and still have a good picture. Installing electronic dimmer switches is also an efficient option. Electronic ones are more efficient than the cheaper rheostat dimmer switches.
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Letters and questions to Dulley, a Cincinnati-based engineering consultant, may be sent to James Dulley, Los Angeles Times, 6906 Royalgreen Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45244.
