If you’re considering adding a sunroom to your home, one of the first questions to ask is “How much does a sunroom cost?” Sunrooms are actually surprisingly affordable. People often prefer to add a sunroom to their home over an additional room because of the relatively low cost. Adding a sunroom to your home is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to expand the livable space of your home.
The cost of a sunroom varies greatly, and it is dependent on several different factors. The range is usually between $8,000 and $78,000. Why the wide range? Not all sunrooms are the same. Typically, most homeowners pay between $15,000 and $40,000 to add a sunroom to their home.
Although sunroom construction is costly, it is not nearly as costly as adding a traditional room to your home. The per square footage cost for a sunroom installation is about half as much as a regular room addition. The materials and labor to add a traditional room to your home is much more expensive than the materials and labor for sunroom installation.
Homeowners sometimes prefer sunrooms over regular room additions because of their versatility. Sunrooms can be used for multiple purposes. Sunrooms allow you to be safely indoors, away from bugs and harsh weather, while also enjoying the sunlight and views. It’s an indoor/outdoor room that is as beautiful as it is useful.
Factors that Affect the Cost of Your Sunroom
For the most part, the cost of your sunroom depends on the size and style of sunroom you choose to add to your home. The bigger the sunroom, the more you should expect to pay. The sunroom style and construction method also affect the cost.
Contractors offering unusually low quotes for sunroom additions should be approached with caution. While it may seem tempting to go with the cheapest option upfront, extremely low prices may indicate subpar materials, workmanship, or even potential hidden costs down the line. Cutting corners on quality can lead to issues with the durability and longevity of your sunroom, ultimately costing you more in repairs and replacements in the future.
To avoid these pitfalls, ensure that your contractor provides a detailed estimate before beginning the project. A comprehensive quote should meticulously break down the costs associated with:
- Products and Materials: Specify the type and quality of materials being used.
- Shipping: Outline the expenses related to the timed delivery of materials to your home.
- Labor: Detail of the labor costs, or if the labor is included in the price estimate. How long will the build take? How disruptive will the build be?
- Permitting: Include fees for any necessary local permits.
- Subcontractors: List all trades involved and if there are any associated costs over and above the quoted price.
Be wary of contractors who offer a lump sum price with little to no breakdown. These quotes often lack transparency and could lead to unexpected fees as the project progresses. A well-documented quote not only helps in understanding where your money is going but also in holding the contractor accountable for the financial and operational aspects of the project.
Cost Difference of Prefab vs. Custom-Built Sunrooms
There are two main subcategories of sunrooms for homeowners to choose from. They are prefabricated sunrooms and custom-built sunrooms.
Prefabricated Sunrooms
Prefabricated sunrooms (or prefab sunrooms) are made from premade kits. Aluminum, steel and fiberglass structures are measured and made off site in a controlled environment. Then, the pieces are shipped to your home for assembly. Homeowners are not able to make custom changes to prefab sunrooms.
Prefabricated sunrooms are less prone to error and are able to be assembled relatively quickly. They also tend to be cheaper than custom-built sunrooms. While some kits can be assembled by homeowners, its best to have professional technicians put the prefab sunroom together so you can avoid complications.
Prefab sunrooms usually cost between $6,0000 and $30,000.
Custom-Built Sunrooms
As the name suggests, custom-built sunrooms are customized to the home and the homeowner. A sunroom contractor measures the area where you hope to add the sunroom, and the customer selects the materials to create the room. The contractor then installs the flooring, walls, floor-to-ceiling windows and patio doors.
Homeowners who have specific needs for their sunroom choose a custom-built style. The benefit from this type of sunroom is that the sunroom will be made to fit your home and your needs. A professional team will talk with you about what type of sunroom you want and then install it.
Custom sunrooms are available with true wood interiors and have glass roof options as well.
Custom-built sunrooms usually cost between $20,000 and $80,000.
Different Sunroom Styles
Once you determine how you want your sunroom to be installed, you’ll need to choose a sunroom style. The style depends on how you plan to use your sunroom and where you live. Do you want to use it year-round? Do you want to use it for plants, a spa, or as a living space?
Three-Season Sunroom
Homeowners living in places with warm climates might prefer a three-season sunroom because of the cheaper cost associated with them. These sunrooms are perfect during most of the year, but can get a little chilly during the cold months. The walls are usually thinner than regular walls, and there’s little to no insulation. The glass can either be single-pane or double-pane.
Because three-season sunrooms often use less materials than normal for house wall construction, they are cheaper to build. They are also not usually wired for electricity.
Three-season sunrooms usually cost between $9,000 and $35,000.
Four-Season Sunroom
Four-season sunrooms have adequate insulation in order to keep residents warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Insulation is usually in the walls, roof and flooring, and thick, double-pane windows span the walls. Homeowners living in northern states almost always choose four-season sunrooms, even though they do cost more. The materials for four-season sunrooms are more costly, and additional labor is required.
Four-season sunrooms usually cost between $20,000 and $80,000.
Solarium Sunroom
For maximum sunshine, solarium sunrooms are best. They typically have glass walls and a glass roof. Solariums, also known as conservatories, are great if you want to fully enjoy natural sunlight or plan to use the extra space to grow plants. Solariums are sturdy and will protect you from the elements, but they are not the best for regions that experience intense weather, such as hurricanes and harsh winter storms.
Because solariums are built mostly of glass, they can be pricey to construct. Strong, durable glass is expensive to install.
Solarium sunrooms usually cost between $30,000 and $80,000.
Additional Sunroom Costs
There are a few other factors that can affect the total sum of your sunroom project. These amenities might improve the appearance or comfort of your sunroom but they may also be unexpected but necessary costs. These additional sunroom costs include:
Electrical Wiring
Depending on how you plan to use your sunroom, you might want it to be wired for electricity. Electricity will allow you to have a TV in the room, or to have sufficient lighting so you can use it after sunset. Getting your sunroom’s electricity set up will take time and money, though.
The electrical wiring usually has to follow the same requirements and codes as the rest of the home. The cost of the electrician and the materials can add up quickly. But, if you want the option to plug something in inside your sunroom, electrical wiring is worth it.
Building Permits
Most towns and states require you to acquire a building permit before beginning construction. Building permits can cost a few hundred dollars depending on where you live and the size of the sunroom. It can also take some time to get the permit itself, so factor that into your timelines. If there are any building code requirements for your community or municipality, you may have to pay extra to make sure your sunroom is up to code.
Foundation and Flooring
A sunroom must be built on a proper foundation. Most of the time, homeowners choose to add a sunroom on top of an existing patio or deck. This is cheaper because the foundation and flooring are already laid out. If you choose to place your sunroom where there is no existing flooring, a contractor will need to extend your foundation and construct the flooring, which can be expensive.
It usually costs a couple thousand dollars to level the ground and/or pour a concrete slab for the foundation. Then, the flooring itself can impact the cost of your sunroom. If you want to pay less for your flooring, consider carpet or laminate flooring. Those options are cheaper than ceramic tile floors.
Roof Type
Some roofing materials, such as glass, cost more than others. If you want a glass-encased roof for your solarium, or if you want multiple skylights in your roof, it will cost more. Thermal roofs, which provide increased insulation and protection from the weather, are also more expensive. Aluminum roofing panels and asphalt shingles are more economical roofing material options.
Heating and Cooling
By code Sunrooms cannot be conditioned, though many people add heating and air after permits finalize.
Homeowners have a few different options for heating and cooling their sunroom. The cheapest way to cool a sunroom down in the summer is to place an A/C unit in the window. A space heater can heat it up in the winter. These options cost only a few hundred dollars.
Homeowners who want more control over their sunroom’s temperature might choose to expand their home’s HVAC system to their sunroom. They can extend ductwork to the sunroom. It will require more labor and money upfront, but it will be an efficient system. A ductless mini-split system will also get the job done, and for less money than a full HVAC system.
Custom Decor
You can have some fun with your sunroom design. You might choose to add a fireplace to make it cozy for the winter, and decorative wood beams on the ceiling can give the sunroom a unique design. Custom decor can liven up your sunroom, but will likely cost more. If you want to customize your sunroom with unique features, expect the total sunroom cost to go up.
Taking the Next Steps Toward a Sunroom Build
There are lots of factors to consider when determining the cost of a sunroom. The versatile price scale makes it possible for you to find a sunroom option that fits your budget.
Adding a sunroom to your home is an affordable way to increase the livable space in your home. Sunrooms are an investment but are not as expensive as the cost of adding a traditional room onto your home. Sunrooms are cheaper and more versatile, and they make great living rooms, playrooms, exercise rooms and spa rooms.
If you want to know more about the expected cost of adding a sunroom to your home, contact a professional sunroom contractor who can talk you through the several options and prices specific to your needs.
Yancey Company specializes in all types of sunroom additions. For more than 85 years, we’ve helped happy Sacramento homeowners with their home improvement projects, including sunrooms.
We would love to answer any questions you have about sunrooms and the process or cost of adding one to your home. Feel free to give us a call at 916-441-1616 to receive a free quote.