Patio enclosures are a popular home improvement option that’s often touted as adding more space to your home. But does it count as added square footage that will increase your home’s value? The answer is a little more complicated and may depend on where you live. Here’s what you need to know square footage is calculated when it comes to patio enclosures.
What Is a Patio Enclosure?
First, it helps to understand exactly what is meant by a patio enclosure. This can refer to a variety of structures, including a screen room, a four-season sunroom, or a built-in room addition. If the patio area is enclosed with screens, it generally won’t count as added square footage.
With sunrooms and other types of room additions, it becomes a little more complicated. In general, a sunroom must be heated and cooled by the same HVAC system used throughout the rest of the home for it to be counted as additional square footage. Therefore, even if you use a window unit or separate system to heat and cool the space, it may not count as square footage if you try to sell the home.
Furthermore, the additional space must meet the construction quality of the rest of your home’s interior for it to be considered extra square footage. Most sunrooms and other patio enclosures don’t meet those construction requirements and are therefore excluded from square footage calculations. Only complete room additions that incorporate the existing HVAC system and are further integrated into the house to become an interior space may be considered for additional square footage.
Adding Usable & Functional Space to Your Home
While a patio enclosure may not add square footage to your home from an official perspective, it can still add livable space for you to enjoy the way you see fit while also increasing the value of your home. If you want to enclose your patio so that you can use it as extra living space for entertaining guests, as a playroom for the kids, or for any other purpose, it can be a terrific way to add usable space without investing in a massive renovation project. Additionally, if you do plan to put your home on the market, a patio enclosure can still add value to your home and be an attractive selling point to a potential homebuyer.
What Is Eze-Breeze?
Eze-Breeze blends the charm of a sunroom with the ventilation options of a screened-in patio. Designed for patios, porches, verandas, lanais, or garages, Eze-Breeze is a vinyl-pane window system that offers extra living space that’s protected from both insects and the elements.
What Are Eze-Breeze Panels Made Of?
Crafted with ingenuity, Eze-Breeze windows feature aluminum frames and 10Mil polyvinyl panes, setting them apart from conventional glass, plastic, acrylic, or latex alternatives. They allow you to bid farewell to the inconvenience of using plastic sheeting or plexiglass panels to enclose your screened-in patios during harsh weather. The polyvinyl material looks like traditional glass and is available in clear or tinted options.
How to Clean Eze-Breeze Panels/Screens
Maintaining the luster of your Eze-Breeze panels is simple, but they do require particular care to ensure their longevity and allure. Avoid conventional glass cleaners, alcohol, ammonia-based products, abrasive substances, or harsh chemicals, as they can damage the vinyl and void your warranty. Follow this process to clean your panels effectively while protecting their beauty:
- Begin by delicately vacuuming the entire Eze-Breeze frame, employing a soft brush attachment to whisk away any dust or debris.
- For the exterior, use a hose to gently cleanse the panels, removing loose dirt and lingering particles. If necessary, wipe the main frame tracks and metal parts with a soft cloth.
- With Eze-Breeze vents securely closed, elevate the bottom panel by an inch, release the thumb latches, and gently tilt the panel inward.
- Lower the remaining panels to the base, raise the second panel by an inch, and tilt it to rest on the bottom panel.
- Repeat these steps for each remaining panel until they are all tilted in.
- Turn your attention to the upper panel and rinse it with clean water using a soft, lint-free cloth.
- Return the upper panel to its original position and repeat on the opposite side.
Learn More About the Benefits of Patio Enclosures
At NewSouth Window Solutions, we proudly offer and install Eze-Breeze systemsthat are ideal for enclosing porches, patios, garages, and cabanas. If you’d like to create a more comfortable and functional space, our patio enclosures are a great option to consider. And, while they won’t add “official” square footage to your home, they are still a great option for increasing your usable space and creating the enjoyable environment you desire.
To learn more about the patio enclosures we offer and install for homeowners throughout the region, contact NewSouth Window Solutions today.
