Sunroom vs glass room: what is the difference?
The short answer
A sunroom is an extension: an insulated, double-glazed room on foundations, heated from the house, built under building control and often needing planning permission. A glass room is an aluminium veranda closed in with frameless sliding glass doors: a single-glazed outdoor room that keeps wind and rain off, opens right up in good weather, costs a fraction of an extension and is usually fitted in one or two days. They look alike in photos and are used very differently.
What a sunroom is
Sunroom, conservatory and garden room are used loosely, but in Northern Ireland a sunroom usually means a single-storey extension with a lot of glazing and a solid or glazed roof. It has foundations, a floor slab, insulated walls and double or triple glazing. It is heated, usually from the house’s central heating, and it is designed to be used in January as readily as July.
Because it is an extension, a sunroom is built under the Building Regulations, with building control inspections, and it often needs planning permission. The work takes weeks and involves a builder, a glazier and usually an electrician and a plumber. The cost reflects all of that.
What a glass room is
A glass room starts as an aluminium veranda: a powder-coated frame and a polycarbonate or laminated glass roof, fixed to the house or free-standing. Frameless sliding doors in 10mm toughened glass close in one, two or three sides, and a solid wall in aluminium and polycarbonate can take the third side. The doors slide and stack to one end, so on a good day the whole front opens.
It has no foundations beyond a level base, no insulation and no heating unless you add a heater. It sits on your existing patio. The frame and doors are made to measure, and fitting usually takes one or two days. Planning rules can still apply, so check with your council before you order. Our glass rooms page goes into the detail.
Side by side
| Sunroom | Glass room | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | An extension to the house | A veranda closed in with sliding glass doors |
| Structure | Foundations, slab, insulated walls | Aluminium frame on your patio |
| Glazing | Double or triple glazed | Single 10mm toughened glass |
| Heating | From the house | None, or an electric heater |
| Use in winter | A living room | Sheltered; comfortable on sunny days and with a heater |
| Use in summer | Can overheat; windows open | Whole front slides open |
| Time on site | Weeks | Usually one or two days |
| Cost | The cost of an extension | A fraction of it |
| Changing later | Difficult | Add or remove doors |
Which one is right for you
Choose a sunroom if you need more living space all year, want it heated and insulated, and are ready for a building project with the cost and time that go with it.
Choose a glass room if you want to use the garden for more of the year, want shelter from wind and rain without losing the feel of being outside, and want it fitted in a day or two at a fraction of the cost. For most people who say they want a sunroom “to sit out in”, a glass room is what they are describing.
The two are not rivals for the same job. A glass room does not replace a living room, and a sunroom cannot slide open on a June evening.
What a glass room costs
The price depends on size, the roof and how many sides are closed in, and we give a fixed quote after measuring. Our veranda cost guide has example figures. For planning, check with your council before you order.
See a glass room in Ballymoney
The difference is obvious once you stand in one. Our Ballymoney showroom has full-size glass rooms on display, open Monday to Saturday. Ring 028 2542 9017 or request a free quote.
Common questions
Is a glass room warm in winter?
It is sheltered, not heated. On a sunny winter day the glass warms it well above the outside temperature, and with an electric heater it is comfortable on a cold dry evening. It is not a substitute for a heated room. Our guide to using a glass room in winter goes into the detail.
Does a glass room add value to a house?
It adds a usable covered space and most buyers see it as a plus, but it is not counted as floor area the way an extension is.
Can a glass room be made into a sunroom later?
No. A sunroom needs foundations and insulated construction. A glass room is a different product. You can, though, add or remove sliding doors on a glass room at any time.
Do I need planning permission for a glass room?
It depends on the size and position, so check with your council before you order.
Get a free quote
Leave your details and your nearest showroom will be in touch to arrange a free site visit. You get a fixed written quote, with no obligation.
Not ready for a quote yet? Download our brochure (PDF)
