Four Seasons vs. Three Seasons Sunrooms: Which Is Better For You?

Having a sunroom is a great way to spend more time enjoying the natural beauty that surrounds your home without having to deal with the weather. Nothing is better than being able to sit in a sunroom and listen to the rain while enjoying a cup of tea!

Sunrooms also add more space to your house and offer a great source of natural light. But, there are different kinds to choose from. 

If you’re considering a sunroom for your home, the first question you should ask yourself is whether a three-season or four-season sunroom is the best option for your needs. 

Let’s learn a bit more about each and some additional things you’ll want to ask yourself before deciding on the sunroom that’s right for you. 

Before You Get Started

Before you consider which type of sunroom you want, think about what you’ll use it for, how often you’ll use it, the features of the room that are a “must-have” for you, as well as your budget. These are all things that should be taken into consideration when you’re choosing between a three-season or four-season sunroom. 

Both types of sunrooms have different benefits that you and your family might enjoy. With that in mind, let’s look at some of those differences. 

The Seasons of Use

Perhaps the biggest difference between these types of sunrooms is the framing system. A three-season sunroom is usually only used when the weather is milder, while a four-season sunroom is built so the room can be both heated and cooled, no matter what season it is. 

If you live in an area where the climate is warm year-round, you probably won’t need the framing and extra engineering of a four-season sunroom, so you can get away with the three-season option and actually enjoy it all year without having to install any heating or cooling elements. Three-season sunrooms are typically engineered with aluminum frames, which keeps the cost lower but also doesn’t prevent heat loss the same way a four-season sunroom does. 

Doors, Windows, and Glass

Three-season sunrooms use a track system and four-season rooms tend to use a more “monorail”-based system to make rolling glass doors easy and comfortable. There’s no clear “winner” here when it comes to which option you should choose as both make it easy to open and close the doors and windows to enjoy the weather. 

The glass you choose for your room, however, will make a difference. Three-season sunrooms typically are engineered with single-pane glass windows, though some people opt to go for double-pane windows to improve insulation. Double-pane, insulated windows are standard in four-season sunrooms because they’ll help to keep the room warm by preventing heat loss. 

These subtle changes can make a big difference in the way your sunroom looks and feels. Of course, they also impact the overall cost of construction, which is why understanding your budget is so important. 

If you’re considering a sunroom for your home but you’re not sure where to get started, don’t feel overwhelmed by the process. Feel free to contact us for more information or to request a quote for your project.