Browse Forums Renovation + Home Improvement 1 Feb 11, 2024 11:51 am Hey guys I lived in my project home for more than a year in Sydney. Now I feel the living space is too small while the backyard is relatively large, extending nearly 12 meters from the living room to the rear fence, my house front yard is facing north with the living room facing south. I am considering adding space through a sunroom/house extension to reduce the lawn area, providing an additional space for exercise, hosting friends for meals, short stays during suitable seasons, and incorporating a pergola for BBQ and other semi-outdoor needs. Although called a sunroom, due to the orientation, sunlight is limited, so the main goal is to increase indoor space. I have two proposed plans: Plan 1: Extend directly from the living room towards the backyard by 4 meters, creating a 6x4 sunroom. The west-facing side will be an insulated wall, while the south and east sides will have windows and sliding doors. The sunroom's roof will extend 2.5 meters into the yard, forming a 6x2.5 semi-open pergola. The advantage would be morning sunlight on the east side into the sunroom, but a potential drawback is limited outdoor visibility from the living room. Plan 1Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Plan 2: Extend from the living room for 4 meters wide, reaching 6 meters into the backyard, creating a 4x6 sunroom. Similar to Plan 1, the west side is an insulated wall, while the south and east sides have transparent windows and sliding doors. However the east side roof will extend 2.5 meters, forming a 2.5x6 semi-open pergola. The pros of this plan are that it provides convenient access from the side yard, directly facing the semi-open space. Additionally, looking out from the current living room windows allows for a bit of view for the backyard landscape. One potential drawback could be an excess of western exposure in the room. However, considering that the neighboring house is close to the backyard fence, it should offer significant shade to counterbalance this effect. Plan 2Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Also I won't be too worried about council approval or easement for both of the above plans as many of the houses in my area extend their houses much closer to the rear fence than I do. Several questions below: 1. Which plan do you think is better? I'd love to hear your thoughts and ideas on any pros and cons I may have overlooked. 2. Without considering council approval, is it necessary to concrete both side yards along with the sunroom and pergola slabs, which is extending 6 meters into the backyard from existing house finish 3. For the sunroom floor, I am leaning towards SPC Hybrid flooring. Should I also use tiles or SPC for the pergola floor as well? I have attached the floor plan and real photos of the first floor for reference. Looking forward to expert opinions. Thank you very much. Floor plan of the ground floorLike ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ West side yardLike ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ East side yard which connects side gateLike ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ West side neighbour's houseLike ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ The view of the backyard from my first floor's bedroomLike ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Seeking advice for a backyard sunroom with a pergola/ver 2Feb 12, 2024 11:26 pm Thanks for sharing. If i had that blank canvas of a yard, i would plant as many trees as possible and create a shady oasis in the midst of suburbia. Re: Seeking advice for a backyard sunroom with a pergola/ver 3Feb 27, 2024 6:44 pm ![]() Hey guys I lived in my project home for more than a year in Sydney. Now I feel the living space is too small while the backyard is relatively large, extending nearly 12 meters from the living room to the rear fence, my house front yard is facing north with the living room facing south. I am considering adding space through a sunroom/house extension to reduce the lawn area, providing an additional space for exercise, hosting friends for meals, short stays during suitable seasons, and incorporating a pergola for BBQ and other semi-outdoor needs. Although called a sunroom, due to the orientation, sunlight is limited, so the main goal is to increase indoor space. I have two proposed plans: Plan 1: Extend directly from the living room towards the backyard by 4 meters, creating a 6x4 sunroom. The west-facing side will be an insulated wall, while the south and east sides will have windows and sliding doors. The sunroom's roof will extend 2.5 meters into the yard, forming a 6x2.5 semi-open pergola. The advantage would be morning sunlight on the east side into the sunroom, but a potential drawback is limited outdoor visibility from the living room. Plan 1Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Plan 2: Extend from the living room for 4 meters wide, reaching 6 meters into the backyard, creating a 4x6 sunroom. Similar to Plan 1, the west side is an insulated wall, while the south and east sides have transparent windows and sliding doors. However the east side roof will extend 2.5 meters, forming a 2.5x6 semi-open pergola. The pros of this plan are that it provides convenient access from the side yard, directly facing the semi-open space. Additionally, looking out from the current living room windows allows for a bit of view for the backyard landscape. One potential drawback could be an excess of western exposure in the room. However, considering that the neighboring house is close to the backyard fence, it should offer significant shade to counterbalance this effect. Plan 2Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Also I won't be too worried about council approval or easement for both of the above plans as many of the houses in my area extend their houses much closer to the rear fence than I do. Several questions below: 1. Which plan do you think is better? I'd love to hear your thoughts and ideas on any pros and cons I may have overlooked. 2. Without considering council approval, is it necessary to concrete both side yards along with the sunroom and pergola slabs, which is extending 6 meters into the backyard from existing house finish 3. For the sunroom floor, I am leaning towards SPC Hybrid flooring. Should I also use tiles or SPC for the pergola floor as well? I have attached the floor plan and real photos of the first floor for reference. Looking forward to expert opinions. Thank you very much. Floor plan of the ground floorLike ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ West side yardLike ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ East side yard which connects side gateLike ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ West side neighbour's houseLike ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ The view of the backyard from my first floor's bedroomLike ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ i think option 2 is much better with easy access to the garden without having to walk through the new sunroom which makes it a better room for guests and TV .a simple curtain across the old sliding door will add privacy when needed but before confirming room and window sizes and location i suggest that you add furniture to better identify how the spaces will be used and maybe if/when funds allow a bigger kitchen? Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ There may be answers here but can't find anything. I have a closed in veranda, four windows. 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