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3-Season vs. 4-Season Rooms: How to Decide Which Is Best

Do you want to bring more sunlight and fresh air into your home while still enjoying the comfort of the indoors? It might be time to consider building a sunroom in your residence.

At their most basic, sunrooms are home additions with large windows that let in lots of sunlight. They bring many advantages to any home, including better views and a boost in property value. 

There are several options to choose from, and it’s important to know the differences between them as you work to plan your sunroom project and determine your budget. Let’s look at the different sunroom styles and focus on the two main types — traditional sunrooms (also called three-season rooms) and four-season rooms.

3-Season Rooms: The Classic Sunroom 

A traditional sunroom, or a three-season room, is the classic way to let the light into your home. The enclosed space features large windows that let in lots of sunshine. 

But these “true sunrooms” aren’t connected to a furnace or air conditioner. This marks their main difference from a four-season room, leading to a few different pros and cons related to temperature, ease of construction, and budget.

The Pros of Adding a Traditional Sunroom 

• Easy to enjoy during mild times of the year. 
• Can be cooled or heated using fans and space heaters when temperatures change slightly.
• Let in natural light and fresh air.
• Potentially increase home value.
• Cost less than four-season rooms.

The Cons of Adding a Traditional Sunroom 

• Can be uncomfortable during hot and cold months, especially in the Midwest.
• Furniture and other items stored in the room may be subjected to very hot or cold temperatures. 

4-Season Rooms: Staying Warm in the Frigid Iowa Winter 

A four-season room is more like having an additional room in your house because the addition includes full insulation, heating, and cooling. This means four-season rooms are significantly more expensive to install than sunrooms. The average cost of a four-season room is $25,000 to $80,000, according to HomeAdvisor. That’s higher than a three-season room, which averages $10,000 to $40,000. To learn how much the projects could cost you, reach out to Premier Construction for an estimate. 

The Pros of Adding a 4-Season Room

• Year-round enjoyment, no matter the weather. 
• Furniture, decor, and other items in the room aren’t exposed to large temperature fluctuations. 
• Potential increase in home value.
• Lets in natural light and fresh air.

The Cons of Adding a 4-Season Room 

• Higher cost of installation.
• Higher ongoing energy costs due to heating or cooling the extra space. 

How to Choose the Best Option for Your Home 

The best choice for your home depends on a few factors, including your budget, the surrounding climate, and how you plan to use the sunroom. 

If you’re looking for the least expensive option, a three-season room will be lower in cost. If you live in an area with harsh winters, hot summers, or both, then a four-season room will allow you to enjoy the space year-round. However, a three-season room may work in areas with more moderate climates, or if you only plan to use it during seasons with mild temperatures.

If neither option meets your needs, some other choices could include a screened porch, an attached greenhouse, or a solarium with a glass roof. 

Ready to Plan Your Sunroom Project? Contact Premier Construction Today!

Want to learn about what option is best for you? Or are you ready to build your sunroom addition? At Premier Construction of Des Moines, we’re your partner in helping you choose the right addition for your home that fits your needs and your budget. Reach out to our team today to get started!