A sunroom offers a bright, inviting space where you can enjoy the comfort of the indoors while taking in the beauty of the outdoors. Creating this transitional living area requires thoughtful consideration of the room type, materials, and budget to ensure it complements your home perfectly. Here’s how homeowners can enhance their living space and lifestyle by adding a sunroom.
What is a Sunroom?
Sunrooms are glass-enclosed spaces attached to the home. Featuring numerous windows or glass walls, they maximize natural light while protecting the home’s occupants from the elements. Sunrooms serve as living rooms, playrooms, or dining rooms that offer breathtaking views of the outdoors.
Different types of sunrooms are available. One is a solarium or conservatory, designed to function as an additional living space during mild weather. Since this glass enclosure is not connected to the home’s heating and cooling systems, it is not intended to be used in harsh weather.
A four-season room can be used all year long, since it can be heated and cooled. An attached greenhouse is built for plants and includes temperature, humidity, and light controls. A budget-friendly option is a screened-in porch, which is built with mesh screens rather than glass.
How do homeowners add a sunroom?
1. Decide on a Location
The first step is to choose an ideal location. Consider the weather in the area as well as the direction the sunroom will face. A part of the home with southern exposure brings ample light but is expensive to cool. Northern exposure delivers low light levels, creating a cool sunroom.
A sunroom that faces east benefits from the light of the rising sun but remains shaded the rest of the day. Conversely, a western orientation leaves the sunroom’s occupants vulnerable to the harsh afternoon sun; building additional shading is an extra expense.
It’s also possible to enclose an existing porch with glass or a mesh screen to enjoy the pleasant benefits of a sunroom. Known as an under-existing sunroom, it is built under the roof. In short, the key to choosing the right location is optimizing natural lighting while enhancing functionality.
2. Choose Materials
An experienced contractor helps select the most cost-effective materials for the sunroom. Material options that support the sunroom structure include inexpensive vinyl for minimal upkeep, aluminum for a strong roof, and wood, the most expensive and high-maintenance yet practical option.
The windows are the priciest parts of the sunroom. Double-glazed glass with a low E-value is recommended by industry professionals due to its optimal energy efficiency. Polycarbonate can be used in lieu of glass for rooftops, as the durable material protects against falling debris.
3. Obtain Permits
Homeowners opting for a DIY route must obtain the appropriate permits before beginning construction. When working with a reputable contractor, however, they will secure the necessary permits before prepping the site.
4. Add Insulation, Heating and Cooling
Homeowners save money by building a sunroom without major temperature controls. Instead, consider adding a ceiling fan, roof shades, windows that open, or operative skylights to create a comfortable indoor environment. Factor in the cost of lighting, which can run into the hundreds.
But if precise temperature controls are important, homeowners have the option to hook up full electrical, insulation, and HVAC systems to the sunroom, thereby ensuring comfortable temps all year-round. Keep in mind this can be an expensive project, costing upwards of $5,000.
Other options to ensure a cozy sunroom space include adding a gas wall heater to run during the colder months. Or install radiant floor heating so that every step is met with warmth. Window treatments that can be raised or lowered can significantly increase or decrease cooling and heating.
5. Perform Maintenance
After adding decorative patio furniture and plants that thrive in the sunroom, it’s important to maintain the space to promote its longevity. Annual window and glass panel inspections are advised as well as seasonal roof cleanings. Window panels can fail due to exposure to UV rays and require replacement.
Sunrooms and Home Additions from R3 Contracting
Several factors, from renovation costs to time commitment, go into adding a sunroom to the home. However, with an average return of 50 percent, building one can improve the home’s value. Plus, the flood of natural lighting and exceptional views significantly increase the occupants’ quality of life.
When building a sunroom is a worthwhile investment, it’s necessary to consult a qualified home addition contractor, like R3 Contracting. We are experienced in a wide range of home remodeling projects, such as room additions and those for a new kitchen or bathroom as well as stunning sunrooms.
Our skilled design team collaborates with you to learn your vision. We manage the technical aspects, such as how the addition fits into the existing floorplan and how well it integrates into the architecture. You receive a digital model of the planned addition to approve or revise before construction begins.
From the initial concept to the final outcome, R3 Contracting expertly handles the build of each home addition. As a licensed and insured contractor, we give our clients maximum peace of mind. Plus, we source high-quality materials and pride ourselves on our customer-focused approach.
Build the sunroom of your dreams with R3 Contracting, serving residential homeowners in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, and surrounding Chicagoland. We bring exceptional workmanship to every sunroom addition to ensure your vision is fully realized.
