If you yearn for exposure to the fresh air and outdoor vistas but prefer to remain protected from the changing elements and critters that would love to keep close company with you, think about adding a four-season addition to your home. Also known as a sunroom, these extra living spaces provide comfort while letting you enjoy proximity to nature.

When considering the future resale value of your property, all-season sunrooms rank right up there with extra bathrooms. Should you sell your home, you can anticipate about a forty-nine percent return on investment. What should you consider when planning a four-season room addition?

Placement of the room
Sunrooms usually work best on the south side of the house in order to take advantage of the winter sun while providing some added shade to that side of the house in summer. More important than the direction it faces is having easy access to the kitchen, since you’ll probably want to enjoy morning coffee or meals in the room.

Size
Do you have a large family or do you plan to entertain guests in your new sunroom? If so, it should be designed with that in mind. A smaller room, though, is cozy and places you closer to the windows no matter where you take a seat. Either way, you’ll also need to find out from your general contractor what the existing house can support. Code requirements, lot size, and house structure may play a large part in size and placement of your four-season room.

Budget
Naturally, the bigger the budget, the better the features you can choose. However, even with a limited budget you can build a room you never had before and in which you’ll still take delight.

Windows
The idea is to have three walls of large, floor-to-ceiling windows for a one hundred eighty-degree view. Do you want them braced in solid wood or durable vinyl? Do you want double or triple-pane models for insulation? How do you want them to open: slide, crank or lift?

Roof
The roof design can match your existing roof, or you can use it as an opportunity to get even more natural light. Skylights or an all glass roof let in all the natural light you can get. It could also be more like a patio enclosure composed of aluminum or fiberglass.

Floor
The sky’s the limit on your flooring options. Tile, hardwood, indoor carpet or stone would certainly add a sense of luxury to the space.

Your Contractor
The most important aspect of planning a sunroom is to choose an experienced professional dedicated to building your room as if it were his (or her) own. Attempting to squeeze down costs by hiring the lowest bidder usually means you’ll end up paying for your sunroom twice. Low-cost contractors may leave you with a poorly constructed room that leaks from the roof, windows, flashings or door. A leak can ruin the interior of the room in just one rainstorm.

Don’t roll the dice. Call Quality Craftsmen instead. We have decades of construction experience, an A+ rating with the BBB and offer a five-year workmanship warranty on all our construction projects. Contact us today for a free consultation.