Sunroom addition cost calculator & estimator

Sunroom addition costs range between $8,000 and $80,000 – averaging at $30,000. The price usually falls anywhere between $120 and $300 per square foot

On average, your sunroom remodel cost can range from $5,300 to $23,700, depending on the size of the renovated space and your area of residence.

Your total sunroom cost takes into account a number of factors, including the total square footage of the space, the scope of renovation, the cost, your zip code, local labor costs and the finishing details – to name a few.

To get a general idea, check out the table below for an estimate of how the cost varies according to city and project size.

Before planning a new sunroom, it’s important to determine which sunroom type fits your needs. It’s best to choose a room that’s perfect for your lifestyle and budget. Here are the different types of sunrooms to select from.

As you must already know, a sunroom is a glass and screen enclosure within the indoor space of your home. It renders an outdoorsy feel to your interior, and homeowners who are lucky enough to enjoy the luxury of a sunroom often talk about its rejuvenating effect.

A sunroom is known by several other names, too, such as a sun porch, porch enclosure, glass enclosure, solarium and Florida room.

Sunroom additions and renovations make a lot of sense. Why? Although this project doesn't fall among those with the highest ROI, a carefully planned remodel will ensure getting at least half of your investment back after resale, making it a viable renovation project to consider.

Some of the factors that will positively impact the resale value are the length of time you can use the sunroom and its size, location, versatility, attractiveness and energy efficiency.

Therefore, we recommend that you try to include these aspects when you plan on renovating or adding a sunroom to your house. Apart from this, giving a whole new dimension to your sunroom will, of course, give it a fresh, new look.

Sunrooms create a unique indoor-outdoor space that allows an abundance of light. This type of addition doesn’t just add value to your home, it also creates a functional, affordable space where you can rejuvenate sipping your favorite cuppa.

Once you decide to build or remodel a sunroom in your home, you need to know how much of an investment you require for this home improvement.

Naturally, you have to know your total sunroom cost in order to calculate what you can afford to spend. It’s also the best way to ensure that you don’t stumble across any unwelcome surprises during the execution of your project.

Getting an estimate through Kukun’s sunroom cost estimator is easy. Just follow the steps below to get your custom, personalized total cost in minutes!

1. Enter the type of remodeling you desire:

• Addition:
  Adding new square footage to the house, whether that’s adding more space to a single story house/apartment or to the second story – if your remodel requires any new foundation, this is your option.
• Renovation:
  Remodeling the sunroom without any change to the walls.
• Expansion:
  Expanding the existing area by moving walls within or outside the perimeter of the house

2. Select the size of your space:

• Small: 64 Sq.ft
• Medium: 196 Sq.ft
• Large: 320 Sq.ft
• Custom: Enter the room dimensions here if none of the above apply

3. Choose the scope of your renovation project from the three options below:

• Cosmetic Changes:
  Give your personal ray-soaking space a facelift. Ideal if you are selling your home. Cosmetic changes to the sunroom renovation includes new flooring, light fixtures and a fresh coat of paint. This option does not include new electrical, cabinets, doors, sunscreen, etc. NO permit required.
• Typical Renovation:
  Ideal if you are just changing the interior. A Typical Renovation sunroom remodel includes mostly new electrical, HVAC, insulation, drywall, texture, paint, flooring, trimwork (baseboards, door casings, etc.), new finishing fixtures and hardware. No guarantees against cloudy days. Permit required.
• Down to the Studs:
  Ideal if you are stripping walls or want to change plumbing and electrical. A Down to the Studs sunroom renovation includes new, spruced-up versions of the Typical Renovation-level items. New doors and windows along with custom materials, longer lead times and stretched job timelines create a space where you (and your guests) will enjoy catching some rays. Permit required

4. Choose the level of finish you want from the three options below:

• Budget-friendly:
  Budget friendly is an economical finish level and gives you the feeling you get when you step into a newly built home.
• Mid-range:
  Mid range finish level is higher end and includes higher quality materials and more personalized options like recessed lighting, higher end appliances, etc.
• High-end:
  Materials are high end and customized to the owner's taste. Every material will be differentiated and may take a little longer to put together, but the finished product is amazing.

5. Enter your property details

Enter the full address to get ROI /recoup value of your house or just give zipcode to get just the renovation cost estimate.

And there you go! An estimate for your living room remodeling cost is ready!

With this estimate, you can analyze your finance options or hire a professional to get started on the work right away.

We are also happy to offer you options for professional remodeling contractors near you. You can easily do the following:

• Check if these contractors have been vetted by your neighbors.
• Explore each contractor's profile.
• Check out their online reviews.
• View all their previous permits.
• Ask around your vicinity about whether you should hire them.

It’s very important that you plan your sunroom addition or renovation well in advance. Here are some tips to make the process easy, hassle-free and quick:

• Set a realistic budget for your home remodeling project.
• Always include leeway for some surprise costs. Experts advise allocating 20% of your budget for such unexpected costs.
• Hire a remodeling expert. A professional will ensure that all permits and inspections are up to date.
• Double check your local building code for all permit requirements.
• Determine the size and shape of the sunroom you desire.
• Ensure that the roofline of your sunroom and its slope support your design.
• Make sure you choose a structural design that complements the architecture or style of your house
• Evaluate how the addition will connect to the rest of the house.
• Depending on your usage, decide if you want a year-round sunroom or a three-season room.
• Do your research and choose the most suitable windows, doors and skylights for your sunroom.
• Consider ENERGY STAR labeled products only, if possible.
• Decide on the best sunroom flooring, lighting, roofing and siding, and whether you require a patio, deck and landscaping to go with the sunroom.
• If you’re on a tight budget, plan your sunroom remodeling project for the winter season to avoid the spring and fall renovation rushes.
• Get a written contract from your contractor detailing the complete schedule along with deadlines for milestones. Also get a written guarantee.
• Discuss and mutually agree on the payment schedule.

Have been dreaming about remodeling your existing sunroom to your home? A well-planned sunroom can provide you and your family members with a bright retreat for relaxation or entertaining.

Note that a great-looking, functional sunroom is an important consideration for potential home buyers, helping you get the best price possible for your home.

It’s important to plan your new sunroom construction project on time so that you’re able to enjoy the space in time for a pleasant spring and summer weather.

Generally, the amount of time to build a new sunroom ranges from two to four weeks.

However, keep in mind that there are several factors that determine how long your sunroom installation will take. After all, not all sunrooms are designed and installed the same way.

The amount of time to build a sunroom typically depends on a few factors:

• Time frame: Most homeowners want to use their sunrooms between spring and early fall. It’s best to avoid the peak season or there’ll be inadvertent delays in beginning the home improvement project. To ensure your sunroom is completed well on time, try scheduling its installation toward late fall or winter.

• Site preparation: For proper sunroom construction, it’s important that the foundation is sturdy and solid. This step that includes excavation of the site, leveling it and pouring a cement foundation usually takes just one or two days. However, if the existing site is in a bad shape, it may require more time and money. You can expect to pay between $1,500 and $6,000 to have a sunroom company install a sunroom foundation.

• Deck building: Most sunrooms, except if you’re placing it on a concrete slab, require a deck structure to be built on. Building a deck usually takes about three or four days.

• Constructing the sunroom roof and walls: Putting together the walls and roof of a sunroom usually takes about four to six days. For custom-built sunrooms though, the construction may take a few extra days. Especially if the sunroom design is a complex one.

• Finishing touches: After assembling together the structure of your sunroom, it takes time to add additional features such as electricity, cooling or heating system, ceiling fans, LED lighting and a television hookup. You can expect an additional two days for the job.

Yes. Since you’re adding square footage onto your house, it will increase your property taxes. But the good news is that it will also increase your home’s resale value. Before beginning your sunroom project, you will be required to pull the necessary building permits from the governing county. Keep in mind that right from the smallest sunroom kit to a complex custom-built sunroom, every type of sunroom requires a building permit before construction. The moment the permits are pulled, a notification is sent to the tax assessor.

After the project completion, the county usually sends a tax assessor to determine the additional value of your home and its effect on your property taxes. Once they determine the overall value of your home, you will get a new property tax bill.

There is no one good sunroom size. What works for one homeowner may be entirely inappropriate or inadequate for another. The size you want for the sunroom depends on its usage, the size of your house and whether you want a cozy nook or a palatial addition. The best way to arrive at the right proportions for your sunroom is to think about its intent.

If you’re looking for a sunroom to entertain a large group of family and friends, as a home gym to exercise, or as a theater-like media room -- a large sunroom is definitely better. But, if you want a sunroom strictly for a home office or a hobby room, you can make do with a small sunroom.

To give you an idea, an 18-by-18-foot sunroom should be roomy enough for a couch, recliner or armchair, coffee table and a 42-inch television.

A custom-built or a stick built sunroom and a prefab sunroom are different in the way they are constructed. A stick built sunroom is constructed at the site -- from scratch. Almost in the same way you would build a new home, or get a room addition.

A prefab sunroom, on the other hand, is constructed in a factory using high quality composite materials such as vinyl and aluminum. It is then deconstructed into easy-to-move and easy-to-assemble pieces to be shipped to your property. Even though such a type of sunroom is factory-made, it does offer strength and durability to last a lifetime.

The most popular sunroom frame material types include wood, vinyl and aluminum. That said, your choice should depend on your home renovation budget, your location and aesthetic preferences.

Wood-framed structures are elegant and work particularly well with traditional or ornate home designs. Wood also withstands temperature fluctuations well. However, wooden sunrooms are expensive and susceptible to rot and termite damage. They also require regular maintenance such as repainting or refinishing to prevent degradation over time. Avoid wooden frames for your sunroom if you live in a region that gets a lot of rain.

Today, vinyl sunroom frames have become quite popular. Vinyl is affordable, lightweight and most importantly impervious to insects and moisture damage. It’s virtually maintenance-free! Moreover, it’s a good insulator and comes in a variety of colors.

Aluminum sunroom frames are lightweight, strong and durable. Moreover, they never warp, swell, rot or succumb to termites. However, aluminum is a poor insulator -- making it harder to regulate temperatures inside a sunroom.

You can also customize your sunroom with a combination of aluminum and vinyl to improve the room’s thermal performance.

A sunroom is like your very own retreat in the house. If you’re debating whether to add a sunroom or not, you need to invest some time in research first. As with any other significant home improvement project, a sunroom installation has its pros and cons.