Are Sunrooms Back?
Perhaps the better question is, did sunrooms ever go away? Over the years there have been times when sunrooms were incredibly popular, and other times when they weren’t. If you’re trying to decide if you want to include a sunroom in your custom home design, it mostly depends on your lifestyle. You should consider the pros and cons of a sunroom and discuss them with your new home builder in Greensboro before deciding one way or the other.
Sunrooms Offer Many Benefits
Including a sunroom in your plans may be a great decision for your family. Sunrooms offer:
- Additional living space
- Abundant natural light
- Exercise space
- A reading room
- A playroom
- A green room for plants
- An office space
- A feeling of being out in nature without the influence of weather and bugs
- Screened windows allow you to transform the space into a screened-in porch in nice weather
The uses for a sunroom are virtually limitless. How you use it depends on your lifestyle and the needs and interests of your family members. It can be a transitional space that will change over the years as your family changes.
Sunroom Concerns Now Have Solutions
Sunrooms fell from popularity for a time due to some possible drawbacks:
- Increased energy costs
- Difficult to heat and cool
- Recoup value was historically low
The many windows can make insulation a challenge for sunrooms. The room can be hot in the summer, making cooling costs rise, but may actually be pleasant during the winter when the sun warms the room naturally. It may also be difficult to extend the central air to the sunroom, but that is more of a concern when a sunroom is added onto a home after it is already built. The biggest concern is probably the fact that most homeowners won’t recoup the expense of adding a sunroom in resale value. Again, this is more of a concern for homeowners that are adding sunrooms onto an existing home, rather than including it in the original plans drawn up by a new home builder in Greensboro.
Window insulation technology has improved in recent years, making sunrooms more efficient to heat and cool. When you include a sunroom in your original home design, the central air can be extended to the room easily. The additional square footage the sunroom offers may be an advantage when selling the home in the future, especially if you plan on staying in the home for many years.
Make the Best Decision for You
The biggest advantage to custom home building is that your home can be exactly what you want. If you want a sunroom, have a sunroom. Don’t include one just because it’s the popular choice, and don’t let the drawbacks dissuade you from getting what you want. Weigh the pros and cons, think about your lifestyle, and discuss the options with your new home builder in Greensboro. New technology has made sunrooms much more efficient and useful for families. Your builder will know how to design a sunroom with the best possible benefits. Call R&K Custom Homes today to start planning your dream home, with or without a sunroom. (336) 362-5225.
