If you’re looking for an even better way to enjoy the sun virtually all year round, while simultaneously adding value to your property and enhancing its overall aesthetics, converting a patio into a sunroom is the way to go.
A sunroom is a room specially constructed to allow you to enjoy the warmth from the sun all year round, along with unobstructed views outdoors, while remaining safe, cozy, dry, and sheltered from the elements inside.
Typically attached to your property, sunrooms are usually made predominantly from glass, and feature floor-to-ceiling windows, and sometimes glass roofs as well. The idea is to provide great views outdoors and to allow as much natural sunlight into the room as possible.
While they can be constructed from scratch, if you have an existing patio, you may wish to transform it into a sunroom. While it is very possible to do so, there are a number of considerations to take on board, particularly in terms of cost and DIY.
Here are several DIY and cost considerations when converting a patio into a sunroom.
Foundations
Some people believe that simply smoothing patios out with a thin layer of concrete or filling is enough to serve as a foundation for a large sunroom. In reality, things are not that simple.
Most patios are not able to serve as foundations for sunrooms alone, due to the fact that they aren’t thick enough to support the extra weight of the sunroom. This means that building directly onto a patio could jeopardize the structural integrity of the room.
In order to build directly on your patio, the foundations will first need to be reinforced. By how much depends upon the weight and size of your finished sunroom.
Three or Four-Season
Another very important DIY and cost consideration when constructing a sunroom on a patio is whether or not you’re building a three-season sunroom or a four-season sunroom.
If you’re looking to construct a sunroom that keeps you warm and cozy all year round, you’re going to need a four-season construction. As the name suggests, these sunrooms are designed to be enjoyed all year long, during all four seasons. They are generally sturdier and provide better insulation to keep you warm, even during the colder winter months. The downside is that they are more costly.
If you are on a tight budget however, you can opt for a three-season sunroom instead. These sunrooms are designed to be enjoyed during the spring, summer, and fall months of the year. They do not, however, provide enough insulation to keep you warm during the winter.
As three-season sunrooms feature more basic designs and less insulative materials, they are nearly always more affordable.
The Size of Your Patio
If you are planning to build a sunroom onto your patio, you are limited in terms of the size of your patio. Basically, your sunroom can only be large enough to be built directly on your patio.
Before you proceed with things like planning and ordering materials, make sure your patio is large enough to accommodate the sunroom you want to build upon it.
If your existing patio space does not provide enough square footage to accommodate the sunroom you wish to construct, you may need to expand the entire area. This not only means more work and time, it also means more costs as well, both for materials, and possibly labor, unless you’re able to carry out the works yourself.
The Condition of Your Patio
While it would be fantastic to have immaculate patios that constantly look brand-new, as if they were laid the previous day, in truth, like any outdoor feature patios can become weathered and broken down overtime.
Unless they’re covered, patios are constantly exposed to the elements. This means that extreme weather like rain, sleet, snow, ice, and high temperatures, can cause cracks and breaks to appear. There is also the risk of damage caused by pests and insects.
Before you begin construction, examine your patio carefully and make sure it is structurally sound without any visible cracks, chips, holes, or gaps. Remember, this is essentially serving as the basis of your foundation, so it must be in good condition. You wouldn’t build a house on foundations full of cracks and signs of damage, and you shouldn’t do it with your sunroom either.
Design and Layout
Of course, another set of key considerations when it comes to constructing a sunroom on a patio is the design and layout you’re looking for.
Do you want a sunroom designed for peace, tranquility, and relaxing in, or do you want a room for the entire family? As far as the layout and design goes, you’ll not only have to consider where to have your doors and windows, you’ll also need to consider things like power outlets, HVAC, and so on.
Materials
As far as the overall look and cost of your sunroom is concerned, the materials you select are going to be the biggest factors. Double, or even triple-pane glass windows for example, are going to cost much more than single-pane.
You’ll also need wood and timber for the frame, as well as drywall, patio enclosures, roofing materials, and so on.
Finishing Touches
When people plan for a sunroom construction, they often fail to factor in things like finishing touches, especially when budgeting.
The costs of building a sunroom vary hugely, yet when you are doing your budget, be sure to factor finishing touches into the final costing. Things such as flooring, rugs, furniture, décor, wall art, plants, ceiling fans, AC, power outlets, and other accessories all cost money, and these expenses need to be factored into the final price.
Budget
On the subject of budget, one of the primary considerations when constructing a sunroom directly onto a patio space is your overall budget and how much you can realistically afford to spend.
The overall cost of installing a sunroom on a patio can vary hugely, sitting at anything from $10,000 all the way up to around $70,000. Of course, there are many factors to consider, such as the size of the sunroom, the materials, whether you opt for three or four-season, or whether you install it yourself or hire a professional.
Before you begin construction however, set a realistic budget, consult some experts, and try to get a rough idea of how much your dream sunroom is going to cost.