Should I add a sunroom or room addition is the question that many homeowners find themselves asking. There are multiple benefits of a sunroom contractor near me adding extra space to your existing home, including the advantage of additional space and the potential to increase resale value. Sunrooms or solariums are popular options for those living in pleasant climates, and homeowners can easily customize them to fit individual needs and desires.
However, room additions allow homeowners to increase the square footage of their property, providing them with another area in which they can enjoy particularly beneficial for growing families.
The decision between build a sunroom or room addition is difficult, but it’s not! Which will you choose? Well, allow us to help.
What is a Sunroom?
Sunrooms, better known as screen rooms and solariums, can be three-season sunrooms and four-season sunrooms. As the name suggests, three-season sunrooms are less insulated, and you can use them in spring, summer, and fall. Four-season sunrooms are more like a room addition because they’re insulated to accommodate all four seasons.
Now, a solarium is a type of four-season sunroom that has a glass roof. Moreover, all sunrooms provide a lot of sunlight, thanks to the glass walls or ceiling, and, as well as access to the outdoors.
What is a room addition?
A room addition is a room that is added to your home and made from traditional building materials. A room addition needs a foundation, doors, and windows, and interior and exterior finishes.
Now, room additions can be traditional or modern. A conventional room addition uses materials like wood siding and asphalt shingles to match the exterior of your house.
On top of this, a more expensive option is a modern room addition which has an interior with sleek countertops and hardwood flooring. Now, the interior of the room requires built-in electrical access, insulation, and paint. Probably installation or connection to an HVAC system for heat or cold.
How Much Does it Cost To Add A Sunroom?
When you are thinking about adding a room to your house, it is essential to consider construction costs.
Multiple factors contribute to the cost of installation, including size and location. Now, for homeowners interested in sunrooms or solarium, this option can be more affordable than adding their home.
Sunrooms can come in pre-fabricated kits or custom-built to the homeowners’ specifications. Pre-fabricated kits can cost less than custom-built sunrooms, but not always. Depending on the customization the homeowners require, pre-fabricated sunrooms can cost more money than custom-built room additions.
Often, most sunrooms don’t require a foundation, but you may need one, which may increase the overall cost for the room. To install a sunroom also will require a building permit. All sunrooms require sunroom installation services and tools, which can increase the overall price of the sunroom addition.
According to Forbes, sunroom costs are below:
3-Season Room Cost
- Average Cost $25,000
- Highest Cost $40,000
- Lowest Cost $10,000
4-Season Room Cost
- Average Cost $45,000
- Highest Cost $80,000
- Lowest Cost $15,000
How Much Does A Full Room Addition Cost?
Full room addition costs compare to a sunroom addition, with parts and labor plus a building permit. Furthermore, the increased materials can drive up the cost, and room additions take more time to build than sunrooms, increasing the labor hours and the price.
According to HomeGuide, a room addition cost ranges between $22,500 and $74,000. Furthermore, 20×20 family room costs $48,000 on average, a 12×12 bedroom costs about $17,300, and the cost to add a bathroom starts at $18,000.
How will you use your Sunroom or Room Addition?
Before you decide which one to build, consider knowing the primary usage of the room.
Sunrooms don’t offer privacy, but they do bring the best sunroom window replacements so they’re best for areas that don’t require it. Popular usages of sunrooms are family rooms, playrooms, and hobby rooms, allowing a convenient place with natural light to relax.
You can use full room additions for something personal, like a more oversized bedroom, bathroom remodeling, kitchen remodeling, or a home office.
Sunroom Installation Experts
There are many benefits to adding square footage to your home. Benefits include having an additional space that you can spread out, and homeowners can customize their addition to fit their needs and desires! But deciding between a room addition or a sunroom is difficult because there are many reasons why one might be better than the other.
However, if you live in a climate that experiences harsh winters, then to add a sunroom addition would not make sense. On the other hand, if you live in a temperate region where summers are hot and humid, then installing a solarium could be beneficial for cooling off during these long months of summertime.