Sunroom vs. Screened Porch: What Homeowners Need To Know

Outdoor living spaces featured some of the most popular home improvements of the last few years, and the trend isn’t likely to stop soon. But for homeowners, choosing how to extend their outdoor living space, like picking between a sunroom or a screened porch, isn’t always straightforward. We spoke with Dillon Walker, Director of Operations at Screenmobile, a family-run company founded in 1980 that specializes in windows, doors and enclosures, to learn more about choosing between a sunroom and a screened porch.

An enclosure, such as a sunroom or three-season porch, offers the best of both worlds. Sunlight, outdoor views and fresh air without the bugs, temperature and humidity.

Wondering how to choose between a sunroom and a screened porch? Here’s what you need to know.

What Is a Sunroom?

A sunroom is fully enclosed with insulated walls and lots of windows, usually on three sides and often with skylights. It can be temperature-controlled and utilized year-round, even in the dead of winter.

Advantages of a sunroom

• Versatile space that can be used year-round, in any season.
• Filled with natural light, making it ideal for houseplants.
• Offers the feeling of being outdoors without exposure to heat, cold, humidity, rain or pests.

Disadvantages of a sunroom

• Requires regular upkeep, especially window cleaning and leak checks.
• May offer limited privacy due to large glass surfaces.
• Sunrooms can be prone to heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer without proper insulation.

What Is a Screened Porch?

According to Trex, a leading manufacturer of outdoor living products, a screened porch is an outdoor space enclosed with mesh panels that keep bugs out while still letting in sunlight and fresh air.

Advantages of a porch

• A screened  porch can double as a cozy lounge, a casual dining area or even a quiet spot for plants.
• With the right layout and finishes, it can feel as welcoming as an indoor room.
• It offers designed flexibility inspired by other cozy screened-in porches.

Disadvantages of a porch

• Requires an upfront investment in materials and labor.
• Screens can tear and need occasional repair or replacement.
• Screens collect dirt and debris, requiring periodic cleaning.
• Roofs and screens may partially obstruct views of the sky and surroundings.
• Often only usable in spring and fall, making it a three-season space.
• Limited protection from extreme weather conditions like cold winters.

Sunroom vs Screened Porch: Key Differences

• Construction: Sunrooms are fully enclosed home extensions with insulated walls and foundations, while screened porches are typically simpler structures built over existing patios or decks
• Enclosure type: Sunrooms feature glass walls and windows for year-round protection; screened porches use mesh panels to keep out insects and let in fresh air
• Seasonal use: Sunrooms are suitable for all climates and can be used year-round; screened porches work well in mild climates or during spring, summer and fall
• Temperature control: Sunrooms maintain indoor comfort levels with heating and cooling; screened porches offer limited temperature control but can be supplemented with fans or heaters
• Indoor-outdoor experience: Screened porches provide a strong connection to the outdoors, while sunrooms feel more like an interior space.

How to Choose the Right Option for Your Home

While the main difference between a sunroom and a screened porch is that fourth season, there are other things to consider before building a sunroom addition. The location of your home, the goal of the space, permits required, utility cost, usable time and overall construction cost will all factor into your decision.

Location

Although sunrooms seem like the obvious choice for regions with extreme temperatures, they’re not necessarily the most common. “Screened porches are significantly less expensive to build,” says Walker. “That’s why three-season rooms are just as popular in those areas,” he adds.

Goal of the space

If you just want a shaded outdoor space to spend time with friends and family in the summer, fall and spring, a screened porch may be enough. Many screened porches have ceiling fans even if they aren’t heated or air-conditioned. And a little electric space heater is much less expensive than an outdoor patio heater.

If you want a space to keep house plants year-round, a screened porch isn’t it. A sunroom is a better option for keeping plants—and people—comfortable in the winter.

Return on investment

Consider the cost of a sunroom or screened porch and weigh it against the value you’ll get from it.

How often will you use it? Is having a sunny winter space worth the extra cost of permitting, constructing and heating a sunroom? Will you live in your home long enough to enjoy the sunroom, or do you plan to move? Is a sunroom a highly sought-after feature for potential buyers in your area?

Much like choosing between an above-ground or in-ground pool, the worth of a sunroom or screened porch varies with the homeowner. And just as a pool doesn’t always increase your home’s value, a sunroom or screened porch isn’t guaranteed to, either.

If you’re a homeowner trying to decide on the best outdoor space for your home, a sunroom is generally more marketable than a screened porch. Unlike a screened porch, you can also include a sunroom in your home’s square footage.

Cost of Sunroom vs Screened Porch

Sunrooms are by far the more expensive option. The cost of a sunroom addition varies greatly depending on the square footage, materials used and house specifications. Walker estimates the lowest price would be around $20,000. However, costs add up quickly. According to Maryland Sunrooms, a sunroom design and installation company in Maryland, an ultra-luxurious sunroom can cost up to $150,000.

A screened porch will also vary in price, but even the high end of the range is much less than a sunroom. “Typically, it’s between $3,500 and $7,500,” Walker says.

Permitting is another cost to keep in mind. Some municipalities require building permits for screening a porch, but you might be off the hook if you’re just adding screens to an existing structure. “Sunrooms have harder permitting because it is basically building a separate room with insulated walls and glass windows,” Walker says.

Building a sunroom addition takes more work than enclosing a porch. You may need multiple building permits depending on the scope of the project.

Finally, consider the miscellaneous costs after construction is complete. How will you furnish the space? How will it affect your utility bills? It might cost more upfront to build a sunroom with energy-efficient windows. But when the room is basically all windows, the wrong ones can waste a lot of heat, literally throwing money out the window.

What Are Sunroom Kits?

Prefabricated sunroom kits are a more affordable option for experienced DIYers, though they’re lower quality.

These kits have fewer options for customization and they lack the seamless look and feel of a traditional sunroom addition. They’re simply attached to your home’s exterior wall so the siding is visible from within the sunroom. An existing exterior or patio door usually becomes the entrance to the sunroom.

Walker advises caution when ordering a DIY sunroom kit. “Unless you know exactly what you’re dealing with, you may get something you didn’t want—and lots of gray hairs along the way,” he says.

Tip: A pro can help you choose the right fit, whether that be a fully-built sunroom, a screened porch or a sunroom kit.

FAQ

Does a sunroom add more value to a home than a screened porch?

Yes, sunrooms typically add more value to a home than screened porches because they’re usable year-round and represent a greater investment. Unlike screened porches, sunrooms can be included in your home’s square footage, which can increase your property value.

Can a screened porch be converted into a sunroom?

Yes, many screened porches can be converted to sunrooms, provided the foundation and structure are adequate or can be reinforced. It’s a common upgrade that highlights the flexibility in the sunroom vs screened porch decision, allowing homeowners to spread out their investment over time.

About the Experts

• Dillon Walker is the Director of Operations at Screenmobile, where he supports franchisees, leads new franchisee training and oversees the company’s website and SEO teams.
  

Sources:

• Trex: “16 Creative Screened-In Porch and Deck Ideas for your Home”
• Maryland Sunrooms: “How much does a sunroom cost?”