Building All-Seasons Sunroom: What Contractors and Reddit Taught Me

When living in Charlotte, North Carolina, you get to enjoy all four beautiful and distinct seasons. And what better way to soak in the golden turn of autumn leaves, first snowfall of winter, bursting colors of spring, and beautiful summer sunsets than from a cozy sunroom?

Sunrooms blend the beauty of the outdoors with the comfort of indoors. Most sunrooms feature plenty of natural light from large glass windows and doors. They’re an excellent way to add more space to your home—whether you need a new home office, playroom for the kids, lounge area, or a spot for your growing plant collection.

This cozy project is a huge undertaking, so we’ve created a guide based on advice from contractors, industry experts, and Reddit users with firsthand experience adding a sunroom to their homes.

Start By Picking Your Ideal Sunroom Style

We’ll focus on all-season sunrooms in this article, but we wanted to include other popular sunroom options to help you find the right sunroom style for your vision and budget.

All-Season vs. Three-Season

All-season (also called four-season) sunrooms are insulated and include heating and cooling, allowing you to enjoy the space in both the warmer seasons and cold winter months. Choosing between a three-season or four-season style for your sunroom in Charlotte, NC, is an important decision since an all-season sunroom has a higher price tag because it requires heating and cooling elements. But, being able to use this coveted space all year may make it worth the investment.

“A four-season sunroom [...] will cost you between $25,000 and $80,000, depending on your customizations,” says Andrew Johnson, home remodeler and founder of Prime Seamless. For comparison, he estimates a three-season sunroom costs between $15,000 and $40,000. Keep in mind these are general estimates, and your final cost depends on the contracting company, style, and material you choose.

Prefabricated

These sunrooms are built off-site and delivered to your home in segments. Although a prefabricated sunroom may sound like a cookie-cutter design, most manufacturers offer multiple options to customize your sunroom to your style and vision. This option is usually less expensive and quicker to install than a traditional sunroom.

According to David Steckel, a home expert at Thumbtack, prefabricated sunrooms may cost between $6,000 to $30,000. The price will vary based on sunroom size, material, building conditions, and other factors.

Back Porch

This sunroom is likely the easiest option if you already have a screened-in back porch. A screened-in porch can be turned into a sunroom by replacing the screens with glass windows to close off and insulate the space.

Conservatory

You may be interested in a conservatory sunroom if you have a major green thumb. This sunroom boasts glass windows lining the walls and ceiling, offering plenty of sunlight for your thriving indoor garden. Conservatory sunrooms are usually furnished with outdoor furniture and durable flooring, such as ceramic or stone, to withstand humidity and plant maintenance.

Bump-Out Addition

When it comes to home renovations, a bump-out is an expansion of an existing room, not a completely new addition. A bump-out sunroom can be a low-maintenance way to increase your property value compared to major renovations and additions. Joe Rand, managing partner counsel at Better Homes & Gardens Rand Realty, stresses that any expansion to your home helps increase home value. “If you can add square footage to a house, you always add value,” says Rand.

Determine the General Layout and Size of the Sunroom Before Contacting Contractors

You’ll need to finalize a few more details once you’ve chosen your sunroom style. Determine the following before getting in touch with a contractor:

• Sunroom size and layout (most sunrooms are 12' x 12' and 16' x 24')
• Desired flooring materials
• Roof material
• Foundation details

If you’re going back and forth between which flooring to choose for your sunroom, knowing the general cost of popular materials may help. “In terms of pricing, from least expensive to most expensive [...]: tile, vinyl, plank, stained concrete, and finally wood as the most costly,” says Richard Lee of Lee Brothers Construction.

The more information a contractor knows about your dream sunroom, the more accurate your quote. Determining these basics early on also helps contractors set the scope and timeline of the project.

Plan for Heating and Cooling for Year-Round Comfort

An all-season sunroom requires HVAC and insulation work to properly control the room’s environment. If you don’t want to extend your current HVAC system to your sunroom, consider these options:

• Packaged terminal air conditioner (PTAC): These units heat and cool rooms without ductwork and are popular in hotels. A PTAC should be installed by an HVAC professional.

• Window air conditioner: This is a lower-cost option, but most window air conditioners only cool. Window units should always be installed by a professional.

• Space heater: Consider pairing your window air conditioner with a space heater for the cooler months. It’s generally an inexpensive option and you don’t need a professional to install it.

Compare Multiple Quotes When Choosing a Contractor

Now that you’ve selected the style and general layout of the sunroom, your cozy new space is closer to becoming a reality. Next, you’ll need to choose a contracting company for the job. Ask friends and family for referrals to jumpstart your search.

Many Reddit threads ask users to gut-check a contractor’s quote for a sunroom. The resounding advice from users is to gather multiple quotes from different contractors to compare prices and services.

“Ensure [the] builder delivers to spec and doesn’t cut corners with what’s listed in the scope,” says Reddit user tylerb011. “By all means, get other quotes, but don’t always go with the cheapest guy,” they suggest. “Who do you feel you had a better relationship with, think you can trust, and understands your needs/wants? Take those into consideration with who you choose.”

Keep these tips in mind when researching any contractor:

• Check that they have the proper license and insurance required to work in Charlotte, NC, including their subcontractors (if applicable)

• Request a detailed quote with an itemized list of all materials, labor costs, and additional fees for the project

• Ask for at least three references

Familiarize Yourself With the Local Building Permit Process

Like most cities, you’ll need a building permit to add a sunroom to your home in Charlotte, NC. You can obtain a permit through Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement. Your application for a building permit needs to include the following information:

• Project description and location
• All estimated costs
• Homeowner’s signature

Any electrical, heating, air conditioning, or plumbing work requires a separate permit. If your sunroom adds more than 100 square feet to your home, you’ll also need to submit your project to Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement for plan review. Consult your contractor for assistance with the permitting and plan review process.

Home renovations are exciting but can become overwhelming quickly without a clear plan. Use the above advice to help you stay organized and focused while creating your dream sunroom. Before you know it, you’ll be relaxing in your home’s newest and coziest spot.