[MassHistPres] Sunroom addition

Fri May 30 12:41:10 EDT 2008

Dennis,

I am in complete agreement on every single point you made, especially about
the nature of the English design aesthetic (meant to go with a late
Victorian house) and very different climate. I was hoping that since so many
of the firms listed do custom work, one could devise an attractive,
practical design with the "greenhouse" glass only at a more standard window
height level. I wonder about the pre-fab wall enclosure systems that
Artistic Enclosures offer -- they'd be smart to offer as a choice a solid
panel bottom portion that fits with a glazed upper portion. 

I would also possibly add an ordinary roof -- perhaps standing seam
copper/metal, to further insulate for winter & cool in the summer. The
wonderful conservatory effect could then be completed with tall narrow
windows, and an authentic lantern on top, and even roof cresting/finial if
you really wanted the full effect. As for the interior, floor tiles and a
ceiling fan would round out the impression.

Yes, by omission, I was suggesting that the "1970's" molded types of
"sunrooms" with extruded metal frames are definitely to be avoided in a
historical setting. As for skylights, my 11-year old Velux has never leaked,
but located at the south elevation as it is, it creates the worst of
situations in our family room: freezing in the winter, and boiling in the
summer. (And this is in a new construction rear addition with Marvin windows
and a French door.) Don't do it!!

Anyway, thank you, Dennis, for elaborating. 

Rosemary Battles Foy
Brookline

-----Original Message-----
From: masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu
[mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu] On Behalf Of Dennis De Witt
Sent: Friday, May 30, 2008 10:06 AM
To: MHC listserve
Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] Sunroom addition

If I might add some thoughts to Rosemary's exhaustive list, based on
personal research and experience.

I have been in the Glass House production shop in Pomfret and was impressed
by the quality.  Ditto re another firm called Colebrook in Winsted Conn.,
which she doesn't mention and which may not survive.

I would agree that something like this should only go on the back --
especially of an 1812 house.

It looks like she has appropriately ignored the typical "1970s"  
greenhouses, like Four-Seasons, which often are about as durable and
inappropriate as a 1970s solar collector.

Most of these are in style and construction "english" greenhouses.   
The original designs were intended for the english climate -- nor were they
originally designed for human occupation -- nor necessarily for use in all
seasons.  But that isn't the way people see them here  
-- which can cause problems.   Many of them are rather lightly built  
-- England does not see our snow loads.  Many do not have very good
ventilation -- England has mild cloudy summers compared to ours.  And mild
winters compared to ours.

The typical english greenhouse may be more compatible in scale and
temperament with a later Victorian house.

Let me suggest an alternative that might be much more comfortable with an
1812 house.  It is possible to make an addition entirely out of sash
windows, whose walls will have 80% of the glass area, above the sill line
where it matters, with solid wall below, where the snow accumulates in our
climate, and to make a roof that is 80% glass out of Veluxes, which are
available with ganged flashing.  They can be supported on gluelams with
appropriate trim to produce an elegant greenhouse like effect from the
inside which is much more compatible with the appearance of the house and
will have much better ventilation from its sash widows and venting
skylights.

Note.  All skylights leak at least a little under unpredictable
circumstances, I would not suggest a drywall interior.  Varnished wood,
doesn't care.

Based on my experience, such a design, elegantly crafted by a good finish
carpenter will be less expensive per SF (but still not cheap ) than a
comparable quality "English" greenhouse.

Dennis De Witt

Brookline

On May 30, 2008, at 10:02 AM, Rosemary Foy wrote:

> Jeff,
>
> The latest issue of Period Homes has a "Conservatories & Outbuildings"
> listing, and from that, it looks as though you have at least seven 
> good possibilities, all on the East coast:
>
> 1. Artistic Enclosures out of Barto, PA - "pre-constructed wall 
> systems" for conservatories, sun/screen rooms, porch enclosures. May 
> be a less expensive option than the others?
>
> 2. Glass House, LLC out of Pomfret, CT - fabricator & installer  of 
> traditional conservatories, greenhouses, sunrooms, roof lanters, 
> specialty skylights. Mahogany or aluminum frame, true divided lite 
> windows & doors, custom fabrication.
>
> 3. Oak Leaf Conservatories of York out of Atlanta, GA - Designer, 
> custom fabricator & installer "Authentic British" conservatories, 
> orangeries, garden rooms, glass domes. Hand-crafted in England, 
> mortise-and-tenon, mahogany, you get the drift.
>
> 4. Renaissance Conservatories out of Leola, PA - Custom fabricator & 
> installer of traditional conservatories, sunroooms, greenhouses, 
> skylights, roof lanters, garden houses, pool enclosures, etc. Mahogany 
> & cedar.
>
> 5. Solar Innovations, Inc. out of Myerstown, PA - Designer, fabricator 
> & installer of aluminum and wood glazed structures: skylights, 
> sunrooms,greenhouses, conservatories, folding & sliding doors, 
> walkways, canopies, etc.
>
> 6. Tanglewood Conservatories, Ltd. Out of Denton, MD - Designer, 
> manufacturer &  installer of traditional wood conservatories, roof 
> lanterns & other glass architecture: sunrooms, pool enclosures, 
> greenhouses, follies, gazebos and pavillions; skylights, cresting and 
> finials.
>
> 7. Ward Greenhouses out of Concord, MA - Supplier of greenhouses 
> constructed from new & antique greenhouse materials. Large inventory 
> of antique greenhouses from Lord & Burnham, Lutton, King, Hitchings.
> Restoration work
> too. Sounds like just horticultural greenhouses?
>
> Judging from the photographs supplied, they all have traditional 
> styling either Classical or Gothic, that would work fine with a New 
> England house on a Common. Would suggest putting it at the rear 
> elevation, given the setting.
> Be careful, too, because some of these designs can get a little 
> over-wrought.
>
> I hope that this helps. Feel free to contact me if you need assistance 
> with legwork, sympathetic architectural styles or a historical 
> viewpoint.
>
>
> Rosemary Battles Foy
> Architectural Historian & Preservation Consultant 230  Buckminster 
> Road Brookline, MA 02445
> 617-851-7035
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu
> [mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu] On Behalf Of Jeff K.
> Sent: Friday, May 30, 2008 5:23 AM
> To: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
> Subject: [MassHistPres] Sunroom addition
>
> Hello All,
>
> Does anyone have a recommendation for glass sunroom providers or ideas 
> about glass sunrooms that might be compatible with a c. 1810 home on a 
> Common? Is there such a thing available? Any leads would be 
> appreciated.
>
> Thank you,
>
> Jeff Kotkin
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