Does a 3 season room count towards square footage? (2024)

FAQs

Does a 3 season room count towards square footage? ›

Heated/cooled space is usually included in your total sq. footage.

In general, a sunroom must be heated and cooled by the same HVAC system used throughout the rest of the home for it to be counted as additional square footage. Therefore, even if you use a window unit or separate system to heat and cool the space, it may not count as square footage if you try to sell the home.

When adding sunrooms to your home, not only do you enjoy additional living space, but you also drastically boost your home's real estate value. Why is this? To start, you're adding more square footage to your home, which always increases its value.

Can a sunroom be counted as livable space? The simple answer is: that depends. For a sunroom to qualify as gross livable space it must meet two basic criteria. First, it has to be heated and cooled by the same system that services the rest of the house.

The answer is yes… but only if the sunroom meets certain criteria. The sunroom must be permanently heated and cooled, have finished floors, walls, and ceilings, and meet all egress requirements.

The most popular sunroom sizes are: 12' x 20' 12' x 12' 16' x 20'

However, if that first floor includes a two-story foyer, you can't count the non-usable space. Basem*nts and garages, even if they are finished, don't generally count toward total square footage. Basem*nts are typically excluded because they are built below grade, meaning below ground level.

Depending on the type you build, it will cost about $22,000 to $43,000 for a 12-by-12-foot sunroom. The largest cost factor when building a sunroom depends on whether you're converting an existing structure or extending your home further on your property, so prices will vary based on the necessary structure.

Potential for Heat Gain or Loss

The extensive use of glass in a sunroom can make it susceptible to heat gain during the summer and heat loss during the winter. Without proper insulation and energy-efficient design features, the temperature inside the sunroom may be challenging to regulate.

It should be the footprint of the house, on the outside, that is measured. It is the livable space, heated and cooled, that is considered for square footage. Garages, decks, patios, porches, and the like are not considered part of that measurement.

What qualifies as livable square footage? ›

When house plan sellers refer to Total Living square feet, they are referring to the “living area” of the home. This can be thought of as the area that will be heated or cooled. It is called the living area because this is where you spend your time. An attic, while a useful storage area, is not living space.

Adjustments are calculated by multiplying an adjustment factor times the quantity difference between the subject and comparable. For example, if the GLA for the subject is 2200 sq ft and for a comparable, 2000 sq ft, the difference, 200 sq ft would be multiplied by the adjustment factor.

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.

They can shield you from outdoor elements such as rain, wind, sun and insects, but 3-season porches are not heated. Therefore, it is not a part of finished square footage, but is considered an enclosed space. One of the biggest benefits to a three-season porch is the fact that it is very economical.

Depending on the type of sunroom you have in mind, your new addition will most likely have two kinds of doors – interior ones that provide access from within the house, and exterior ones that provide outdoor egress. One of the most popular choices for both are French doors.

Three-season sunrooms are additions enclosed with glass but lacking insulation and HVAC systems. A sunroom adds extra living space, increases a home's appraisal value, adds curb appeal, and yields a 50%+ return on investment. The most popular sunroom sizes are 12'x12' and 16'x24'.

As a buyer it can be helpful to know how to calculate the square footage of a house yourself – just multiply the length and width of all applicable rooms in the home.

A three-season sunroom is meant to be used for three out of the four seasons of the year—generally spring through fall—because it offers little protection against extreme temperatures like heat and cold. A three-season sunroom is ideal in mild climates where the winter is not very cold and the summer is not very hot.

In some cases, a four-bedroom house may contain a 'bonus room' considered one of the true bedrooms. A bonus room is not a bedroom for tax purposes and appraisals. Although the added square footage is considered, it is not a 'usable' room. This means that you can have more space with lower property taxes.