How to Build a Sunroom On a Budget

Whether you want more concentrated natural lighting or simply wish to enjoy the warmer months without falling victim to Atlanta’s notorious humidity (and mosquitoes), adding a sunroom is a popular and appealing choice for many homeowners. However, as with many home renovation projects, budget constraints play a leading role in deciding whether and when to consider adding a sunroom to your home. Moreover, like any significant home expansion, costs can add up very quickly.

Below, check out our top tips for how to build a sunroom on a budget.

A Room For All Seasons?

When remodeling on a budget, careful planning is one of the easiest and most impactful ways to make sure you’re getting the most bang for your limited bucks — and to manage your expectations about the final product. With a sunroom, consider carefully your intended use of the space.

Although we’re not known for severe winter weather, Georgia does still experience all four seasons. If you’re envisioning a sunroom that can keep you cozy on winter evenings and breezy during the height of summer, your sunroom may cost a bit more. All-season sunrooms are typically wired for electricity and HVAC connections and may require more expensive windows for insulation.

Conversely, sunrooms that aren’t meant to be as heavily trafficked throughout the year can be a bit cheaper, as they don’t require the same temperature controls. 

Types of Sunrooms

If you’re thinking, “Wait a second — all-season sunrooms? How many types of sunrooms are there?”, you’re not alone! Choosing what type of sunroom is the best fit for your home is step one of planning and budgeting for your new addition. In addition to the aforementioned all-seasons room, some of the most popular types also include:

Screened-in Porch

A screened-in porch is one of the most affordable sunroom options, thanks to the materials most often used. As the name implies, screened porches are sunrooms that are typically comprised of mesh-screen with a wood or aluminum frame rather than drywall and windows. The roof of this structure may extend from your existing roof, or it may be an angled sheet of glass or aluminum that connects to an exterior wall of your home and is accessible through your living space (e.g. via sliding glass or French doors).

Solarium

A solarium is most similar to a four-season sunroom, in that it attaches to your home as a kind of additional room. Importantly for your budget, however, a solarium is not meant to regulate temperatures to accommodate all seasons; instead, a solarium is usually meant to be enjoyed during milder weather and does not require the connectivity and added expense of a room for all seasons.

Why Hire a Contractor?

Given all the factors that go into sunroom planning and construction, it’s no surprise that this is almost always a job for a professional. In addition to being able to complete the job knowledgeably and more efficiently than the average homeowner, a contractor can also help immensely with sticking to your budget.

Contractors will be able to confidently answer questions about the best materials for your sunroom (e.g., when a more expensive material is truly worth it), as well as help you determine the best placement for the space (especially critical if you’re going for a solarium!)

Fortunately for homeowners in the Atlanta area, Perimeter Remodeling has some of the foremost experts in sunroom planning and construction in the Southeast. Want to learn more? Reach out today for a free consultation with our team!