Are Sunrooms Worth The Investment?

Sitting in your backyard as you feel the sun on your face and the gentle breeze in the air can be peaceful and relaxing. But when a bug bites you or the rain clouds roll in, the fun abruptly ends. It’s time to retreat back inside and stare longingly out the window.

Imagine how that story would have been different if you had a sunroom in your home. You could sit and enjoy the sunlight and views without having to worry about bugs, rain or any extremely hot or cold temperatures. Sunrooms can be a showpiece addition to a home, but some people wonder if they are worth the investment. Here, we lay out the value of a sunroom so you can make an educated decision about whether or not to add one to your home.   This section might be a good place to state whether you are considering a sunroom or an addition, we can help you evaluate the costs and benefits of either one as we provide both services.

A sunroom is a room that is simultaneously indoors and outdoors. It is an extension of your home that is partially covered in windows and/or screened openings. Sunrooms allow you to enjoy the benefits of being outdoors, such as open views and gorgeous natural light, without experiencing the downsides. Avoid the rain, snow, heat, cold and bugs while you’re sitting inside your sunroom. It’s the perfect compromise for nature lovers who want some protection from the elements. With a sunroom, you can stay comfortable while you relax in the sunlight. 

Sunrooms are also called patio rooms, conservatories and solariums. Typically, sunrooms have at least one wall that is all glass, but glass can cover as much as 80 percent of the wall space. Typical sunrooms can be 50-70% less than cost than traditional additional rooms as they are not required to have electricity (with the exception of porch light and a switch next to doors). 

There are different types of sunrooms, depending on the climate of the region. Typically, they are either three-season sunrooms or four-season sunrooms. 

There are several reasons why a homeowner might add a sunroom to their home. Of course, they provide a beautiful and relaxing space to enjoy outdoor elements. Below are the other benefits of adding a sunroom to your home.

• Increase your home’s value. Many buyers enjoy having the extra space and the ability to take in the outdoors while staying indoors.
• Add more livable space that can be used as a living room, play room, reading room or even a guest room. Host parties with friends and families in your new sunroom, or use it for anything else you need. Sunrooms are very versatile.
• Get some sunlight during the winter. Many people start to get cabin fever in the winter because they are cooped up inside all day. Sunrooms allow people to enjoy the sunshine and the outdoors while staying warm.
• Grow plants indoors. It can be hard to grow plants indoors when there is not sufficient sunlight coming in from the windows. Thanks to all the windows in a sunroom, plants have a greater chance of getting the rays they need to thrive.
• Minimal lighting needed. Because natural sunlight filters through the windows, you don’t need to install electric lights as you would in an extra room.

Sunrooms allow homeowners all the benefits of adding another room to their home without paying a large sum of money. Homeowners who get a sunroom added to their home will usually pay half or more of what they would have paid if they had added a traditional room to their home. Sunrooms can typically be constructed in less than a few weeks, whereas an additional room can take months of engineering and permitting and then months of construction.

The costs to add a sunroom are usually so much less because sunrooms are often built off of existing patios or decks. When this is the case, minimum materials are used for the flooring. Plus, the materials for the walls and the rest of the room cost less than a regular room. Getting a sunroom is an affordable way to add some space to your home and increase your home value without dropping too much money.

There are some potential downsides to adding a sunroom to your home that you should consider before making a decision. Keep these in mind when choosing whether or not to add a sunroom to your home.

• You may have to pay higher taxes. Adding square footage to your home will also likely increase your property taxes. It all depends on the type of sunroom you add and the state that you live in.
• It could limit privacy in your home. Adding a glass-walled sunroom will improve your own visibility from your home, but it could also increase the visibility of your neighbors. Consider this while choosing the location for your sunroom. Or, add blinds or drapes to create privacy.
• Your insurance rates might increase. The addition to your home will likely increase your homeowners insurance rates. Your insurance company will need to cover the additional space and the items you put in it.
• You may have to extend your foundation. Sometimes, homeowners don’t have a porch or deck to build their sunroom off of. In those cases, construction costs will be higher and the project will take longer because the foundation needs to be extended.

Compared to other construction projects, sunrooms can be installed in much less time. The exact amount of time it takes to finish the sunroom depends on the size and complexity of the project, but typically, homeowners can expect a crew to finish a sunroom project within a few weeks.

The process begins with a consultation, during which a sunroom contractor will sit down with you, talk about your wants and needs for your sunroom and discuss additional options to see which is a better fit. They will ask questions and show you the different sunroom options to choose from. Together, you and the contractor will find the best style and materials for your sunroom.

Then, they visit your home to measure the area where they will be installing the sunroom and examine the space to ensure it is leveled. If any preparation work is needed, such as leveling the ground or fixing the foundation, the sunroom contractor will take care of it. The next step is for the contractor to order the materials for your sunroom and finish the prep work. Finally, installation comes. In general, it is a simple and quick process to get the beautiful sunroom you’ve been dreaming of.

Sunrooms range in cost depending on the size and type of sunroom. Smaller, three-season sunrooms cost far less than large, four-season sunrooms, for example. Sunroom additions can cost as little as $8,000 and as much as $80,000. But the average cost is between $15,000 and $40,000.

A sunroom can be a fantastic addition to your Sacramento area home, but is it right for you? That depends. If you are looking to add some space to your home but don’t want to deal with the costs or time required to construct an entirely new room, a sunroom could be the perfect solution. It is a beautiful room that can expand your square footage and provide you with the room you need to add a playroom, living room, entertainment room, or workout room to your home.

If you do choose to add a sunroom to your home, make sure that it is built to match the current architecture of your home. This will increase your home’s value and look better than a glass-walled room that sticks out from the rest of the home. There are several variations for sunroom styles that you can choose from. A professional sunroom contractor will work with you to find the perfect style for your home.

You should also make sure to find a trusted sunroom contractor. They will have access to cheaper materials and a wider range of materials to construct the sunroom. A professional team will work carefully and efficiently to install a sunroom that is built to last.

Yancey Company has been helping Sacramento, CA homeowners with their home improvement needs for more than 80 years. We are experts at sunroom installation, and we would love to help you. Give us a call at 916-457-2754 to receive a free quote. We look forward to hearing from you.