5 Questions to Ask Yourself When Choosing Between Decking and a Sun-Room

29 November 2016
 Categories: Construction & Contractors, Blog


People like being able to sit with a view of their outside space, and that can be achieved from either an open wood deck or from an enclosed sun-room. Of course, it can be tricky to choose between them, and it's a big decision to take responsibility for.

To help make that decision a little easier, try asking yourself the following five questions.

1. How's the Local Weather?

The weather is obviously going to be one of your most important concerns. If you live somewhere that experiences plenty of hot, clear days throughout the year, you'll get plenty of use from your deck. However, an enclosed sun-room can be used even when it's raining heavily or freezing cold, but it isn't quite as nice in the full heat since you won't enjoy the complete effect – sunbathing won't be an option.

2. How Much Can You Spend?

Few home renovation projects will go ahead without a proper budget in mind. If you don't have a huge amount of money to work with, it can be better to go with decking, which is far more economical since you don't need nearly as many materials or man-hours to complete the work. If money isn't really an issue, a sun-room can help add more value to your home than decking, so you can consider it an investment.

3. Where Is the Extension Going?

One of the great things about decking is that it can be placed virtually anywhere. Even if you're looking at extending over a sloped garden with odd angles, you'll experience no real problems. Sun-rooms are different; they represent a full extension of your home, so they're far easier to install across even ground. You'll also miss out on having your new space positioned above the ground, unless you're extending over another part of the house.

4. How Much Maintenance Are You Prepared for?

Decking that is treated well can last for years into the future, but you will have to regularly seal it and check that there are no problems with the wood. Remember, your decking will be regularly exposed to the elements, so you need to take care of it. A sun-room will probably take up a little more time for cleaning since it will be a full room, but its protection from the elements means that maintenance work shouldn't be needed as regularly as with decking.

5. What Will You Use the Extra Space for?

Finally, consider what you want the extra space for. If you're simply after a place to soak up the sun, a deck is going to be ideal. However, a sun-room can be used for anything; you can make it a family room at night or host a dinner party under the stars. For versatility, a sun-room is far more advantageous than decking.


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