Tips on Designing a 3 Season Porch For Cold Weather

Here in Wisconsin, we love the outdoors, and spending time in the warm summer months on our porches or sunrooms is something we look back on fondly during the cold months of late fall and winter. With all the talk in the industry about indoor/outdoor living space, the 3 season porch straddles the line between indoor and outdoor living. It's the perfect remedy for the scorching sun, thunderstorms, and biting bugs of late summer.

When winter rolls around your sunroom is certainly missed as the temperature falls and we're forced to spend cold winter days inside. But what if you could extend the use of your 3 season porch? With a little planning, you can winterize your 3 season porch before the cold weather hits. How far you take it, depends on your goals using the space.

So if you want to enjoy the first snowfall of winter sitting on your porch sipping hot cocoa, read on for some ideas of the best ways to winterize your 3 season porch!

Three Season or Four Season: Which is Right For You?

There's often some confusion about what we mean when we're talking about a 3 season versus a 4 season porch or sunroom. For the purposes of our discussion, here are some basic definitions.

• Three-season Porch

A 3 season porch is designed to be used in spring, summer, and fall. The room itself is typically not connected to your home's HVAC system (if your contractor has followed building code) and they are often sparsely insulated. A 3 season porch can be as simple as a deck, accessible from your home, that has a fixed roof and has been converted from a screened porch using basic windows.

• Four-season Porch

A four-season porch is an insulated room that is built to the same local building codes as any other addition to your home. It may or may not be connected to your home's HVAC, however, if it is not, there is generally some form of supplemental heating and cooling, for example, a ceiling fan, and a fireplace. In Wisconsin, 4-season porches are almost always fully heated and air conditioned, and are an extension of your living space, yet also something that feels brighter and more airy than the main living area.

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Again, there is a range of options for winterizing a 3 season porch depending on how you'd like to use to room. Moderate insulation and a supplemental heating source can keep you enjoying your “outdoor” space on all but the coldest Wisconsin winter days.

What Are Your Goals?

When it comes to improving your 3 season porch, every homeowner has different goals. Begin your project by discussing your goals with your design-build professional. If your goal is to simply cut down on heating costs or preventing heat loss, there are some simple low or no-cost steps you can take to winterize your space. These include:

• If your space has windows, or exchangeable screens and glass panels, make sure they are securely closed, and if possible, locked.

• Replace any worn weather stripping around windows and doors.

• Caulk or fill any cracks around doors and windows.

• Cover your closed windows, and unused doors with shrink wrap winterizing plastic to add an additional thermal barrier.

• Place draft stoppers along the bottom of doors into the porch and into the house. Also, place them in windows if they face in toward the living space.

Tips For Extending The Season

If your goal is to extend the shoulder seasons for your porch (open it earlier in the spring and use it farther into the fall) or if you're considering year-round use, then you will need to start by adding insulation.

This will mean insulating the ceilings, walls, and beneath the porch floor which is the source of the greatest heat loss. Proper insulation is a job best left to the professionals as the walls and ceiling may require specialized work.

If you're planning on using your porch year-round, in Wisconsin, you'll probably need to add some additional heating. While it may be possible to tie your porch into your home's HVAC system, there are several considerations. It may be costly to add ductwork to bring heat from your system onto the porch. Also depending on the additional square footage, it may be taxing on your existing system, and upgrading your HVAC can be expensive.

You may want to look into installing a ductless, or mini-split heating system. The design and efficiency of these types of systems have improved dramatically in the past several years, and prices for installation have come down as well. The newest designs are inconspicuous and blend into almost any interior design.

Make sure that the one you choose is powerful enough to heat your space. If you're planning on converting to a 4 season porch, be aware that some units do not provide much heat in sub-zero weather, and some provide little heat below 32 degrees, and none in sub-zero. This can be especially relevant in Wisconsin! Your design-build contractor can help you choose the proper heating system to meet your goals.

Stylish and Functional: Upgrade With A Fireplace

Nothing is quite as relaxing as sitting in front of a fireplace snuggled up with your favorite book and a glass of wine after a long day. In fact, adding a fireplace is one of the most popular porch upgrades. They offer you the experience of sitting around the campfire without having to deal with the bugs and freezing temperatures, and you'll never get a face full of smoke! When it comes to adding a fireplace on your 3 season porch, you have many options.

Define Your Needs: Traditional Masonry or Gas?

What is your primary purpose? Are you looking for your fireplace to provide warmth as a heating source, or create ambiance and a focal point? In Wisconsin, adding a dependable source of radiant heat can extend your seasonal enjoyment. While a traditional masonry fireplace is aesthetically beautiful, they tend to be inefficient as a heat source.  If you have a ready source of fuel, a gas fireplace might be a better option. They are clean-burning, smokeless, and do not require venting so their warmth stays in the room. Add to this, they are very easy to install, and much more environmentally friendly than a wood-burning fireplace.

Consider Structural Needs and Constraints

Another important consideration is the design of your porch. Some structures are not compatible with a traditional masonry hearth. This can be especially true if your porch has a glass roof, such as a “conservatory,” or “solarium.” If this is the case, you may want to consider a ventless gas fireplace, alternative-fuel tabletop fireplace, or wood-burning stove. These can also provide some heat and ambiance, and a wood stove can add an element of rustic charm to your space, however, you will need to install a vent pipe for a wood stove.

An enclosed porch or sunroom is an amenity that homeowners love, and it is in fact, one of the most common upgrades Wisconsin homeowners request. Winterizing your 3 season porch to extend its useful season, or converting it into a year-round space is an affordable option that will improve your lifestyle, and your enjoyment for many years to come. With a little thought and some planning, you can turn your porch into one of your favorite rooms in the house!

View These Three Season Porch Design-Build-Remodel Projects

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This article was updated by Abe Degnan on 7/7/2021.

About Degnan Design-Build-Remodel

If you live in the greater Madison, Wisconsin area and are planning a home improvement project, or porch upgrade, why not give the award-winning designers ar Degnan Design-Build-Remodel a call at (608) 846-5963. We're always happy to answer your questions and can help you to design the perfect year-round space to commune with nature, sit back and enjoy a good book and a glass of wine, or gather with family and friends on a cool autumn night. Schedule a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your creative vision!