Will it be part of the house or a separate area? A sunroom can take many forms. It may be a sunny breakfast nook integrated into the kitchen or family room; a glassed-in front porch, or it can be a separate structure that is added to your home. It can be an all-glass solarium purchased as a complete package ready for installation, a classical conservatory or a traditional addition with more windows, glass doors and skylights.

Think about cooling … The most common problem with sunrooms is overheating. This can be largely avoided by proper window selection. Choose windows that open, to get good cross-ventilation in the summer time. The type of glass is equally important; look for glazing with reflective film which will keep some of the sun's rays out and thereby reduce heat gains. Use venting (opening) skylights, and consider built-in blinds for windows, skylights or an all-glass roof.

… and heating. With a large glass surface area, you can expect greater heat losses in the cool seasons. Energy-efficient windows can help keep the heat in. When you are planning an all-season sunroom, your remodelers will also look at your heating system to assess if it can handle the additional heating requirements. The remodelersr may recommend expanding your system to ensure that your sunroom is warm and comfortable on even the coldest days. Or if the room is large and constructed primarily with glass, a better alternative may be to install a separate heating and ventilation system.

A good foundation is a must. All-season sunrooms or solariums should sit on a proper foundation that extends below the frost line. Otherwise, you may have excessive movement due to settling, which can result in broken windows.

Trim nearby trees. Deciduous trees can provide shade in the summer time. However, if you have a glass roof, watch out for overhanging branches that could break and fall on the roof. garden sunrooms also recommend using tempered or laminated glass for the roof to avoid dangerous shattering in case something does fall on it.