How much does a Florida room cost to build?
How much does a Florida room cost to build?
$80 – $400 cost per square foot installed
$8,000 – $50,000 average 3-season room cost
$20,000 – $80,000 average 4-season room cost
Average cost of a Florida room or sunroom
A Florida sunroom addition costs $80 to $400 per square foot installed on average. A 3-season Florida room costs $8,000 to $50,000 total or $80 to $230 per square foot. A 4-season Florida room costs $20,000 to $80,000 or $200 to $400 per square foot with full insulation.
| Florida room size | 3-season room cost installed | 4-season room cost installed |
|---|---|---|
| 8'x10' | $6,500 – $18,500 | $16,000 – $28,000 |
| 10'x10' | $8,000 – $23,000 | $20,000 – $35,000 |
| 10'x12' | $9,500 – $27,500 | $24,000 – $42,000 |
| 10'x16' | $12,500 – $37,000 | $32,000 – $56,000 |
| 10'x20' | $16,000 – $46,000 | $40,000 – $66,000 |
| 12'x12' | $11,500 – $33,000 | $28,500 – $47,500 |
| 12'x16' | $15,500 – $45,000 | $38,500 – $63,500 |
| 12'x20' | $19,000 – $55,000 | $48,000 – $79,000 |
| 14'x14' | $15,500 – $45,000 | $39,000 – $65,000 |
| 16'x16' | $20,000 – $60,000 | $50,000 – $80,000 |
| 16'x24' | $30,000 – $85,000 | $75,000 – $120,000 |
| 20'x20' | $32,000 – $90,000 | $80,000 – $124,000 |
Florida room cost by type
An average Florida room costs $80 to $400 per square foot installed, depending on the size, type, and design complexity. A 3-season screen room or prefab kit is cheaper while 4-season rooms cost the most.
| Room type | Total installed cost per square foot | Average total cost installed |
|---|---|---|
| Three-season room | $80 – $230 | $8,000 – $50,000 |
| Four-season room | $200 – $400 | $20,000 – $80,000 |
| Conservatory | $200 – $600 | $50,000 – $150,000 |
| Glass room / solarium | $300 – $800 | $30,000 – $100,000 |
| Prefab kit | $20 – $150 | $10,000 – $50,000 |
3-season / Florida screen room prices
A 3-season Florida screen room costs $8,000 to $50,000 or $80 to $230 per square foot. The total cost is lower than other types due to the lack of insulation and glass windows. Typical designs include a solid shingled roof with either all-screen walls or large window screens.
Other common outdoor enclosure types include:
A screened patio enclosure costs $10 to $25 per square foot when adding screens to an existing patio.
A screened-in porch costs $50 to $275 per square foot total.
A screened pool enclosure costs $5 to $15 per square foot.
4-season Florida room prices
A 4-season Florida room costs $20,000 to $80,000 on average or $200 to $400 per square foot. The total cost varies according to the size, materials, and design. All 4-season rooms have insulation and connect with the rest of the house.
Most home additions or 4-season Florida rooms have solid roofs to provide shade in the middle of the day.
Conservatory addition cost
A conservatory addition costs $50,000 to $150,000 or $200 to $600 per square foot installed. A conservatory is a luxurious 4-season sunroom with insulation, HVAC climate control, electricity, and a peaked glass ceiling. This living space is ideal for plants as it allows more sunlight in than a traditional sunroom.
Solarium cost / glass room cost
A solarium costs $30,000 to $100,000 or $300 to $800 per square foot. The total cost depends on the size and whether it's a 3-season or 4-season addition. A solarium has all glass walls and roofing. A 4-season solarium has insulated glass that's thicker than most greenhouses.
Prefab Florida room kit prices
Prefabricated Florida room kit prices are $10,000 to $50,000 installed on average or $20 to $150 per square foot. These prices only include materials and installation on an existing concrete foundation or reinforced deck. Total costs depend on the brand, size, and whether the room has full insulation.
DIY Florida sunroom kits cost $1,500 to $5,000, and shipping costs up to $500 extra depending on the distance. These 3-season kits require an existing level foundation to install.
Florida room construction costs
Florida room labor and construction costs depend on the requirements:
An architect costs $100 to $250 per hour to make the official building plans required to get the permits.
Drafting blueprints costs $0.35 to $5.00 per square foot.
Regrading or leveling a yard costs is $0.40 to $2.00 per square foot. Site preparation costs extra if land clearing or tree removal is also necessary.
A concrete slab costs $5 to $10 per square foot to form the foundation of a new Florida room.
Flooring installation costs $4 to $15 per square foot depending on the type.
An electrician costs $50 to $130 per hour to add wiring for a ceiling fan, HVAC systems, or an entertainment center.
A general contractor costs $50 to $150 per hour to assemble basic kits.
A carpenter charges $30 to $100 per hour to build custom framing.
A permit costs $200 to $600 on average or $0.16 to $0.74 per square foot.
Adding a ductless mini-split AC costs $2,000 to $6,000 installed to provide cooling and heating.
Extending existing HVAC ducts costs $10 to $20 per linear foot when connecting the home's system to the Florida room.
Putting in a window AC unit costs $250 to $700.
Insulated windows cost $400 to $3,000 per window installed, depending on the size and glass type.
Blown-in insulation costs $1.00 to $2.80 per square foot installed.
Siding costs $3 to $13 per square foot installed for vinyl, aluminum, wood, steel, or fiber-cement materials.
Drywall costs $1.50 to $3.50 per square foot to install.
Roofing materials cost $80 to $250 per 100 square feet (1 square) of asphalt shingles, and the roofing installation labor costs $200 to $350 per square. These prices apply for roof finishing work done after installing the framing below.
A skylight installation costs $1,600 to $4,200 according to the size of the unit.
Florida room addition pros and cons
The following table shows the advantages and disadvantages of a Florida room addition:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
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Florida room FAQs
What is a Florida room?
A Florida room is a home addition with many windows built with materials matching the quality of your home interior. This room is the same as a 3-season or 4-season sunroom. This addition gets its name from being popular in Florida where people want to enjoy outdoor living more comfortably.
Common Florida room features include:
A permanent roof that extends the home's roofing
Private location at the rear or side of a home
Enclosures with glass windows or large window screens
HVAC systems for heating and cooling
Home-interior flooring instead of stone pavers or concrete
Full insulation for temperature control
Does a Florida room add value to a home?
A Florida room adds value to a home with a 50% to 60% ROI upon reselling the property, depending on the building quality and the neighborhood. The most valuable types are 4-season rooms with HVAC systems that boost the total square footage of the home.
Adding a Florida room will raise property taxes if the assessor decides that it's technically new "livable space" that increases your square footage.
How long does it take to build a Florida room?
Building a Florida room takes 2 to 3 months to complete. The amount of time increases in areas with labor or material shortages. Builders are typically busiest in spring and summer, which also causes construction delays.
This timeframe includes:
Creating designs & building plans
Pulling permits
Constructing a new foundation
Building the walls, roofing, and flooring
Finishing the interior with HVAC or other optional touches
Installers promising to create a Florida room in a few weeks are selling a prefab patio enclosure kit, which isn't the same quality as a real Florida room. These kits often don't include a foundation.
What is the difference between a Florida room and a California room?
The biggest difference between a Florida room and a California room is the open-air expansive design of the California-style addition. A California room is closest to a Mediterranean "loggia" entertaining area rather than a Florida sunroom.
Other differences include:
California rooms have 1 or more open walls, but Florida rooms are enclosed to keep all pests out.
California rooms often have luxury furnishings while some Florida rooms have standard patio furniture.
California rooms can feature high ceilings while Florida rooms have the same ceiling height as the attached home.
Amenities like bar seating, outdoor fireplaces, home spas, sliding glass walls, and large kitchens are more common in California rooms.
Getting estimates from Florida room contractors
Before hiring a Florida sunroom builder or home addition contractor, be sure to:
Compare at least 3 in-person estimates from similar companies.
Look for a licensed, insured, and bonded company in business for 5+ years.
Visit local showrooms to decide on the model and size you want.
Read their past reviews on HomeGuide and Google.
Ask for a fully itemized contract in writing before work starts in case of a dispute.
Request a service and manufacturer's warranty for at least several years.
Avoid making large payments up front.
Questions to ask
How long have you been installing Florida rooms?
Can I see your portfolio of past projects and a list of references?
What are my options for flooring, windows, roofing, and paint?
Are you part of any local or national home builders associations?
Will you pull all the permits, and how much will they cost?
Do you call the utility company to check for underground lines before digging?
How much time do I have to discuss the Florida room addition design?
Are all materials, labor, and cleanup included in your quote?
Who's the project manager, and how should I contact them?
Will you use subcontractors, and how should I prepare for them?
What's the daily schedule for your crew?
How long will this Florida sunroom take to build?
Are warranties and other guarantees included?
What's your payment schedule?