If you and your family are considering an addition to your home, a sunroom is a perfect place to relax and watch nature. Apart from the extra space attached to your home, you can choose two different sunroom styles depending on your lounging preferences.
Three-season and four-season sunrooms grant you comfortable indoor viewing year-round or during select seasons. If you are considering either season room, knowing the difference between these two options can help make your decision easier when expanding your home’s square footage.
Take a look at the following comparison of three-season and four-season sunrooms.
What Is a Three-Season Sunroom?
Think of a three-season sunroom as an indoor celebration of warm weather that you can bask in from the comfort of your living space. Much like the name would have you assume, three-season sunrooms are best for lounging around during spring, summer and fall. This time frame is due to the difference in construction and insulation compared to four-season sunrooms.
Many newly constructed home additions include advanced insulation upgrades to keep you warm all year. However, three-season sunrooms do not consist of these same insulation guidelines. Three-season sunrooms are optimal for spring, summer and fall. Since Baltimore and surrounding areas in Maryland tend to have milder temperatures in the warmer months, you’ll get plenty of enjoyment from your three-season sunroom during these months.
During the colder months, the single-pane windows in three-season sunrooms provide a lower grade of insulation than the rest of the home. While you’ll still benefit from the warmth your heating system provides, temperatures in this room may be lower. A simple space heater or cozy blankets can keep you comfortable temperature during the winter.
The possibilities for taking advantage of this comfortable sunroom style in your home are endless!
What Is a Four-Season Sunroom?
A four-season sunroom is another excellent option for a home addition. Take advantage of year-round relaxation, regardless of whether temperatures rise or drop. With the upgraded insulation of your sunroom windows using our patented glass and coating, the ConservaGlass NXT™ with Stay-Clean Technology, you can stay toasty warm in the winter and chilled out in the summer. The glass has a high R-value of 7.7 so your sunroom is prepared to combat even the harshest temperatures.
The extra insulation from the 12-layer formula in our four-season sunrooms is the perfect solution. Thanks to this impressive glass technology, you can comfortably observe a Maryland snowfall or bask in the glow of a sunny summer day without dealing with pesky bugs or excessive heat.
With year-round temperature balance, there’s no need to go out of town to escape the winter chill. Instead, you can soak up a winter wonderland right at home while you bundle up in your cozy four-season sunroom. Hot and cold climates alike are no match for the year-round insulation you can experience with the help of this sunroom style.
Like the three-season sunroom, you can optimize your sunroom space to match your styling and everyday use preferences to make the most of your new home addition. ConservaGlass NXT™ also protects your possessions, including houseplants, from fading, overheating or melting. No matter what you plan to use your sunroom for, you can rest assured that you are choosing a durable and safe option for your home with four-season sunrooms.
What Is the Difference Between a Three-Season and Four-Season Room?
Before deciding between these two sunroom styles, there are a few more considerations you can use to set these two options apart. Besides the times of the year you can enjoy spending time in this extra living space, three- and four-season sunrooms also differ in price and the savings you can expect on your energy bills. These small factors can make a difference in your daily life, so evaluate these key differences before investing in a sunroom.
Consider the three main factors that differentiate these sunroom options:
1. Price
Because of the ConservaGlass NXT™ insulation and the upgraded technology that goes into a four-season sunroom, you can typically expect to spend more on this option versus a three-season sunroom. You will get more use out of a four-season sunroom year-round, but taking advantage of this extra luxury does come with additional costs for constructing this sunroom style.
If you prioritize your budget over a high level of insulation, three-season sunrooms are your best choice. While you may have less insulation than in a four-season sunroom, you’ll still feel comfortable for the majority of the year while benefiting from lower construction costs.
2. Seasonal Use
The most apparent difference between the three-season and four-season sunrooms is the optimal seasonal use each space offers. Considering your area’s annual climate is a significant part of deciding which sunroom is perfect for your home and family’s satisfaction.
Maryland’s average winter temperature falls around 34 degrees Fahrenheit, with milder climates on the eastern side of the state, thanks to the warming effect from the Atlantic Ocean. In the summer, temperatures average around 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Four-season sunrooms may be a better option for older construction homes with less efficient heating systems, while three-season sunrooms are a great option for homes that already have good insulation and heating.
3 Energy Efficiency
R-value is critical in saving money on your heating and cooling bills. The higher your window insulation’s R-value, the more money you can save annually on these costly expenses. In Maryland, insulating your home can grant you savings between 12%-16%. If long-term, cost-effective purchases are your top priority, the four-season sunroom is your go-to option.
Four-season sunrooms with ConservaGlass NXT™ windows have an R-value of 7.7., making them great for homeowners that want to take advantage of higher insulation. Three-season sunrooms do not come with this same energy-efficient glass, so they will be more chilly in colder temperatures.
Find Your Perfect Sunroom With Maryland Sunrooms
If a three-season or four-season sunroom is in your home’s future, Maryland Sunrooms is here to help! Our wide selection of sunrooms, including three- and four-season styles, transform your living space into beautiful scenery you can admire daily. No matter how you plan to use your sunroom, from a home office to a reading nook, our customizable options can fit your needs and expectations.
At Maryland Sunrooms, we give you access to design your sunroom from scratch. You have the freedom to choose your new sunroom’s colors, finishes, materials and styles. Our design team walks through this process with you so you can turn your vision for the perfect sunroom into reality. We are proud to accompany you every step of the way, from design to construction, so you won’t have to work with more than one team when building your sunroom.
Contact us today to get started on your new home addition.
