You may be wondering if adding a sunroom to your home is a smart financial move or just another costly project. The truth is, many homeowners wrestle with this same question, especially when trying to balance upfront construction costs with the long-term value of their home.
At Custom Built, we’ve helped families across Greater Lansing and Northern Michigan navigate these decisions with honesty and clarity. While no contractor can guarantee future home values, we know from decades of experience that thoughtful upgrades improve your lifestyle today and often set your home apart in the market tomorrow.
In this article, we’ll break down the real costs, maintenance needs, and potential ROI of a sunroom addition, while also focusing on what matters most—the comfort, experiences, and memories this new space can bring to your family.
- Upfront Construction Costs
- Long-Term Maintenance and Energy Costs
- Lifestyle Value: The “Enjoyment ROI”
- Impact on Home Resale Value
- Regional ROI Expectations
- Design and Material Quality
Header PC: Better Homes & Gardens
A Quick Disclaimer Before We Begin
When talking about home remodeling and return on investment (ROI), it’s important to set expectations clearly. Just like the stock market, past performance doesn’t guarantee future results.
At Custom Built, we’ve seen how market shifts, such as the housing bubble in 2008, remind us that there’s no crystal ball when it comes to predicting home values.
What we can say with confidence is that home improvements almost always bring value. Maybe not dollar-for-dollar when you sell, but value in the sense that your home becomes more functional, more beautiful, and more enjoyable.
And when the time comes to list it, those upgrades often set your home apart in a competitive market. That combination of lifestyle benefits now and potential resale value later is what makes a sunroom addition worth a closer look.
1. Upfront Construction Costs
One of the biggest misconceptions about sunrooms is that they’re simply decks with walls. In reality, a sunroom is a true home addition.
That means foundation, floor systems, exterior sheathing, roof structure, and roofing, all of which are required in every build. Interior and exterior windows also play a big role, not just in design but in performance.
For budgeting purposes, a three-season sunroom, designed for warm-weather use, generally costs between $96,000 and $140,000. A four-season sunroom, which is fully insulated and designed for year-round use, typically falls between $150,000 and $200,000. Keep in mind that these ranges can shift based on materials, design complexity, and your home’s unique requirements.
Some projects require tearing down an existing deck or structure before construction even begins, which adds cost and complexity. Roof tie-ins are another factor.
For example, a reverse gable might extend 20-30% over an existing roof without adding square footage, but it’s often necessary to properly handle water runoff and snow loads in Michigan.
These structural realities make sunrooms a more significant investment than many homeowners initially expect.
2. Long-Term Maintenance and Energy Costs
The type of sunroom you choose will heavily influence both maintenance and operating costs:
- Three-season rooms are not conditioned spaces. They’re designed with materials that can handle seasonal temperature swings, which means no drywall and varying levels of insulation.
- Four-season rooms are fully insulated and can be connected to your home’s heating and cooling. That means meeting strict code benchmarks for underfloor, wall, and ceiling insulation.
Regardless of the choice, added square footage results in increased energy consumption. Think of it like loading your vehicle with an extra 600 pounds: Your fuel efficiency will decrease.
The same happens with HVAC systems. Whether you extend your current system or add a mini-split, maintaining 70 degrees indoors when it’s zero outside will always cost more.
3. Lifestyle Value: The “Enjoyment ROI”
Numbers aside, one of the greatest returns from a sunroom is how it changes the way your family lives in your home. A sunroom creates a bright, flexible space for morning coffee, reading, gathering with loved ones, or simply enjoying Michigan’s changing seasons without stepping outside.
This is what we call the enjoyment ROI: The everyday comfort, memories, and lifestyle improvements that make the investment feel worthwhile long before you ever think about resale.
4. Impact on Home Resale Value
From a resale standpoint, sunrooms can be tricky to pin down.
However, a well-built sunroom can set your home apart in listings, especially in climates like Michigan’s, where extended living space is highly desirable.
Buyers are often drawn to unique features that add livable square footage and natural light. Even if you don’t get a full return on cost, you’re likely to capture some of that value when it’s time to sell.
5. Regional ROI Expectations
PC: Houzz
According to the Journal of Light Construction’s Cost vs. Value Report 2025, primary suite additions (which are comparable to sunroom additions) will recoup 18.5% - 32.4% of your project’s cost. While this isn’t the largest raw percentage return, sunroom additions deliver steady returns over time.
Remember, it’s not always about the exact dollar figure; it’s about making your home more appealing compared to others in your area.
6. Design and Material Quality
PC: The Spruce
The quality of your design and materials plays a major role in ROI. A well-planned sunroom that blends seamlessly with your home’s architecture and uses durable, energy-efficient materials will always perform better over time.
Poor design choices or shortcuts in construction, on the other hand, can reduce both resale value and enjoyment.
Investing in thoughtful design and craftsmanship ensures that your sunroom feels like a true extension of your home, not an afterthought.
Is a Sunroom Addition Worth It?
PC: This Old House
While no contractor can guarantee exact ROI, a sunroom addition almost always adds meaningful value. Upfront costs are significant, and long-term energy use is a factor, but the lifestyle benefits and potential resale impact make it a smart investment for many Michigan families.
When you weigh the cost against the comfort, usability, and added market appeal, a sunroom can be one of the most rewarding projects you’ll take on in your home.
Next Steps to Building Your Sunroom Addition
A sunroom can bring warmth, light, and more space for your family, but it’s important to weigh the costs and long-term value before deciding.
You’ve learned that while upfront costs and energy use are real considerations, the enjoyment ROI and potential resale appeal can make this project worthwhile.
At Custom Built, we design and build sunrooms that blend seamlessly with your home and lifestyle, ensuring both comfort and long-term value.
If you’re ready to explore whether a sunroom addition is right for you, start by reaching out to our team for a conversation about your goals, budget, and design options.
Now that you know more about the ROI of a sunroom addition, let’s explore how to build an addition for aging-in-place, how much your project will cost, and how to upgrade your home addition:
- How To Build a Home Addition for Aging Parents in Michigan - Discover how to build a home addition that is comfortable and exciting for your golden years.
- How Much Does a Home Addition Cost at Custom Built? - Explore the costs behind the home additions you just learned about, complete with essential factors influencing the price.
- 5 Top Ways to Upscale Your Home Addition in Lansing, MI - From heated flooring to skylights, this article explores how to elevate your home addition and create an elegant living space for years.
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