There are a lot of ways homeowners can create additional living space in their homes. But adding a sunroom provides the flexibility that a traditional addition or attic, or basement conversion does not offer. When compared with standard construction, sunrooms tend to go up quicker, which means less disruption to the household routine. And it is space that is different from any other room in the house.

“A sunroom is a bright, positive environment,” said Peter Burley, owner of NJ Sunroom Additions in Mountainside, a company that builds custom sunrooms, as well as traditional additions. “If you go to a restaurant, you want to sit by the window, right? We had previous customers tell us that during the recent snow storms, they sat in their sunrooms and watched the snow. In a sunroom, you can experience nature directly, as well as all the things that are happening in your garden”

Sunroom, or sunspace, is a generic term that covers a number of different types of structures. Here's a list of terms to help separate the different types available. The terms may vary slightly from one company to the next.

Conservatory.  These structures usually have segmented glass roofs and walls. They may have unusual shapes, and they have an old-world charm to them. It's not unusual for the glazing to be placed on a stone or brick base that is a few feet high. Many have Victorian and other period touches.

Solarium.  These have floor to ceiling glass, as well as glass roofs, although there are variations. These types of buildings make the maximum use of glass.

Gable and Shed. Gable-roofed sunrooms look like the gables on a house where two sides of the roof slope down from a center point. A shed roof slopes down from the side of the house. In either case, the rooms can have glass roofs or solid roofs with skylights. The walls are usually floor-to-ceiling glass.

Integrated. These resemble standard additions. They have floor-to-ceiling windows, but the solid roof matches the roof on the existing house.

The look of sunrooms can vary from one company to the next. Some manufacturers use aluminum to hold the glass in place, others use reinforced PVC. What they all have in common is the large amount of glass they use. The glass provides the views and the feeling that you are outdoors. In cold weather, it can help capture some of the sun's heat. But in summer too much glass or the wrong type can make the space extremely hot.

“There are different types of glass used depending on the local climate,” said Dan Walker who is technical director of the National Sunroom Association (NSA). “When the sunroom will be heated and cooled, the glass will be double-paned with low-e coatings and gas infill between the panes. The coatings minimize solar gain where necessary. They are no different from any energy-efficient window you use in your home.”

Sunrooms have any number of uses. They can be left unconditioned (no heating or cooling) and only used during certain times of the year. Or, they can be four-season rooms that function just like any other part of the house.

“There is as much variety in sunrooms and how they are used as there are in home additions,” said Craig Addington from the NSA. “Actually, there is more flexibility because additions usually have limited window area.”

Sunrooms can be separate rooms or integrated into the rest of the house.

“In the old days, they were always separate rooms,” said Burley. “Now, more and more we open up the back of the house to provide more functionality. There is a better flow with the rest of the house. People use them as extensions to their kitchens, dining room or living rooms.”

Most sunrooms are installed at the back of the house because of zoning laws, but they offer more flexibility than a standard addition. They can be built on an existing slab or patio, even on some existing decks. “The deck has to be able to support the sunroom,” said Walker. “So, an engineer or contractor has to evaluate the deck. A 20-year-old deck that has been weathering for all that time, may not be able to support the sunroom. Many times, sunrooms are part of a brand-new deck.”

Sunrooms require a building permit, and they must comply with all building codes. The NSA, along with two other industry association, developed a standard for sunroom construction. The standard is referenced by the major building codes.

But construction is usually less intrusive. “Once the permit is approved on a standard addition, you are there every day for three months building it,” said Burley. “But with a sunroom, it takes two months to manufacture and another month to build. The time line is the same, but it is less intrusive to the homeowners.”

The cost of a sunroom will depend on its size, overall design, whether it is heated and cooled, and the interior finishes. A small unit will start at about $10,000. Larger three-season or four-season models that are heated and cooled can cost $15,000 to $70,000 and up. Burley said that the most popular price range for his custom units is in the $38,000 to $62,000 range.

"They are no more expensive than home additions, and additions always come with the costs of building basements or new slabs,” said Addington. “Sunrooms are a cost-effective way to add recreational space to your home. And additional space pays back when you sell your home.”