Put a Little Sunshine in Your Life with a Sunroom

Adding a solarium (a.k.a. sunroom) to a home is one of the easiest and most practical ways of improving a house's property value.  But there are many other advantages besides generating a larger return on one's investment.  In the years prior to selling the house, solarium owners have ample opportunity to reap the rewards of their indoor garden getaway.

Adding a sunroom is easier than you think.  Find out more

Enjoy the Great Outdoors All Year Round

One of the main advantages of owning a sunroom is that a person can enjoy the great outdoors no matter what the weather is.  During the hottest days of July, a sunroom allows one to relax in a cool, climate-controlled environment while still soaking up the sun's rays.  On a lazy Saturday afternoon, a solarium owner can fine tune his or her tan without sweating profusely or swatting away pesky mosquitoes.  Sunbathing need not end when the mercury starts to drop, either.  It might be well below freezing outside, but the solarium remains at a constant and comfortable temperature.

The Constant Gardener

Sunrooms are perfect for those who enjoy gardening.  In fact, many solarium owners transform a portion of their sunroom space into a greenhouse of sorts.  With regular watering and constant sunshine, one can maintain prize-winning flowers and delicious vegetables throughout the year.  And insects are no longer a threat since the plants are technically indoors.

Energy Efficiency

A sunroom acts as additional insulation against the elements.  That's because there is an extra pocket of air separating the cold and heat from the main portion of the house.  Quite often, sunroom owners notice a dip in their energy bills after installation.  Given how exorbitant gas and heating prices have become in recent years, these extra savings add up very quickly.  In a very short time, the lower energy bills may actually offset the price of adding on the sunroom.  

When It Comes Time to Sell

Like any major renovation or makeover, adding a sunroom can dramatically increase the property value and beauty of a home.  How big an increase depends entirely on the size and quality of the solarium, but it's not uncommon for a sunroom to boost the actual property value by as much as 10 to 20%.  So if the lower heating bills don't eventually pay for the sunroom, the next buyer most certainly will.  Quite clearly, a solarium is an extremely wise investment that only requires some minor upfront costs.  In a very short amount of time, these upfront costs are offset by the extra savings, higher returns, and the years of enjoyment owners derive from having a sunroom.

Costs of a Sunroom

The actual cost of a sunroom depends on many different factors.  Is this a do-it-yourself project, or are contractors going to install the sunroom?  Will the sunroom be made of Plexiglas and aluminum, or will materials such as glass, wood, and steel be used during the construction?  And how big is the sunroom going to be?  Will expensive landscaping be necessary in order to fit an extra room onto the house?

On the cheaper end, a sunroom can cost as little as $75-$100.  But this does not include the time and labor involved, so this figure is not 100% accurate.  On the more expensive side, a new solarium that covers a large area and is installed by a professional contractor who uses high quality materials can soar well into the $10,000's.  But even at that high price range, a solarium is still a wise investment, especially if the homeowner plans on selling his or her house one day.  

Do-It-Yourself Versus a Contractor

Many homeowners prefer to build a sunroom themselves.  There are many different sunroom kits and materials one can buy on the Internet or at hardware stores.  The advantages of building a sunroom on one's own is that it can be quite a bit cheaper than hiring a contractor.  Not to mention, many homeowners report that they derive a certain satisfaction from working with their hands and creating something of their own.  But there are some disadvantages to doing it yourself as well.  If a homeowner doesn't really understand what he or she is doing, the project might quickly become more expensive than expected.  Do-it-yourselfers tend to make mistakes, overuse materials, have to backtrack, and end up wasting a lot of time.  In addition, it becomes the homeowner's responsibility to take care of all the zoning paperwork, federal regulations, and work permits required for an alteration of this size.

A contractor, on the other hand, usually requires a higher upfront cost.  The advantages are that the project can be completed in as little as two weeks, and the contractor will often take care of all the legal and regulatory paperwork necessary for sunroom construction.  In addition, the materials contractors use and the labor that they provide usually translate to a stronger, more durable, and more attractive solarium.  If you decide to go with a professional, do your research first.  The web offers a wide range of resources, including professional installation services.

Internet research is key to finding the best sunroom plan for you.  Many companies offer a free consultation to help you understand what your options are.

A Win-Win Situation

Whether you decide to use a contractor or a sunroom kit, you can add a little garden getaway onto your home in a matter of weeks.  The pleasure and enjoyment one derives from having a solarium is matched only by the extra money one can make when it comes time to sell.  Simply put, owning a solarium is a win-win situation.

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