Insulating a 3 season room

11/16/2017 at 11:50:08 AM

Hi. I have a couple of comments regarding this space. First of all, it's a lovely area by the pictures you show. With that sun shining, you shouldn't even need to improve the weather proofness of the room!

Joking aside, I have some concerns when folks want to do something such as this. Only because every person has a variation of expectations of what the final space will perform like. If the goal is to slow down some wind and keep the snow from drifting in, then that is fairly safe to accomplish, however, if the desire is to condition the space (add a heat source), this is where costs increase, and without a comprehensive plan, expectations can be unmet.

You are not incorrect about multiple layers of glass or plastic trapping air to increase insulation value - batt insulation does exactly that. If you have ever seen a failed sealed unit (window) in a home, this could be the scenario you create though - frosting between the panes of plastic which will impair your visibility. Again, this depends on how much warm moist air is inside the room trying to escape to the cooler, drier environment.

The floor is the next area of concern from a performance perspective. In Alberta, no matter how well insulated the room is, the floor of a structure such as this will be cold. Not necessarily a problem depending on your expectations.

Finally, I just want to mention heating. Many appliances available to warm a space, and many costs variances. Typically, a less expensive electric unit will cost more to run, whereas a more expensive gas appliance is cheaper to operate. You MUST ensure regulations are followed for venting and installation because this can be the difference between burning down or dying from carbon monoxide, and enjoying the room for many years.

Sorry for the long post. I just want to see you get bang for your buck, and that means meeting expectations within the budget.