8x12 Solariums & Sunrooms

A solarium kit is the middle ground between a gazebo and a built addition: an aluminium frame with glazed walls and a screened, lockable door, so you get a bug-free, wind-free room on an existing deck or patio without a foundation, a contractor or a building envelope. Our solariums run from 8' x 12' to 12' x 18', by Gazebo Penguin and Sojag.

Be clear about the season, because the marketing around this category often is not. These are three-season rooms. The walls are PVC glazing, not sealed insulated glass, and there is no insulation or vapour barrier, so they are comfortable from spring through fall and are not heated living space in a Canadian January. What they do is stretch the usable season at both ends and give you somewhere to sit out in wind, rain or blackfly season.

Two choices then. Where it stands: wall-mounted models share one wall with the house so the footprint is smaller and a patio door becomes the entrance, while freestanding models go anywhere level. The roof: a galvanized-steel roof is opaque, quiet in rain and rated for snow, while a polycarbonate roof keeps the room bright. Every frame is rustproof aluminium, in the Florence, Korado and Myrdal lines.

Shop by: Wall-mounted solariums · Freestanding · Steel roof · Polycarbonate roof · 10 x 16

Also useful: Gazebos · Pergolas · Gazebo Penguin · Sojag

Wall-mounted or freestanding, steel roof or polycarbonate

Choice	Why you would	Watch for
Wall-mounted	Smaller footprint, walk straight out from the house, one less wall to buy	It bolts to the building, so your municipality may treat it as an addition
Freestanding	Site it anywhere level — mid-yard, poolside, at the end of a deck	Four walls of glazing, so it costs more for the same floor area
Galvanized-steel roof	Snow-rated, quiet in rain, no glare, coolest in July	The room is lit through the walls only
Polycarbonate roof	Daylight from above; the room reads as a greenhouse rather than a porch	Warmer in full sun; rain is louder

Solarium FAQ

Is a solarium a four-season room?

No. These are three-season rooms: PVC glazing, no insulation, no vapour barrier. They are excellent from spring to late fall and pleasant on a mild winter afternoon, but they are not heated living space and should not be sold to you as one. A true four-season room is a built addition with insulated glass and a foundation.

Do I need a permit for a solarium?

Usually yes, and more often than for a gazebo. A wall-mounted solarium attaches to the house, which many municipalities treat as an addition regardless of how it is built, and the footprints here are large enough to exceed most accessory-structure exemptions. Talk to your building department before ordering; they will want the size and how it is anchored.

What does it sit on?

An existing deck, a concrete patio or a prepared pad — level and able to take the anchor hardware. No footings or foundation are required. On a wood deck the posts screw through into joists; on concrete they take sleeve anchors. Slope matters more than people expect: a frame that is out of level will not close its doors squarely.

Can it stay up all winter?

Yes, and the steel-roof models are rated for snow. Take down any fabric or shade panels, clear heavy wet snow off the roof after a storm, and keep the door path clear. Leaving it up all winter is normal here; what fails is a roof left loaded.

Wall-mounted or freestanding?

Wall-mounted if the room is an extension of the living space and you have a straight, unobstructed wall — it is cheaper per square foot and warmer, since the house wall holds heat. Freestanding if you want it away from the building, or the house wall has windows, vents, a gas meter or a roof line in the way.

What sizes and models are available?

Sizes 8' x 12', 10' x 10', 11' x 10', 10' x 12', 8' x 16', 10' x 13', 10' x 14', 12' x 12', 11' x 14', 10' x 16', 12' x 15', 12' x 18', in the Florence, Korado and Myrdal lines. Wall-mounted and freestanding versions exist across the range, so start from the footprint your deck allows.

Free shipping on most orders over C$88 — conditions in our Shipping Policy. Large items ship by freight carrier — see Freight delivery.

The 8' x 12' size covers wall-mounted structures that attach to a house, garage or existing deck. It includes the Gazebo Penguin Florence wall-mounted solarium in black with a polycarbonate or metal roof, the Florence Add-A-Room in sand and slate with the same roof choices, and the Sojag Portland wall gazebo in brown.

An 8' x 12' footprint gives roughly 96 square feet of covered space — room for a patio set or a small dining table — while keeping one full side against the wall. That makes it a practical choice for narrower yards, side entrances and townhouse decks. Solariums in this size are built for three-season use in Canadian conditions.