If you’re looking for a better way to enjoy your back yard while staying protected from the elements, it’s likely a sunroom is at the top of your home remodeling wish-list. Learn everything you need to know about sunrooms and decide whether this home addition project is right for you.
What is a Sunroom?
A sunroom can provide you with a little spot of summer, year-round. A sunroom has large windows to let light in and provides a view of your outdoor space, and is built purely for your enjoyment and well-being. A sunroom is a great space to relax, enjoy hobbies, socialize, exercise or even work.
Enjoy the outdoors with a sunroom addition.
Should I Choose a 3-Season or 4-Season Sunroom Addition?
Before you assess the benefits of building a sunroom, determine whether a 3-season sunroom or a 4-season sunroom best suits your vision.
If you only intend to use the sunroom throughout the warmer months, a 3-season sunroom will do the trick. A 3-season sunroom is completely surrounded by single pain glass, it’s cheaper and is easier to construct. Crafting a 4-season sunroom is a more complex project, as it entails building an addition to your home. Budget and usability are both important considerations here. A 4-season sunroom addition will be more of an investment but can be used year-round. It enables you to look out over picturesque snow scenes from the comfort of your home, even throughout the harsh Chicagoland winters.
Opt for a Four Seasons room to enjoy the space all year round.
Building a Sunroom: Pros
There are many reasons to build a sunroom, which is why it remains such a popular addition in homes across the United States. Originally known as porch enclosures, sunrooms have been sought after since the 1960s, and continue to be a key attraction for home buyers today. With this type of addition, sun-seekers can safely enjoy the warmth of the sun’s rays, year-round. There are many additional reasons to choose a sun-room addition. Here, we explore just a few.
Affordability
- Building a sunroom is affordable, especially with financing options It’s likely to be more cost-effective than building another kind of home addition, and is likely to be easier and less expensive to maintain.
- A 3-season sunroom is likely to be your most affordable option, but even a small, 4-season sunroom may cost less than you expect.
- The size of your new sunroom may make more of a financial difference than you think.
- A sunroom addition could improve the appeal of your home to potential buyers.
- Building a sunroom is an affordable, achievable way to improve your lifestyle, for those that cannot easily enjoy the outdoors without assistance.
Natural Light
- Sunroom design always includes large windows, to let the light in and create a summertime feel.
- The additional natural light entering your home could help reduce the cost of electric in your home.
- Flooding a room with natural light can also help a room seem larger than it is.
- A sunroom will heat itself during warmer months.
- Natural light can improve your mental health and drive away Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
Versatility
- Your new sunroom will allow for endless possibilities. The majority of activities you could be doing in the family room, can also be done in your new sunroom addition. A sunroom can act as an extra sitting room, game room or TV room.
- Do you have a particular hobby you love? Make this new space a beautiful place to enjoy your favorite leisure activities, whether you love crafting, reading, writing or playing pool.
- If you’re passionate about yoga or exercise, a sunroom can be a beautiful place to work out, aiding your motivation.
- Create a beautiful work or study space by setting up your home office in your new sunroom.
Building a Sunroom: Cons
With every home improvement comes challenges, so it’s wise to consider the cons of building a sunroom before committing to this investment. Here, we tackle a few of the most common concerns.
Cost
- Although building a sunroom may be relatively cost effective in comparison to other home additions, it is still an investment. Be sure to budget ahead of time.
- A larger sunroom space will cost more money. Consider how much space you will use, or need to feel comfortable.
- A 4-season sunroom will cost more than a 3-season sunroom (but you’ll get more use out of it.)
- A new sunroom might not actually improve the re-sale value of your home. Other remodeling projects may result in a better return on investment (ROI), for example kitchen and bathroom
Lack of Privacy
- A sunroom allows you to see outside, but can also allow others to see in.
- If your new sunroom will be transparent to neighbors, consider long curtains. Floor-length drapes can also add luxury and elegance to your sunroom.
Energy Efficiency
- A 3-season sunroom may be difficult to heat in winter, and is unlikely to be energy efficient.
- You might consider a smaller sunroom addition if heating or cooling is a concern.
- It’s easier to control the temperature of a 4-season sunroom, year round.
Contact Reliable Home Improvement
Interested in talking to an award-winning home remodeling team about building a sunroom addition, or to discuss additional pros and cons of sunrooms? We’re here to discuss your home addition goals and help you improve your lifestyle with a stunning sunroom. Get in touch with Reliable Home Improvement today to get started.
