Picture sitting in a window-covered room to enjoy the July sun or read a book as the April rain pitter-patters against the roof. With a sunroom addition, these types of days are possible. Aside from the stunning natural light and the ability to enjoy the outdoors all year, you can boost the value of your home. But which type of sunroom is best for you? We’ll explain the differences, the benefits and a few factors to consider when choosing a sunroom that will complement your living space.
Different Types of Sunrooms and Their Benefits
The right sunroom can enhance your home’s unique style, creating a multifunctional living space that adds a lot of value. Explore the following popular types of sunrooms to find the most fitting option for your home.
All-Season Sunroom
An all-season sunroom, or four-season sunroom, is perfect for people who want to use their sunroom year-round. It’s made of durable glass that can withstand cold winters — like those we’re familiar with in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. These sunrooms are insulated, so you can enjoy them during snowy below-zero days and 80-degree August days alike. Whether looking to play board games with friends during the holidays or bask in the sun with an iced tea during the summer, an all-season sunroom can accommodate all of your sunroom dreams!
Benefits of an All-Season Sunroom
All-season sunrooms have numerous benefits for homeowners who want to use their sunrooms all year round:
- Energy-efficiency: Insulated glass helps keep your sunroom warm during the winter and cool during the summer, making the room more energy-efficient.
- Many design options: With an all-season sunroom, you can have a traditional roof or a glass roof installed. You can also add sliding doors and exterior siding for extra customization.
- Versatility: The extra room is extremely versatile, perfect for relaxing, napping or hosting.
Three-Season Sunroom
As you may have inferred from the name, a three-season sunroom is best enjoyed during spring, summer and fall. These sunrooms are not made from the same insulative materials as all-season sunrooms, meaning they may not keep you warm during the wintertime. If you’re mainly interested in using your sunroom to enjoy the beautiful leaves of the fall season, the warmth of summertime or the crispness of spring, a three-season sunroom may meet your needs. It’s also a more budget-friendly option compared to an all-season sunroom.
Benefits of a Three-Season Sunroom
While three-season sunrooms have limited functionality during the wintertime, they still have some appealing benefits for homeowners:
- Cost-effective: The materials used to construct a three-season sunroom are not insulating, making these rooms more affordable than all-season sunrooms.
- Enjoy the sun: While you may not be able to use your sunroom during the winter, you can enjoy the summer sun with a three-season sunroom. `
Cathedral Sunroom
Cathedral sunrooms provide an extra beautiful architectural element to your home with their vaulted ceilings that resemble churches or cathedrals. This sunroom design adds an elegant flair and a midcentury modern vibe to your home, and you can enhance the space with wood beams or lighting to create a rustic or modern atmosphere. You can also enjoy your cathedral sunroom year-round — watch the snow fall with a cup of hot chocolate or the birds fly past your home through the stunning glass walls.
Benefits of a Cathedral Sunroom
A cathedral sunroom has its own advantages, a few of which we’ll explore below:
- Increased curb appeal: While all sunrooms can add aesthetic value to your home, cathedral sunrooms are especially breathtaking.
- All-season options available: Your cathedral sunroom can be built with insulated glass so that you can enjoy it all year.
- The illusion of a bigger space: The vaulted ceilings give the illusion of more space. There’s an airiness to the room that makes it appear larger.
Studio Sunroom
A studio sunroom consists of a single-slope roof, and its simplicity complements most home styles, especially contemporary. These rooms are also incredibly versatile — you can use your studio sunroom as a home office, playroom, reading nook, craft room, yoga studio, coffee corner or breakfast nook. Studio sunroom contractors can also use the insulative materials of all-season sunrooms so that you can use your new space year-round. Its simple design makes it seem like it’s always been a part of your home!
Benefits of a Studio Sunrooms
Consider the following benefits of a studio sunroom:
- Versatility: Like the other types of sunrooms, studio sunrooms are incredibly versatile.
- Wintertime functionality: You can have an all-season studio sunroom installed, which is essential if you want to use your sunroom as a home office or want year-round access to it.
- Simple design: These sunrooms complement most home styles due to their single-slope roof construction.
Porch Conversions
Like studio sunrooms, porch conversions are designed to look like an original part of your home. Constructed from your existing patio or porch, porch conversions — or patio enclosures — are an excellent option for homeowners concerned that a sunroom will not fit with their existing home design. Skilled sunroom contractors can convert your porch into a complementary sunroom space. You can enjoy your new space the same way you’d enjoy your patio, but the festivities don’t need to stop when the weather gets cold! You can enjoy your new sunroom all year.
Benefits of a Porch Conversion
Porch enclosures are unique projects with just as many benefits as other types of sunrooms:
- Increased home value: Converting your patio or porch space can increase your home’s value.
- Complementary design: Sunroom contractors can build a porch enclosure that matches your home’s existing design, which is perfect if you’re not sure how a sunroom would blend with the rest of your home.
- Year-round functionality: Host the same events you once hosted on your patio in your new sunroom during the wintertime.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Sunroom
Ready to add a sunroom to your home? There are a few things to keep in mind before making your final decision:
- Your budget: Work with your sunroom contractor to get the highest value for your money. While some components may be more expensive than others, you can still get a beautiful sunroom that fits your budget.
- The sunroom’s purpose: If your sole intention is to enjoy the most sun exposure, build your sunroom on the south-facing side of the house. To watch sunsets, build it on the west-facing side of your home.
- Insulation: Decide whether you want an all-season sunroom with insulated glass. This allows you to enjoy your sunroom during the Pennsylvania or New Jersey winter.
- Window size: Large dome or square windows allow for abundant light. They also give you a better view of your garden and surroundings.
- The decor: Depending on your sunroom’s size and style, incorporate furniture and decor that can withstand fading, mold and dampness, especially if you have the flexibility to open the windows or screen door.
Install Your Sunroom With Evolution Sunrooms
At Evolution Sunrooms, our highly skilled sunroom contractors bring the outdoors inside by offering the best of nature from the comfort of your home. We’ll install your ideal sunroom with tailored designs, free in-home estimations and a limited lifetime warranty on our materials.
We’re excited to get started on your sunroom project. Get a free quote from our Pennsylvania or New Jersey office, and we’ll arrange to meet to discuss your requirements!
