A Second Story Sunroom Adds a New Level of Outdoor Living Near Pittsburgh
When homeowners want more outdoor living space, the obvious place to look is often the ground level. A patio, deck, or porch can provide a great foundation for a new sunroom, but what if the best location is actually one level higher?
That was the case for this Betterliving Sunroom installation outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Rather than building a sunroom on the ground or first floor, the homeowners created a raised outdoor living space by adding a three-season sunroom to the second story of their home.
The project was designed and installed by Betterliving Patio & Sunrooms of Pittsburgh, an authorized Betterliving dealer serving the Pittsburgh area and surrounding communities. The dealer specializes in custom three- and four-season sunrooms, enclosed porches, patio covers, decks, and shade products.
Turning a Second-Story Space Into an Outdoor Retreat
For this Pittsburgh-area home, the second story sunroom creates an elevated outdoor living area with a different perspective of the surrounding property. Instead of looking out from the ground, the homeowners can relax above it, enjoying more expansive views while still having the comfort and protection of an enclosed space.
The result is an outdoor room that feels connected to the rest of the home while giving the homeowners a different way to enjoy their property. And because the sunroom is built on the second story, the structure becomes much more than an enclosure. It effectively extends the home’s living space outward.
A Three-Season Sunroom Designed for Spring, Summer and Fall
For this project, the homeowners selected a Betterliving Three-Season Sunroom. Three-season sunrooms are designed to make outdoor living more comfortable during spring, summer, and fall. The enclosed space provides protection from rain, wind, insects, and other outdoor nuisances while still allowing homeowners to enjoy plenty of natural light and views of the outdoors.
Unlike a conventional room addition, a three-season sunroom doesn’t have to be designed as a fully climate-controlled space. That makes it an appealing option for homeowners who want to expand their usable living space without taking on the cost and complexity of a traditional year-round addition.
For a second story sunroom like this one, that combination of protection, openness, and seasonal usability makes a lot of sense. On a pleasant spring morning, the windows can let in fresh air. During a summer afternoon, the homeowners can enjoy the outdoors without dealing with insects. And when cooler fall weather arrives, the enclosed room provides a comfortable place to continue enjoying the views.
Betterliving Three Season Sunrooms Feature Durable Aluminum Construction
The sunroom components are an important part of the Betterliving Three-Season Sunroom system. Extruded aluminum provides the strength needed for a long-lasting outdoor structure while requiring considerably less maintenance than many traditional building materials. The low maintenance materials are especially valuable for homeowners. They can spend spend more time enjoying the space and less time maintaining it. Betterliving Three-Season Sunrooms are designed with aluminum framing that resists common problems such as rust, rot, and warping.
The slim aluminum framing also helps maximize the amount of glass in the room. That creates wide-open views and allows natural light to fill the space, which makes a sunroom feel so different from a conventional interior room.
A Custom Addition for a Unique Home
One of the biggest advantages of a Betterliving Sunroom is the ability to customize the design around the existing home. Since every house has its own architecture, dimensions, rooflines, elevations, and outdoor spaces, our sunrooms are custom-designed to create a seamless transition between the home and the new living space. A second story sunroom adds another layer of design considerations, including how the addition integrates with the existing structure, roofline, and exterior while complementing the architecture of the home.
For this Pittsburgh-area project, the elevated location was an important part of the design. Instead of forcing the home to accommodate a standard ground-level addition, the sunroom was designed to take advantage of the home’s existing second-story space. That kind of flexibility is one of the reasons sunrooms can be such a practical home improvement option.
Bringing Outdoor Living to a New Level
This second story sunroom addition outside Pittsburgh demonstrates just how creative homeowners can be when expanding their outdoor living space. The aluminum sunroom provides the homeowners with a comfortable, light-filled space that bridges the gap between indoors and outdoors. Its three-season design extends the amount of time they can enjoy the space, while the durable aluminum construction provides a low-maintenance solution designed for long-term performance.
And perhaps most importantly, the project shows that a sunroom doesn’t have to look like an addition that was simply attached to the house. With the right design, it can feel like it was always meant to be there.
For homeowners who are considering a sunroom, this project is a reminder to look at the possibilities beyond the traditional ground-level porch or patio. Sometimes, the best place to enjoy the outdoors is from a higher vantage point. Ready to create a new outdoor living space of your own? Connect with an authorized Betterliving Sunrooms dealer to explore the possibilities for your home.
