What Does a 3-Season Room Cost and Is It Worth It?
When building a new outdoor living space, the last thing you want is to go over budget. We understand! Figuring out the budget is one of the first steps you should take when planning any kind of home renovation. While it’s hard to give exact figures for a 3-season room cost, we can give you some guidelines as well as tips to ensure you get the maximum value from your new space.
3-Season Room Cost versus Value: Does It Make Sense?
A 3-season room is a type of enclosed porch. Also called a screened-in porch, this type of space gives you a room that you can use during most of the year. However, it does not typically have heating and cooling, which makes it less expensive to build than a sunroom or full addition to your house. The lower cost makes a 3-season room an incredible value for most homeowners!
However, there are a few things to consider when assessing the cost versus value:
- How often will you use your new space?
- What are you giving up to get a 3-season room? (For example, a backyard space or old deck.)
- Will your 3-season room stand the test of time?
That last question is extremely important and why it is important to hire a professional, experienced 3-season room contractor. We design and build custom outdoor living spaces that you’ll want to use for decades to come. Additionally, we use high-quality materials and best practice building techniques when constructing your new room. This is not a DIY project or a project you should give to the lowest bidder who has no experience with 3-season rooms or sunrooms. You don’t want to be making repairs to your new space in just a few years because the work is low quality.
Ultimately, only you can decide the value of a new 3-season room and if the cost makes sense for your family. If you’ll use the room often and feel happier in your home, we think the price tag is well worth it.
Adding Value to Your Home with an Outdoor Space
Adding a 3-season room or other kind of outdoor living space to your home can be a financially smart decision, especially if you intend to sell your home in the next few years. Right now, buyers are hesitant to purchase homes that need a lot of work due to high interest rates and higher cost of materials. So, many people are looking for a home that already has an outdoor living space such as a porch or deck.
This is a trend that we expect to have staying power. Yet, many homes do not offer decks. According to the National Association of Home Builders, “75% of recent and prospective buyers rated decks essential or desirable.” However, here in the southern United States, only 13% of new homes on the market had a deck.
While the stats surrounding outdoor living spaces tend to focus on decks, having any kind of porch or 3-season room is a major bonus as well. In short, people are looking for more ways to enjoy their homes, especially their backyards. Having a 3-season room will help your property stand out when it’s on the market. It can even help your home sell for more money, since it can increase your home’s worth by up to 10%.
Budget Breakdown: What to Expect
So, what exactly should you expect to spend on a new 3-season room? The answer is going to depend on multiple factors, including:
- The exact materials you pick, including flooring, screens, and outdoor furniture
- Whether we are renovating/enclosing an existing space or building a room from scratch
- Special features you want to include, such as an outdoor fireplace
- How big you want the room to be
Forbes reports that the average 3-season room costs $25,000, which is way lower than the average cost of a sunroom at $45,000. However, we work with budgets of all sizes! Don’t be afraid to set up an initial meeting with us. There’s no obligation, and we can talk about specifics of your budget.
When you work with Structually Speaking, the price we quote you is the price you’ll pay unless you make any changes or upgrades. We don’t bait and switch like some outdoor contractors. Your new enclosed porch won’t suddenly get more and more expensive as we construct it. We believe in full transparency when it comes to pricing, so you’re never surprised with a bill or payment expectations.
FAQs About Building a New 3-Season Room
We’d love to answer any questions you have about building a screened-in porch or any other type of outdoor living space. Here are a few frequently asked questions we have to get you started:
What’s the difference between a 3-season room and other types of outdoor living spaces?
A 3-season room is enclosed rather than open like a deck. However, unlike a sunroom, a 3-season room typically does not have heating and cooling. Like the name implies, you can use it comfortably for three seasons out of the year.
Is a 3-season room better than a deck?
It comes down to personal preference and budget. A beautiful backyard deck is better if you like lounging in the sun, open air cooking over a grill, and gathering around a fire pit. A 3-season room is better if you want to enjoy the outdoors even during rainy whether, screens to protect you from insects, and a more secure space for pets/kids to play. In general, the 3-season room cost will be higher than a deck, but it provides more benefits.
How long will construction take?
It depends on the time of year and the size of your project. We’d love to meet with you to discuss your specific ideas and come up with a timeline that works for you. Contact us today to get started with a free initial meeting.