[MassHistPres] Sunroom addition

[Martha Taylor]

Jeff,

If you choose to have a sunroom or conservatory custom-designed and built, I
would strongly suggest that you work with an architect who has experience
with historic homes and can help you develop a room that is appropriately
proportioned, scaled, and detailed.  Window sizes and proportions will be
particularly important.  Finding a builder who has experience adding on to
historic structures will also be helpful.  I agree that the back of the
house is probably the best place for the sunroom, especially if you are in
an historic district, as long as you won't be in violation of any setbacks
or other zoning requirements.

Martha L. Taylor, AIA
Newbury, MA


-----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 11:06 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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