Have you been tirelessly searching online to find out how much it costs to add a sunroom to your home? If so, you've probably come across responses like:
“Well, it depends on too many factors to give specific numbers.”
“It’s best to talk to a sales representative to get an accurate price.”
“How much are you looking to spend? We can design a project around any budget!”
For years, contractors have been vague about the costs to add a sunroom addition, leaving homeowners like you frustrated and anxious about what to expect when starting a renovation project.
At JSB Home Solutions, with our 45 years of experience, we're committed to transparency. We provide clear, straightforward information about sunroom addition costs. We believe you deserve accurate pricing information, which is why we’ve gone so far as to create a dedicated page on our website for our sunroom addition costs.
In this article, you'll discover the typical costs of adding a sunroom in today’s market, based on the type and size of the addition. By the end, you'll be equipped to set a realistic budget and find a contractor that meets your financial needs.
Table of Contents:
- How Much Does it Cost to Build a Sunroom?
- How Much Do Different Types of Sunrooms Cost?
- How Much Do Sunrooms Cost Per Square Foot?
- Is it Cheaper to Build a Sunroom or an Addition?
How Much Does it Cost to Build a Sunroom?
The average cost to build a sunroom is $8,000 - $80,000. If you are trying to plan a budget, this large of a range is not all that helpful. To narrow the price range, you need to consider several factors such as the type of room you want to build, the size of the room, and existing structures like roofs and foundations.
How Much Do Different Types of Sunrooms Cost?
The type of sunroom you choose to build will greatly influence the cost of your project. For each of these types of sunrooms, larger rooms add square footage and will increase the cost of building the room. In addition, if there is already an existing roof and/or foundation, your project costs and timelines will be towards the lower end of the range.
Screen Rooms: The Cheapest Way to Build a Sunroom
Screen rooms usually cost between $8,000 and $30,000. They are sunrooms that are enclosed with wire screens instead of glass windows, meaning you are protected from bugs and can use your sunroom about 8-9 months out of the year here in central Ohio.
Average Cost to Build a Three-Season Sunroom
Three-season rooms most often fall in the $20,000 - $60,000 range. The most common material for prefabricated three-season sunrooms is aluminum enclosed with glass windows. As mentioned previously, sunroom size and the presence of a pre-existing roof and/or foundation will affect the cost of your project. So will the type of sunroom glass that is used. Single-pane glass is cheaper but not very useful in maintaining a comfortable temperature inside the room. Double-pane glass is more expensive but will let you use your room in more types of outdoor weather conditions.
Average Cost to Build a Four-Season Sunroom
The average cost to build a four-season sunroom is $25,000 - $70,000. Once again, the size of the sunroom, the presence of a roof and/or foundation, and sunroom glass play a critical role in determining where your project cost will land. In addition, four-season rooms can be climate-controlled for year-round comfort. If you choose to include heating and A/C, it will increase your project costs.
How Much Do Sunrooms Cost on a Square Foot Basis?
The average cost of a sunroom is $100 - $350 per square foot depending on the type of sunroom, size of the room, and specific requirements to build on your location.
The most popular size of sunroom to build is a 12x12 room. This size allows for various furniture layouts while having enough room to comfortably walk around in the room.
Cost of a 12x12 Sunroom
The cost of a 12x12 sunroom will depend on the type of sunroom and if there is already a foundation or a roof present on location.
A 12x12 screen room will cost around $10,000 - $28,000. If you are starting from grass and have to build a deck or pour a concrete slab foundation, you will be closer to the top range of this budget. If you are enclosing a porch which means there is already a roof and a foundation, you can expect to be towards the lower end of the range.
The average cost to build a 12x12 three-season sunroom is $18,000 - $42,000. Once again, if you are starting from scratch to build your sunroom, you can expect to be closer to $42,000 for your sunroom project. Enclosing a porch with an existing roof and foundation would lower your expected project costs.
If you are building a 12x12 four-season sunroom, you can expect project costs in the $25,000 - $50,000 range. The same logic can be applied to four-season rooms regarding starting from scratch and filling in under an existing porch.
Is it Cheaper to Build a Sunroom or an Addition?
If you want to add square footage to your home, there are two common ways to go about it. One is to make an addition to your home. This will require removing an existing exterior wall and then building out the additional space. You can use the extra space for anything you want. It can become part of your kitchen, an additional bathroom, an office, or any other room your heart desires. Sometimes additions can be fitted with oversized windows to get the same effect as a sunroom. These types of wood-framed rooms are sometimes called stick-built sunrooms.
Or you can build a sunroom. Building a sunroom on your home does not require you to remove an exterior wall of your home. Most of the time, your sunroom will be built over your back door. Then your back door can be used to access your sunroom. These types of rooms are usually pre-fabricated out of aluminum or vinyl.
To really answer this question, we need to compare the materials that your sunroom is made out of. A prefab sunroom constructed out of aluminum or vinyl is roughly about half the cost of an addition built with traditional wood framing. Traditional wood framing is much more material and labor-intensive than constructing the pieces of a prefabricated aluminum or vinyl sunroom. While you can customize the shape and intricate designs of a wood-framed addition, prefab sunrooms are more budget-friendly and they are resistant to water damage.
Now That You Know the Cost, What’s the Next Step to Plan Your Sunroom Addition?
Setting a realistic budget for your sunroom addition shouldn’t be a daunting task. The secret is out! Starting your sunroom renovation can be incredibly rewarding and exciting when you have a clear understanding of the project costs upfront. Whether you’re planning a simple upgrade or a complete transformation, there’s a sunroom addition to fit every budget and style.
Here’s how to get started with your sunroom addition planning:
- Identify Your Goals: List all the ways you see yourself using the sunroom to determine what type of room and size would be ideal for your goals.
- Determine Your Budget: Research local project costs to set a realistic budget for your goals. You can also learn about what factors influence sunroom costs, regardless of which contractor you hire to complete your project. This will help you plan effectively and ensure your project is financially feasible from start to finish. You can find JSB’s average pricing for sunroom additions on our website and in our learning center.
- Hire Your Contractor: Interview several contractors to understand how they can assist with your project. Searching for sunroom addition specialists online can be overwhelming, so we’ve compiled a list of the best sunroom contractors in Columbus, OH to help you get started.
Finances play a crucial role in any remodeling project, often causing the most stress. Finding a trustworthy contractor who treats you like family can ease your anxiety and turn your decision-making process into an exciting journey toward your brand-new sunroom!
