Most sunroom additions cost between $8,000 and $80,000. The average is just above $30,000. Per square foot, expect to pay between $120 and $300. Prefabricated kits range between $5,000 and $30,000. Professional labor typically totals between $4,000 and $20,000. It may include carpenters, electricians, and painters.
You can choose between various types of sunrooms. A four-season room ranges between $20,000 and $80,000 and offers enough insulation for efficient heating in winter. A solarium is an all-glass enclosure, totaling between $30,000 and $75,000. Continue Reading
This project can include any interior area where the light comes in through many windows. Solariums are more like greenhouses, featuring full walls of windows. Other four-season rooms are more like enclosed porches. Still others are just light-filled spaces facing the back yard. Either way, adding a sunroom to your home is a wonderful way to upgrade its look and maximize your living area.
No matter the addition you choose, it can be used in many ways. You can enjoy feeling like you are eating outside while still remaining indoors. Many people consider it part of the home. They may even decorate the space with furniture and electronics, equipping it for lounging and entertaining guests. A number of cost factors play into adding a sunroom to your home.
Sunroom Costs Per Square Foot & Type
The $120 to $300 price per square foot depends on the quality, size, and type of your addition. Each type of room comes with different variables.
Sunroom Construction Costs by Type
Type
Material Prices
Labor Cost
Total Budget
Four Season Room
$15,000 - $55,000
$7,000 - $20,000
$20,000 - $80,000
Three Season Room
$5,000 - $30,000
$4,000 - $10,000
$9,000 - $40,000
Glass Solarium
$20,000 - $50,000
$10,000 - $25,000
$30,000 - $75,000
Conservatories
$8,000 - $60,000
$2,000 - $20,000
$10,000 - $80,000
Atriums with Roofs
$4,000 - $20,000
$6,000 - $15,000
$10,000 - $35,000
Four Season/All Season Sunroom Extensions
Expect a total budget of $20,000 to $80,000 for a four-season room. That is largely due to materials and insulation. Exterior walls, windows, doors, and roofing all need high insulation grades to retain heat and cool air during cold and warm seasons. For the high cost, you get a true extension of your living space, regardless of weather.
Three Season & Patio Enclosures
Building a patio enclosure costs between $9,000 and $40,000. Consider it a less insulated version of a four-season space. It works well for moderate temperatures but might get hot in the summer and cold during winter.
Glass Solarium Costs
At a price between $30,000 and $75,000, a solarium is a glass room that is true extension of your outside space. Even the roof is glass, making it perfect if you want to enjoy nature from the comfort of your home. The steel structure must be strong enough to support the glass throughout the walls and ceilings.
Conservatories & Garden Rooms
At a range of $10,000 to $80,000, you have many options for conservatories. At its simplest, it's a greenhouse to grow a garden without having to depend on the weather. Comprehensive systems to regulate temperature and humidity can drive up the cost.
Atriums with Roofs
The $10,000 to $35,000 range for an atrium considers only roof construction. In most cases, the walls already exist. An atrium is an interior room with a glass roof instead of a regular one. The influx of natural light for both plants and people can make this an intriguing option on a limited budget.
Most prefabricated kits range between $5,000 and $30,000 for the product alone. This option works best if you don't need a custom addition and want to save some budget. Size and materials will influence costs. The brand you choose also matters.
Champion
Most Champion additions are custom, but the brand also offers some kits for $7,000 to $15,000. All rooms are vinyl, and you can expect installation by the manufacturer. Products and installation include a limited lifetime warranty.
Patriot
For $5,000 to $20,000, Patriots offers both custom installation and conversion kits for your porch. The company also acts as a contractor for the installation. It operates in the larger St. Louis area. Additions are available in vinyl or aluminum. All projects come with a lifetime transferable manufacturer's and labor warranty.
Sunspace
Sunspace offers modular kits that you can customize to fit your home for $10,000 to $25,000. The company will install the kit as part of that price. Aluminum and vinyl are the most common materials, though you can also find some wooden kits. The limited lifetime warranty includes a 10-year manufacturer's warranty on windows and doors.
Brady Built
Brady Built sunrooms range between $15,000 and $30,000, including installation. They're fully assembled once they arrive at your home. Choose between vinyl and wood for a high-end finish. Brady Built offers a comprehensive 25-year warranty for all its products.
California Sunrooms
A kit from this brand ranges between $5,000 and 15,000. That budget does not include installation, which you must organize. Kits are aluminum or vinyl. A limited lifetime warranty includes glass and windows.
After materials and/or the prefab kit, expect to pay between $4,000 and $20,000 for a pro to build your sunroom. Where you fall on that range depends on the exact addition you're planning to make.
Think about exactly where your new structure will be. This will dictate the direction you take with design. If it's an area that gets direct sunlight, consider adding an enclosure with shading abilities.
Are you going to watch TV in your new addition? Be sure to install electrical wiring. Do you live in an area that gets a lot of snow, hail, or strong winds? Your project will need additional insulation and possibly a different design to accommodate. Do you need a heating and/or cooling system so that you can use the space year-round?All these questions need consideration when planning your project. Each of them affects the cost of your addition.
Getting a Building Permit Every addition to your home requires a building permit which costs between $400 and $1,800. A sunroom falls on the lower end of that range. Starting the project without a permit can cause your insurance to deny a claim if something happens. You might also have problems selling the home down the road. Permission typically takes 4 to 8 weeks from the application.
Placement on a Patio or Deck
A patio enclosure costs between $8,500 and $24,000 in most cases. You can build your sunroom onto an existing patio, which means you don't have to pay extra to stabilize the construction.
Don't forget about any major factors in your existing landscaping that might affect your sunroom. Is there a tree in the way that needs to be removed? Land excavation prices range from $1,300 to $4,600.
Size
The size of your project is one of its biggest budget factors. Contractors and other installation pros work by the hour, and larger sizes increase their workload.
Sunroom Costs by Room Size
Size
Price
8x10
$4,000 - $6,000
10x10
$5,000 - $8,000
12x10
$10,000
12x20
$20,000
Sunroom Insulation Estimates
Insulation costs between $500 and $1,500 for a single room, depending on the type of product you use. Estimate between $0.70 and $1.30 per square foot of wall space. Especially for a four-season project, you need effective insulation to maintain reasonable heating and cooling bills.
Depending on your structure, roofing costs between $2,000 and $7,000. Solariums will need a glass-encased roof with a steel structure. Other options might only need asphalt shingles, which typically run on the lower end of your budget compared to a glass roof.
Installing Sunroom Windows & Doors
Window installation costs between $3,500 and $15,000. Expect to spend less for a non-insulated three-season option, and up to $15,000 for a fully insulated solarium.
If your contractor isn't certified to do wiring, you will need to hire a licensed electrician for $160 to $500. Calculate with a rate between $50 and $100 per hour. Whatever type of enclosure you choose, make sure that your contractor is certified to do wiring.
You may need electrical outlets in your new space. You should consider how many before construction starts. Some potential electrical additions include:
Thoughtfully choose where you want the outlets to be. You should also ensure that your current power supply will support this addition. Your cost will increase if you need to add an electrical box or power source for the sunroom. That price may make you think twice about how you want to use the room.
Heating or Air Conditioning (HVAC) Systems
The rate to add heating and air conditioning to your sunroom ranges between $300 and $6,000. The cheapest option is window A/C units combined with space heaters, but it will make a significant difference on your utility bills.
You can expand your existing ductwork to the new space for a price between $4,000 and $6,000 including install. A good intermediary solution is a mini-split system, which ranges between $1,500 and $3,000 including install. It's typically quiet, doesn't require ductwork, and still heats and cools the area efficiently.
Interior Finishing
Interior design and decor costs anywhere between $900 and $2,800. Once the room is complete, you may spend extra finishing it off. The prices for painting ($800 - $2,700), price of flooring ($1,500 - $4,300), and furniture add up. Start thinking about the decor of the space early so that you can purchase items as you can afford them or as they go on sale.
A 49% ROI for sunrooms, meaning it will increase your home's value by about half of the cost of the addition.
Additional interior living and entertainment space for your home.
Possibilities to enjoy the outside throughout the year even in bad or cold climates.
Potential to work as a greenroom for herbs, flowers, and container gardens.
DIY Building vs. Hiring a Professional
Building the structure yourself only costs between $500 and $1,500 for a DIY kit. That compares favorably to the $4,000 to $20,000 for professional labor.
However, any DIY project has to include consideration of potential drawbacks:
Mistakes can threaten structural integrity, posing danger to anyone in the room.
The build likely will not last as long due to the lack of expert planning.
Lower-quality construction might require more frequent sunroom repairs in the future.
Without a warranty in place, these disadvantages can raise your long-term costs.
Bids, Warranties & Cleanup
When hiring a contractor, make sure to get a detailed bid. All expectations should be in writing, and you should completely understand the terms and conditions of the necessary work. Talk to your contractor about what happens if you aren't satisfied with the work, or if unforeseen circumstances cause changes in the bid.
Research warranties and understand what the estimate includes. Most bids will include removal of debris and site cleanup. Make sure you will not be responsible for this step. If you are, renting a dumpster ranges between $300 and $525. Cleaning the construction site increases your budget by $277 to $659.
I am interested to get a general quote total/ per sq ft to build a all season Sunroom in our backyard as extension to a covered patio. Things to include:
- Approx sq ft of new addition 400-500 sqft
- require to have roof same as main house with shingles
- roof to have spreadout glass roofs
- Tall glass windows covereed
- Foundation and tile flooring ..
- 2 double doors..
- electrical with heating/fans
thanks in advance.
Michelle Harris
More than 1 year ago
Estimate to turn deck into glassed sunroom
Sheri Sardella
More than 1 year ago
Hi,
I'm interested in making my existing 3 seasons room into livable space, currently its just a foundation with a structure and screens. I would like to have to framing (real walls), sheet rock, insulation, siding, windows, roof in good condition and not needed. Its about approx 132 sq feet. How much would this project cost?
More than 1 year ago
Hi Sheri, Thanks for reaching out, we would be happy to help you connect with a pro for your project. You can submit a request to our pros here: www.homeadvisor.com, browse a list of local pros here: http://www.homeadvisor.com/c.html, or send your info to [email protected] and a project advisor will reach out to assist you. –HASupport
Jo Parr
More than 1 year ago
Swantha: I would anticipate that your structure will be within the 80 thousand dollar range. Your descriptor is very close to what we have contacted builders to construct off our dining room area here in Atlanta, approximating around 400-550 sq. ft.
Christina Myers
More than 1 year ago
I'd like to have general quote for concrete patio approx 270 aq ft. in my backyard. no roof just patio.
