Fitch Construction Blog Article

How To Decide If A Sunroom Is Worth The Cost

David Cerrone - Thursday, February 18, 2021
How To Decide If A Sunroom Is Worth The Cost

A sunroom is a fantastic investment opportunity for your home. It allows you to bask in the sunlight in summer, and relax in a warm environment during the winter. You can also enjoy a glorious sunset from your sunroom or enclosed porch. 

Sunrooms provide you with all the relaxing ambiance you could ever need. 

The cost of a sunroom varies a lot. It all depends on what type of structure and what materials you’re looking for. 

Today we’re going to guide you through sunroom options and help you decide if a sunroom is the best choice for your home. 

It’s important to remember that sunrooms aren’t just for the present. They can also increase your home’s value and make your home more appealing for potential buyers in the future. 

When you’re thinking of buying a sunroom you’ll be able to choose between the main types of sunrooms: conservatories/three-season sunrooms, and solariums/four-season sunrooms. 

Three-season sunrooms 

These sunrooms are designed for people who live in temperate weather conditions. They tend to not be heated and are usually built by adding an aluminum frame to a patio. 

Glass makes up about 75% to 90% of a three-season sunroom and is generally just standard single-pane glass. 

Four-season sunrooms

This type of sunroom, like the name suggests, can be used any time during the year, even in the coldest months of winter. 

The frames are built much sturdier and four-season sunrooms are insulated a lot better than three-season sunrooms. They’re often made of reinforced aluminum, vinyl, and sometimes wood. 

Many four-season sunrooms have heated floors and are fitted with special energy-efficient windows.

How much does a sunroom cost?

On average, homeowners will spend between $20,909 and $67,492 on sunrooms. The cost of a sunroom can vary depending on a few different factors, including:

  • How large it is
  • The type of roof you’d like
  • The materials you’re using
  • What features you’d like to add
  • Electrical wiring work required
  • Adding a heated floor

Other costs depend on the setup you already have. 

If you’re not converting an already-existing patio, you’ll also have to pay for a building permit. 

A solarium, for example, has a glass ceiling so it will cost more than asphalt shingles. Keep in mind when planning your sunroom that asphalt shingles for a roof tend to cost a lot less than a glass roof. A sliding glass door costs less than a French door too. 

Expanding your HVAC system to reach this new space can also add up to about $4,000 to the total cost. 

If you’d like to add electricity to your sunroom this could be another $500 for the electrician’s fee and another $1,000 for adding various fixtures. 

A lot of homeowners can spend thousands of dollars buying decor for their sunrooms and adding the finishing touches. 

How do you know if a sunroom is right for you?

Sunroom Interior

Before you commit to installing a sunroom in your home you should decide how much it’s worth investing in for you. Think about how you’ll use your sunroom. Will you be using it every day? Is it the right fit for your family?

If you live in a harsh climate with long winters then a four-season sunroom will be a great addition to your home. If you live in a warmer area then having a three-season sunroom is the perfect choice for you. 

It’s estimated that a sunroom can recoup about half of its cost, but that’s not the only benefit you should take into consideration when thinking of installing a sunroom. 

Sunrooms can also vastly improve the quality of your life, making you feel more comfortable and happier in your home. 

If your sunroom is heated you can even grow plants in it all year round which can improve your quality of living and your mood. 

What’s better: a three-season sunroom or a four-season sunroom?

The best way to figure out whether a three-season sunroom or four-season sunroom is the better choice for you is to not concentrate on your budget but to look at your lifestyle needs. 

Of course, budget is important, as well as your construction timeline, but there’s no point in getting a sunroom that doesn’t make your daily life better. 

If you can see yourself using your sunroom every day, no matter what the weather conditions are like outside, then the four-season sunroom is the ideal choice for you. 

If you’re still not sure which sunroom is right for you or if you should invest in a sunroom at all then get in contact with us today and we’ll help you figure out the best choice for you and your home. 

At Fitch Construction, we will work with you to identify the best ways to fund your project. Please visit our financing section for more information.

We would like the opportunity to sit down, discuss and turn your dream of a new sunroom into a reality. Contact us or call us at (585) 377-3330.