Convert Your Deck to a Sunroom: Why Prefab May Not Be the Best Choice

Converting your deck into a sunroom is one of the best ways to develop additional living space in your home. With a three-season room or a four-season room, you can enjoy a versatile space with plenty of natural light without stressing about the weather outside.

A new sunroom can give you and your family an indoor-outdoor living area that is protected from bugs, wind, and rain. Its heating and cooling system also keeps the space comfortable in the face of big temperature swings. On top of that, having a high-end sunroom increases your home's square footage and resale value.

However, people tend to underestimate the complexity of building out a sunroom. Converting an attached deck or screened-in porch into a bright, insulated, electrified, and comfortable living space requires the right experience and expertise.

In this post, I'll explain what goes into a sunroom addition, what can go wrong with a subpar contractor, and how to find a remodeler who can deliver the project on spec, on time, and on budget.

What Goes into a Sunroom Conversion?

Both a sunroom and a screened porch are designed to be comfortable indoor-outdoor spaces, but there's so much more that goes into a sunroom. Converting a deck into a three-season or four-season sunroom involves careful attention to all aspects of its design and construction.

• Assessing the existing deck's size, condition, and foundation (including any deck posts if it's an elevated deck)

• Designing the new sunroom according to its intended use, including whether it needs to be a three-season room or four-season room

• Site preparation, which may include upgrading the foundation, removing existing deck or patio flooring, and acquiring durable and high-quality materials

• Creating a convenient and structurally sound connecting entryway where the deck connects to the main home

• Installing glass windows with the right placement, size, insulation, and function

• Choosing and properly installing flooring materials

• Deciding on the best type of roof structure (single-pitch roof, gable sunroom, etc.) and its internal support (open ceiling, decorative elements, carrier beams, etc.)

• Constructing the walls and roof according to strict standards for structural integrity and drainage

• Wiring the sunroom for all necessary lights and outlets

• Determining the optimal HVAC system and setting it up appropriately

• Building any connections with the surrounding yard, such as french doors or sliding doors

• Furnishing and decorating to suit your style, ranging from big furniture to accents like soft throw pillows

Each of these components requires attention to detail, and the complexity ramps up with more unique deck structures, including most wraparound decks and raised decks.

What Can Go Wrong when Converting Decks to Sunrooms?

Without the right planning and experience, there are a handful of ways that a sunroom project can go off the rails.

• Improper permitting: Like any renovation, building permits are required based on the nature of the work. A handyman or contractor without enough knowledge of local building codes may try to move the project ahead before the permits are in place. That can lead to bureaucratic headaches that cost both time and money.

• Rushed work: Turning a deck into a sunroom isn't a simple weekend project. But inexperienced contractors underestimate the scope of work and try to rush everything along. That can lead to long-term problems, especially if they fail to account for the underlying deck size and deck structure.

• Poor design: A new sunroom isn't just about adding square footage—it should provide a desirable living space. That means a carefully considered layout and interior design plan. A great contractor customizes the design for your three or four-season sunroom. A poor contractor tries to copy-paste a general project plan.

• Subpar materials: If you want durability and standout performance, it's better to avoid a prefabricated sunroom kit. Apart from being cookie-cutter, these products frequently have delicate windows or single-pane glass walls. They provide the basics but certainly won't offer a high-end outdoor living space or entertainment space.

• Shoddy structural work: Trust me when I say that you want your sunroom built right from the bottom up. A dependable sunroom demands a solid foundation. That means starting with a thorough examination of the existing deck foundation and deck supports and then creating a design plan that can support the weight of the new space and the sunroom roof.

• Inadequate weatherproofing: If your sunroom isn't constructed with sufficient weatherproofing and insulation, then it doesn't provide you with much of an upgrade from a screened porch. You want to be protected from the elements so that your indoor-outdoor space is usable for as many months as possible. Good weatherproofing also makes your sunroom more energy-efficient.

• Iffy writing and HVAC system: Getting the electrical and HVAC work done right is another part of what makes your sunroom a truly versatile space. Installation errors can be expensive to have to go back and fix after you've already converted your deck into a sunroom.

The best way to avoid these issues is by teaming up with an experienced and qualified remodeler who does custom work. Regardless of whether you're upgrading from a basic screened-in porch, a covered deck, or a wraparound deck, a tailored design from a proven professional is the best route to a successful project.

Tips for Finding the Best Sunroom Contractor

As I've tried to make clear, you want to find a top-notch remodeler to convert your deck into a sunroom. In this section, I'll offer some practical advice for doing just that.

Get Referrals from Friends and Family

Word of mouth is one of the best ways to find a reliable sunroom contractor. Ask people you trust for recommendations of any remodeler who has done custom work for their home. Ideally, you'll find someone who has done a sunroom conversion, but you can start with referrals to any remodeler who has completed custom, high-quality construction.

Check for Proper Licensing and Documentation

Ensure that any contractor you're considering is licensed, bonded, and insured. They should be familiar with local building codes and processes for getting building permits. Since there are important structural considerations for converting a deck into a sunroom, your contractor should have all their paperwork in order.

Look for Specific Experience with Three-Season or Four-Season Rooms

Creating an indoor-outdoor space isn't just about tacking up glass or screen panels on an existing deck. Sunroom conversions are also distinct from other types of home additions. That's why finding someone who has prior experience with this kind of project can help ensure that everything goes smoothly. A contractor with experience in sunrooms will know the ins and outs of materials, sunroom costs, and how to design a space that’s both beautiful and functional.

Ask about Design Options and Materials

Look for a remodeler who is excited to get into the details about your design options and choice of materials. Instead of wanting to put up a prefabricated four-season room, they should be invested in your vision.

Maybe you want french doors, underfloor heating, more natural light from large windows with energy-efficient glass, special window treatments for extra insulation, hardwood flooring, a glass roof skylight, a studio sunroom, or some other specific design element. For any particular idea that you have, your contractor should be willing to take the time to discuss the pros and cons. In the end, not every idea will make sense, but a custom remodeler will take the time to listen to and honestly consider your ideas.

Get Multiple Quotes

As with any major renovation, it’s important to get at least a few bids from different firms. Compare their estimates, but don’t just jump on the cheapest one. Pay attention to how well they've created the project plan, the quality of the materials they plan to use, and whether they offer a solid warranty on their work.

Get at Least One Fixed-Price Bid

A fixed-price bid shows you upfront what the total cost of the whole project will be. That's a big difference from a time and materials bid, which shows you how much you pay per hour for various services and per unit for materials. With a time and materials bid, cost overruns are your responsibility. With a fixed-price bid, the contractor assumes the risk of unexpected costs.

Anytime you're dealing with a home addition to get extra space, you're taking on construction—structural work, wiring, HVAC systems, etc.—that can lead to surprises once the work starts. For that reason, a fixed-price bid for a sunroom conversion can offer tremendous value to homeowners.

Assess Their Communication Style

Good communication is key when working on a home renovation. Make sure the contractor is responsive and open to discussing details. If they’re hard to reach or don’t listen and communicate well, that should be a red flag.

Check Reviews and Ask for References

Before you sign any contracts, check online reviews and ask the contractor for references. A reputable contractor should have a list of satisfied customers who can speak to their work. Follow up with those references to hear firsthand about how they work and communicate.

Look Closely at Their Portfolio

A contractor’s portfolio is a window into their past work. Pay attention to the types of sunrooms they’ve built and whether they align with your vision for your space. Look for before-and-after photos, particularly of year-round sunroom projects.

A Proven Partner for Converting Your Deck or Screened Porch

At Compelling Homes, we believe that there's no part of the country better suited to year-round sunrooms than the Des Moines area. Our weather can change dramatically in each season, but a well-built sunroom allows you to enjoy natural light and an indoor-outdoor living space regardless of what Mother Nature offers up on any given day.

As a custom remodeler in this region, we've developed an expertise in custom sunroom projects. We know the ins and outs of these conversions and how to build them to the highest standards while avoiding the biggest pitfalls. We've even developed a price guide for converting a deck into a sunroom in the greater Des Moines area.

We're a design-build firm, which means that we work with you from day one to make sure the project aligns with your vision. With an experienced in-house team of designers and craftspeople, we make your entire remodel a seamless experience.

I invite you to read more about our process, check out our portfolio, and contact us today to set up a consultation about your deck-to-sunroom conversion.