In Milwaukee, we don’t take nice weather for granted. Between a late spring and an early fall, the stretch of good patio days goes by fast, and everyone tries to fit in as many as they can. That’s what makes a sunroom or three-season porch so valuable. It gives you a place to enjoy the sun and fresh air on the good days, and a bright, sheltered spot on the ones when the wind off Lake Michigan says otherwise.
Since these rooms are mostly glass, the windows and doors make all the difference. Here’s what works best.
What are the best window styles for a sunroom?
- For the view: Picture windows are fixed, with nothing interrupting the glass. They let you watch the snow melt or the leaves turn from a comfortable chair.
- For airflow: Casement windows crank open all the way to pull in side breezes on the first warm days. Awning windows hinge at the top, so they can stay open during a summer shower.
- For long, low walls: Gliding windows slide horizontally and suit the wide, shorter openings common on enclosed porches.
- For more light and room: Bay and bow windows extend past the wall and brighten the whole space.
Many porch projects combine a row of picture windows with a casement or awning window on each end, so you get the view and the breeze.
What kind of glass works best in a room full of windows?
Spring and fall around Milwaukee can bring a warm afternoon and a cold night on the same day. The right glass helps keep your sunroom comfortable through those swings. Renewal by Andersen’s High-Performance Low-E4® glass helps hold heat in when it’s cool out and keep it out when it’s hot. On south- or west-facing porches, SmartSun™ glass adds extra protection from summer heat and from the UV rays that fade furniture and flooring.
What door should connect a sunroom to the house or deck?
The right door makes it easy to flow from the kitchen to the sunroom to the backyard all summer long.
- Gliding patio doors don’t swing into the room, which saves floor space on narrow enclosed porches.
- Hinged patio doors open wide for easy trips in and out and give the room a finished, traditional look.
Each door is custom-built to fit its opening.
Why does frame material matter with this much glass?
Sunrooms and porches take on more weather than most rooms: direct sun, lake wind, and big temperature swings between seasons. Frames that move too much with those changes can loosen seals over time. Renewal by Andersen windows and patio doors are made with Fibrex® material, a composite of reclaimed wood fiber and thermoplastic polymer that resists rot and warping and never needs painting.
Get more out of every warm day
Schedule a consultation with Renewal by Andersen of Milwaukee to find the right windows and doors for your sunroom or three-season porch.
