As the summer months once again approach and families begin their outdoor activities, the question that's raised by many looking to add extra space to their house is which avenue to take. Now, more than ever, there is an abundance of options available to homeowners looking to expand their living space through home improvements. Expanding your living space through the use of decks, patios, and four season sunrooms is a great way to add value and space to your home as well as let you enjoy the yard you've worked so hard to cultivate. The only question is which option is best suited to your needs.



Each option offers both pros and cons that can effect the decision, and those, coupled with where you live, can be a determining factor in which avenue you take. Whichever you pick, you and your family are sure to enjoy the time you'll spend there together.

The first, and arguably the most popular, option most homeowners look at to expand their living space is a deck or patio. Decks and patios have both upside and downside depending on what your needs are. Perhaps the biggest upside to decks and patios is the ease of construction and cost of doing so. While many homeowners can and will undertake the building of a deck or patio themselves, there are plenty of companies, such as Creative Energy (http://www.creativeenergyexteriors.com/) and Deck America, that can construct a top quality deck in only a few days at an affordable rate. The obvious downside to decks and patios is the lack of cover. While there are a variety of ways to protect and cover them, snow, rain, wind, and the temperature will prevent you from using your deck or patio year round, reducing the time you can enjoy it.

Because of the limitations of decks and patios, another option becoming popular with homeowners is screened decks and patios. While the cost of screening in your deck or patio is more prohibitive, the roof and walls will allow you to keep using the space for a larger portion of the year, keeping rain, snow, and insects away. The disadvantage to the screened deck or patio is that while it will keep most of the weather out, wind and temperature can't be regulated very easily. If you live in an area that gets very hot or very cold, it will be reflected inside of your screened deck or patio. Both of these factors will determine how much time you can spend in your deck or patio.

Given the limitations and disadvantages of both screened decks and patios and regular decks and patios, the choice that is growing in popularity is the four seasons sunroom (http://www.creativeenergyexteriors.com/sunrooms.htm). The advantages of the sunroom seem nearly limitless, giving your family the opportunity to use the room year round, raise the value of your home considerably, and customize the design of the room through a variety of glass and frame options. More and more homeowners are taking this route when deciding to add an extension to their homes.

The glass of the sunroom (http://www.creativeenergyexteriors.com/sunrooms.htm) is superior to the screens used on many decks and patios as it allows you the same views as the screens, but protects you from the elements while allowing you to regulate the temperature inside. This makes it available for regular use year round, no matter what it might be like outside. While a four seasons sunroom will cost more than a screened deck or patio, it will also allow for more use and increase the value of your home significantly. Both of these features alone help to offset the cost of having a four seasons sunroom installed on your home.

Any option to expand your living space is going to help you enjoy your home more, increase the value of your house, and look beautiful. Choosing which option works best for you and your family really comes down to how much time you intend to spend in the new extension. Decks and patios will be fine in the warm months, but enclosed areas, like the four seasons sunroom, will allow you longer periods of relaxation and family fun in your own private retreat.