Where to Start?
Building a Four Seaon Sunroom or home addition is an exciting way to expand your living space, bring in more natural light and enhance your lifestyle! However, getting started with your sunroom project can feel overwhelming. You may begin by searching "How much does a sunroom cost?" on Google, but the results can often be misleading. Many low-cost sunroom kits priced between $2,000 and $20,000 come from overseas online-only retailers. These products often use low-quality, non-insulated materials and aren't built to withstand Canadian climates & snowloads.
You might also come across online platforms offering home improvement guides or contractor connections, which often feature inaccurate pricing in USD (United States Dollar) rather than CAD (Canadian Dollar). These articles are typically written by individuals with limited experience in sunroom construction and rarely offer helpful or detailed information. Many homeowners also encounter the frustrating response of "It Depends" from other sunroom contractors.
While these challenges can be discouraging, we're here to help! In this article, we’ll guide you through key considerations that will allow you to estimate the cost of adding a sunroom to your home. By understanding these elements, you'll be better equipped to estimate your project accurately and make informed decisions.
Let’s get started!
7 Key Factors That Affect Sunroom Costs
1. What’s Already in Place?
Considering the area where you’d like your Four Season Sunrooms addition is often the first step. Many clients would like to convert an existing deck into a sunroom. While this is sometimes possible, it’s important to keep in mind:
- Decks are generally not designed to support a structure on top.
- Floor joist size matters. Anything smaller than 2x8 joists is usually unsuitable.
- Foundation beneath the deck is crucial. In Canada, building codes require footings to be at least four feet deep to prevent shifting during freeze-thaw cycles.
If your deck has an existing roof, such as a covered porch, we can often enclose this space with sunroom walls without major structural modifications. If you’re unsure whether your deck was built with a permit, your municipality may already have records of its foundation and construction, making it easier to build upon.
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2. Four Season Sunrooms Materials & Insulation
At Four Seasons Sunrooms & Additions, we provide a variety of solutions, from screen rooms and traditional sunrooms to fully insulated, year-round home additions.
- Screen Rooms – The most affordable option, offering protection from bugs and some weather elements.
- Three-Season Sunrooms – Built with single-pane glazing, providing shelter from wind, rain, and insects.
- All-Season (Four-Season) Sunrooms – Constructed with insulated aluminum structure and Insulated Glass to withstand year-round Canadian weather.
- Fully Integrated Home Additions – Featuring vinyl windows and doors, meeting building code requirements to open an addition up to your home (e.g., knocking down a wall in the house to have a sunroom open concept).
3. Four Season Sunrooms Sizes
Sunroom pricing is dependent on square footage. It’s important to think about the size of the space you want. To get a clearer idea, try measuring an existing room in your home. Remember, the larger the sunroom, the higher the overall cost will be.
- Measure the size of the space you want
- Consider what furniture you plan to use
- The larger the sunroom, the higher the cost.
4. Roof Integration with Your Home
When adding a sunroom to your home, roof integration is a key consideration, as each sunroom we design attaches differently depending on the home's structure.
For example, with multi-story homes, the sunroom roof can often be attached seamlessly to an existing wall, providing a smooth transition. However, for bungalows, modifications to the house roof may be necessary to ensure proper water drainage and effective integration. These adjustments help maintain the structural integrity and prevent potential issues down the line.
- Multi-Story:attaches seamlessly to an existing wall.
- Bungalow: modifications to the house roof may need to be completed to ensure proper water drainage and integration.
5. Roof Type for Your Four Season Sunroom
At Four Seasons Sunrooms & Additions, we provide a variety of roof options to suit your specific needs and preferences. Here’s a quick look at what we offer:
- Prefabricated Solid Roofs: Low maintenance, ideal for low-pitch roofs.
- Conventional Roofs: Designed to blend seamlessly with your home’s aesthetic.
- Glass Roofs: The most premium option, allowing maximum natural light into your sunroom offering a WOW factor.
6. Heating & Cooling Options
When determining how to heat and cool your sunroom, it's important to take into account the climate, the room's size, and how you intend to use the space. These factors can affect the overall cost of your sunroom project. Here are some common options for heating and cooling a sunroom:
- Electric heating and cooling units
- Fireplaces
- In-Floor Heat
7. Additional Work & Customization
When designing your sunroom addition, it's important to recognize potential additional costs that may arise due to various factors. While these costs aren’t always necessary, being prepared for them will help you manage your budget effectively. Some common examples of additional costs include:
- Electrical requirements
- Exterior decks or patios
- Finished Flooring materials
- Interior finishes
So, What Does a Four Season Sunroom Really Cost?
In 2024, the average cost for one of our sunrooms ranged between $80,000 + tax and $90,000 + tax. However, since each sunroom is custom-designed and built to meet your needs and the specifics of your site, there isn’t a standard price per square foot. While the information in this article is important to consider, we’ve outlined some starting costs for our sunroom models below:
- Three-Season Sunroom (12’x12’ – Solid Roof): Starting at $47,000 + HST
- Four-Season Sunroom (12’x12’ – Solid Roof): Starting at $57,000 + HST
- Four-Season Sunroom (12’x12’ – Glass Roof): Starting at $66,000 + HST
- Conservatory (12’6” x 12’6”): Starting at $92,000 + HST
What Now?
Although there’s no standard one-size-fits-all price for a sunroom addition, understanding how various factors influence the cost will help you plan your project with confidence.
At Four Seasons Sunrooms & Additions, our products are built to last, providing you with new levels of comfort and enjoyment, while adding value to your home. We look forward to earning your trust and delivering the best in the industry—so you can enjoy your sunroom for many years to come.
For exact pricing and a personalized consultation, contact us today!
Phone: 1-888-SUNROOM (1-888-786-7666)
Email: info@sunroomdesign.com
Written by: Jackson Teichroeb, Sunroom Design Consultant
Four Seasons Sunrooms & Additions - London, Kitchener/Waterloo
Discover the cost of adding a four season sunroom in Ontario, Canada.
Explore key factors like size, materials, and insulation to estimate pricing and more.
Explore key factors like size, materials, and insulation to estimate pricing and more.
