Do you live in the north and want to enjoy a little more sun without having to go outside? Or do you live in the south and prefer your summer sun with a little less sweat? Either way, sunroom additions can be very attractive. For many people, sunrooms provide the best of being outdoors without the worst downsides. However, there are those who get a sunroom and later regret it. Here’s a look at the top pros and cons to consider when exploring the idea of adding a sunroom to your home.
Pros
One of the most attractive aspects of adding a sunroom is that it increases your living space. How big or small you want that space to be is up to you. If your budget or aesthetics favor a small, intimate room, a sunroom can be yours for a small investment. If you prefer a size more like a large living room, or even larger, you have many options. Those options make sunrooms flexible additions to almost any home. Additionally, sunrooms are typically less expensive than other room additions.
In addition to the additional space, solariums bring nature outdoors within the confines of a climate-controlled room. Sunroom fans enjoy the views and weather observation provided by rooms with nearly all windows. If you like to observe wildlife, solariums make it easy to observe the local fauna.
Those and related benefits ultimately add up to one great benefit: immense pleasure and satisfaction. Solariums can quickly become one of the most used and enjoyed rooms in the house. Solariums are estimated to be used an average of four hours a day.
Cons
One of the biggest downsides to adding a sunroom can come when you decide to sell your home – they aren’t good investments. According to a 2010 story of US News & World Report Having examined the best and worst home improvement projects from an investment perspective, sunroom additions are the second worst home improvement for your money. Owners recover an average of 51% of their investment.
If you are adding a solarium so that you can enjoy the benefits listed above for at least a few years, your return on investment may be less important. But as an investment alone, there are much better options.
Another drawback also has to do with money: energy efficiency. While you may be able to have a solarium built inexpensively, an inexpensive solarium can be very inefficient for heating or cooling. In more extreme climates, that can significantly increase your energy costs. Solarium builders offer energy efficient options, but they can be expensive.
One of the advantages of solariums can also be a scam. All of those windows provide great views for you and anyone looking inward. From a privacy point of view, there is not much difference between a sunroom and an open terrace.
Sunrooms can be great additions to a home. However, the savvy shopper approaches sunroom additions wide-eyed and aware of the pros and cons. Doing so goes a long way towards avoiding buyer regret.
