During the beautiful summer months, being carefree comes so easily. Kids playing outdoors, hosting a barbeque, and taking walks around the neighborhood are all activities that can have homeowners forgetting what it’s like to be cooped up indoors all winter long. Not to mention that even summer fun can be cut short due to pests, insects, and unpredictable weather.
If you’re a homeowner who loves outdoor living, the solution to your winter hibernation or the unpredictable summer elements may be right under your nose. Three- and four-season rooms are the perfect home structures to create an outdoor living space that is protected from the elements.
As an interior remodeling contractor, we want to add value to your home. Season rooms can do just that, but it’s important to understand the difference and which fits your home needs best.
Three-Season Vs. Four-Season Rooms
The biggest difference between these two types of season rooms is the level of usage you will experience. A four-season room can be utilized all year long, while a three-season room does not have the same capacity to be heated and cooled and is, therefore, not usable space in too warm and too cold of climates. But there are other differentiators that will play a role in deciding which type of room addition you want.
The Engineering and Materials
What elevates a four-season room into such a versatile space is the quality of materials used and the way the engineering of the room is designed to use those materials. Typically, both a three-season room addition and a four-season room addition will have large windows on three of the four walls for the indoor/outdoor living experience, but the difference lies in the glass being used. Dual insulated glass panes are installed in a four-season room to help prevent airflow, whereas a three-season room typically installs single pane glass.
Four-season rooms are also thermally engineered. The walls are insulated far more than a three-season room (which can sometimes not be insulated at all), and that insulation is of a higher quality. Even the framing materials can sometimes differ.
Design and Layout
When constructing a four-season room, the heating and air conditioning will be connected to the HVAC and heater of the main house. Designers will have to create the room’s layout with this in mind. Three-season rooms will have separate heating and cooling units (if they possess them at all), so the design won’t center around keeping this consistent with the main home.
And while three-season rooms can be connected to the house, not all of them are. Some have separate entry points. However, a four-season room will always have an entry door off of the existing home.
The Overall Cost
Four-season rooms simply use higher quality materials and more of them in the construction of their room addition. They, therefore, have a greater investment cost than a three-season room addition. The dual-pane glass, added insulation, and structural engineering all add up, but the cost leaves you with a space that brings a greater return on investment for the new square feet added to your home. So, while it costs to upgrade to a four-season room, it also pays off in the long run.
The Benefits of a Sun Room
Whether you choose to invest in a four-season room or opt to increase a warm-weather usable space in a three-season room, each sun room provides benefits to your home.
- No matter if you opt for a three or four-season room, your outdoor living experiences will increase.
- You’ll garner a space to eat and entertain that is unencumbered by insects and pests.
- You’ll have a shaded space protected from rain, snow, and heavy winds.
- If you install a four-season room, you gain the added benefit of a climate-controlled area that allows the light and feel of the outdoors.
Which Type Is Right for Your Home?
Choosing between a three-season or four-season room addition for your home remodel will depend on your specific home and lifestyle needs. What you are looking to gain from this additional space may vary from other homeowners, but we highly recommend a four-season room addition for St. Louis homeowners. The cold winter months typically render a three-season room useless for a good portion of the year.
Before making your choice in sunrooms, ask these questions:
- How often do I plan to use the space? If you have no desire or need for an outdoor space in the winter, then a three-season room may be a better fit for your home.
- How much can I spend on the project? If your budget doesn’t work with a four-season room cost, a three-season room is still a great way to get an outdoor space without the worry of weather and insects.
- How quickly do I need the space completed? Three season rooms are quick and easy to construct, while four-season rooms tend to take a little longer. But they are well worth the time.
- What will I use the space for? Not only will this help you decide what type of room addition you’ll need, but it will help you in designing the layout of the space.
Create the Season Room of Dreams
Whichever path you follow in your home renovation journey, you will be adding value to your family’s lifestyle and home when completing a sunroom addition with an interior remodeling contractor. Both three-season and four-season rooms have their benefits.
At Lakeside Renovation and Design, we simply believe the process to a well-constructed addition shouldn’t be stressful, which is why our team of designers will work directly with you and our construction team to create the perfect three or four-season addition for your home. To get an idea of how we can create the perfect addition, check out our project gallery and begin to envision your dream space.
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