If you’re one of those homeowners who is fortunate enough to have a deck, then you’re probably grateful for the ability to cook, dine, and lounge around outdoors whenever the weather allows for it. While your deck might serve you rather well during those warmer months, you’re probably not apt to use it once the temperatures in your area start turning cooler. If you’ve spent the past few winters stuck indoors, just staring at your deck while wistfully counting down towards spring, then consider this: There might be a way for you to enjoy your deck year round, even when the weather isn’t at its kindest. All you have to do to make it happen is convert your existing deck into a sunroom.
A sunroom is an enclosed area of the house that allows you to experience outdoor living from the comfort of inside your home. Sunrooms are typically designed in a manner that allows for the maximum amount of sunlight to enter the area (hence the name). While it is certainly possible to build a sunroom from scratch and add it to a home’s existing framework, the presence of an existing deck or porch as a solid base can make the addition of a sunroom a whole lot simpler and quicker on the construction front. Therefore, if you already happen to have a deck, then you might want to consider turning it into a sunroom for year-round use.
A.W. Ross is the controller of Lundberg Roofing, Windows & Siding, a company that has been serving the Charlotte, North Carolina area since 1979, and according to him, sunrooms are a great way to add value to one’s home. Since a sunroom can add square footage to an existing house, it is a wise investment for a homeowner looking to maximize his living space. After all, as nice as a deck might be, it can in no way be counted towards a home’s square footage calculation; and while you might not care how many square feet your home translates into right now, you’ll be more likely to be mindful of this fact when you do decide to sell your place.
Another good reason to turn your deck into a sunroom is that by doing so, you’ll get to use it all year, not just during those nicer summer months. Part of the reason why so many people get tend to get depressed over the course of the winter is that their lifestyles can end up depriving them of some much-needed sunlight. By adding a sunroom, you can give yourself year-round access to the outdoors without so much as leaving your house. Best of all, it’s far cheaper to add a sunroom to an existing deck than it is to have one built from scratch. Some companies that sell pre-fabricated sunrooms that can simply be placed over an accessible structure for a quick, painless construction project; and although the use of an outside company or contractor is usually necessary for sunroom installation, the presence of an existing deck can make the process extremely cost-effective, especially given the benefits involved.
Of course, the one disadvantage of turning your deck into a sunroom is the fact that once the project is complete, you will no longer have an open-air deck at your disposal. On the other hand, a sunroom can be a comfortable alternative to a deck, as it offers the winning combination of outdoor access and sun protection at the same time. And if your backyard is big enough to allow you to convert your deck to a sunroom and still be left with plenty of room to spare, then you could always install an adjacent patio (or just break out the lounge chairs) if you find yourself missing that summertime open-air feel.
By turning your deck into a sunroom, you can instantly add to the value of your home while improving its overall functionality. If you’re ready to take your outdoor living space to the next level, then contact a company that specializes in sunroom additions and get ready to reap the benefits of never having to deny yourself access to the warmth and light of the sun again.
