Are you craving the outdoors even when the Chicago wind is relentless, and it’s 40 below zero? Adding a four-season room is a great “outdoor living space” that allows homeowners to maximize vitamin D and enjoy the outside scenery all twelve months of the year, even in the cold winter months.
Your porch is great for about three months out of the year. Beyond that, standing for a few minutes to sip coffee and scan the neighborhood skyline can be challenging. Is a 4-season room worth the cost? Wouldn’t it be easier and cheaper to add some windows to the existing screened-in porch and get at least a few more months of use out of it?
This article goes through the pros and cons of each option. Let’s get into the details.
A screened-in porch is typically a patio enclosure, a deck, or a porch enclosure with screens added to the window openings (no glass). These structures are good for enjoying the warm summer months without worrying about bugs. Screened-in porches do not have insulated walls.
This is typically a home addition with a foundation. It is enclosed with windows that can be switched out to screens or opened up in warmer months. It is common for electrical wiring to be run for a ceiling fan and a few outlets. Sometimes, 3-season rooms will have a separate radiant heater, electric stove heater, or an electric fireplace to switch on and off as needed. Depending on the age and its original use, there may or may not be insulation in the walls. Oftentimes, these rooms are developed/enclosed over time.
Also known as a sunroom, a 4-season room will have a proper foundation, insulated walls, a drywall finish, and fully installed windows. The heating and cooling system is connected to the home’s main HVAC system to regulate temperature. 4-season rooms are a true home extension, often functioning as the home’s ‘great room.’
Now, let’s look at what differentiates each option–the good and the bad–to determine which might be right for your situation.
Because the greater Chicago area has such short summer and spring months, most homeowners wish they had a 4-season room where they can get great outdoor views and feel the sunlight on their faces while having the comforts of being inside. But is building such a space worth it?
Although it will increase your home’s taxes, it also adds additional living space, which always increases home value, providing you with a nice return on investment. A 4-season room is similar to a great room in that it has a lot of functionality and can be used as flex space. So, even if a future buyer isn’t interested in a sunroom (the way you are using it), they can repurpose it into something else entirely, like a home office or playroom. Also, this space is a natural overflow area for entertaining, a sought-after feature among homebuyers.
If you have the available space and the budget, a 4-season room is a great investment. Compared with a screened porch or 3-season room, it is a more flexible option and can be enjoyed year-round.
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