How Much Does a Solarium Addition Cost? [2024 Data]
Normal range: $26,000 - $55,000
A solarium addition costs between $26,000 and $55,000, averaging $34,000. You’ll pay more if you want a large solarium and choose luxury materials.
If you’ve ever dreamed of more natural light in your house, or wanted an addition that leans more toward luxury than function, a solarium may be your answer. While building a solarium addition costs an average of $34,000, many homeowners find the increased enjoyment and boosted home value to be worth it.
While you can build a minimalist solarium for $26,000, an opulent build will be closer to $55,000 or more. How do you anticipate the cost of such a project? Learn all the cost factors at play when building a new solarium.
- Average
- $34,000
- Low end
- $4,000
- high end
- $140,000
Size of Your Solarium Addition
The size of your solarium addition will be the largest factor in its cost. Beyond the bones of the solarium, each extra foot added is a sizable increase in the cost of the more expensive materials, like glass. A standard solarium is around 200 square feet, costing an average $160 to $220 per square foot.
While there are some savings to be had on larger projects, don’t be surprised if it only lowers your cost per square foot by around 10%. This is because while labor is negotiable, raw materials have a floor to how low they can be discounted before your contractor’s margins stop making sense.
| Size in Square Feet | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| 150 | $24,000–$33,000 |
| 175 | $28,000–$39,000 |
| 200 | $30,000–$42,000 |
| 250 | $40,000–$55,000 |
| 300 | $48,000–$68,000 |
Type of Glass
Solariums are entirely glass, with the exception of the flooring and structural components. It’s common to mix glass types—like tempered glass for the roof and another type for the walls—and which one you choose depends on your budget and the solarium's intended use. Tempered glass is strong, but double-glazed glass might be a better choice as it allows less heat and cold transfer.
Low-E glass stands for Low Emittance, which means there is less heat transfer due to a microscopic film applied to the window. These are less expensive than double-glazed and share many of the benefits. You can also purchase glass that is factory tinted—meaning you don’t tint it later—but it may reduce the amount of light too much for your liking. You can discuss your options with a glass professional.
| Type of Glass Used | Cost per Square Foot |
|---|---|
| Tempered | $12–$18 |
| Laminated | $12–$22 |
| Low-E | $10–$16 |
| Double glazed | $14–$24 |
| Factory tinted | $8–$16 |
Solarium Professional Costs
While working with a general contractor is the easiest and often least expensive option, you may decide to delegate aspects of the project to different pros on your own timeline.
Electrician Costs
Not all solariums will have power but most homeowners will at least want a few outlets and maybe a ceiling fan. For these, you’d need an electrician. Common costs are:
Installing an outlet: $300
Adding a light fixture: $500
Rewiring: $6,000
Glass Installation Professional Costs
Glass is the primary material in a solarium so working with a sunroom or glass professional is a requirement even before you’ve started construction. While the cost of the materials varies quite a bit, expect to pay glass pros between $60 and $130 per hour.
Architect Costs
Architects can draw up the plans and ensure they’re ready for permits. Also, architects have a great eye and can give you many more options than you might have considered yourself. Expect to pay either 8% to 15% of the total project cost, or around $140 per hour on the cost of hiring an architect.
General Contractor Cost
Working with a general contractor will cost about 10% to as high as 22% of the total project cost. Their experience and connections are invaluable when it comes to securing product discounts and keeping a project on schedule. A general contractor may not do the work themselves but will hire a team, which costs between $300 and $700 per day, depending on the size of the group.
Additional Cost Factors
Most houses and properties won’t be ready to go the second you have your design drawn up. There are a few things you need to do before making progress with your actual build.
Demolition and Prep
Solariums are additions to a house, which means they’re often built on undeveloped square footage. This requires a foundation, wiring, and other aspects of a build that can quickly inflate a project's cost. Expect a new foundation to cost $4,000 or more. If you plan on building the solarium where an existing room or addition is, demolition work will set you back around $70 per hour, plus the cost of disposal.
Permits
Solariums require permits in almost all municipalities. Your general contractor or architect can help secure these for you but if you want to take charge of them yourself, head down to city hall and ask where you can obtain them. The cost of building permits varies, but expect to pay anywhere from $200 to $900 for a solarium permit.
DIY Adding a Solarium vs. Hiring a Pro
While there are many DIY projects we recommend, even seasoned DIYers should leave this one to professionals. A sunroom might be an easier project as you're installing a traditional roof, but because a solarium is encased in glass, there are additional considerations like weight loading and insurance. Instead, you should hire a local sunroom contractor near you to build your solarium.
While you would save a significant amount of money doing the work yourself, you would also lose out on the required expertise, which is so important when working with glass. There are safety risks, the project is time-consuming for a single person or even a duo, and if you resell down the line, potential buyers may not trust a DIY solarium as being soundly constructed.
Tips to Reduce Cost While Adding a Solarium
Solariums are an expensive addition, but there are a few ways to save money. Some inventive ways to reduce cost while adding a solarium are:
Use recycled materials when possible.
If using a general contractor, ask for bulk discounts.
Sign up for all possible discount codes for materials at home improvement stores.
Do as much design as you can yourself to save the hourly fees of architects or contractors.
Source your own permits if possible.
Ask if you can work alongside your professional (not all will agree).
Negotiate insurance rates with your home insurance agent.
Does Adding a Solarium Increase Home Value?
Adding a solarium almost always increases your home value both in direct number values and curb appeal to potential buyers. some estimates put a return on investment (ROI) of solariums between 50% and 70% and up.
Solariums are a true luxury addition to a home that if you're in the market to sell, is something that will truly wow those considering a purchase. Some indirect ways that a solarium can increase your home value are:
Being able to grow plants inside year-round.
Adding significant natural light during winter months.
An increase in mood due to light exposure.
Ability to see the outside of your property more clearly.
Cuts the need to build a greenhouse.
Frequently Asked Questions
The main difference is that a sunroom has a traditional roof structure that matches the main home and a solarium roof is made of the same glass material as the walls. While these two terms are often used interchangeably, they only share two attributes: the walls are made of glass and they are an addition to the house. The cost of a sunroom therefore depends on different variables than a solarium.
A solarium is a luxury addition to a home and can be an excellent breakfast area or reading space, but that doesn't mean there aren't disadvantages. For one, since the room is made of glass it can look dirty very quickly. Another disadvantage is solariums are notoriously hard to balance temperature and will most likely significantly increase your heating and air conditioning bill. Unlike a greenhouse addition to a house, a solarium won’t help you grow as many plants.
The life span of your solarium will depend on the materials used and how much wear and tear the room experiences from the inside and from the outside due to weather. On average, you can expect your solarium to last anywhere from 10 years to 50 or more. In rare cases, such as with old estates, solariums can last over 100 years.