It is common to consider a sunroom as a living space. However, in order to meet the criteria of living space, it will need to be enclosed and fully covered, preventing any elements from coming in, such as rain, wind, or even snow, even if it doesn’t really snow in San Antonio! Let’s take a deeper look at some of the other areas that help answer your query. 

What Characterizes a Living Area?

According to experts, living space is a heated, enclosed, and covered area of the home. This concept excludes specific areas of the house, such as the garage or the basement.

Even if that is the more formal or legal definition, you or anybody else may view a living space as any area in your home where you spend most of your time. This might be the sunroom, living room, or kitchen.

Additionally, the sunroom requires heating. This is a crucial consideration, especially if you reside in harsh winters. Your sunroom will only qualify as a living area if heated because it will probably only be useful for just a few months of the year.

So these are the two requirements a sunroom must meet to qualify as a living area. However, something else is crucial, especially if you plan to sell your house.

When is a Sunroom Allowable in Square Feet?

This is a crucial topic to think about because the response may affect whether you decide to build a sunroom in your house. So, can the total area of your property contain a sunroom?

Yes, but only if the sunroom meets specific requirements. The sunroom must have completed floors, walls, and ceilings, be continuously heated and cooled, and satisfy all egress requirements.

Although cooling is not strictly necessary, I can’t think of any reason you wouldn’t want it to be cold in the summer if you were to heat it.

Does a Screened-In Patio Qualify?

You are correct if you believe it would be more affordable to construct a deck or screened-in patio on your property and maintain the worth of your house. This augmentation could boost your resale value and attract more purchasers, but is it considered a living space?

The response is, regrettably, no. Including a deck or patio in your home’s total square footage is only possible if it satisfies all of the additional requirements we’ve covered, even if you surround it with screens and add some sort of heating. An area to Live?

Is It Time to Invest in a Sunrom?

So there you have it! If you’re considering installing a sunroom in your home, this piece has given you some information to think about. A sunroom must meet specific requirements but packs full of benefits on why you should invest in a sunroom! 

Do you intend to build a sunroom in your house? We’d be happy to provide you with planning advice and outline your alternatives. Contact us right away for a free quote!