Conservatory Estimates and Options for First Timer

tomkap

tomkap

tomkap

Associate
Joined
28 Jul 2020
Posts
2
Hi,

I am getting a new buuilt home and have plans to add a conservatory to it. We are first time home buyers and hence learning about conservatories also, as we progress!

We are thinking of a lean-to conservatory with 4.5M width and 3M projection using self cleaning blue glass for roof and double glazes window frames. We are planning to use for dining all year around and to maintain temperate would be adding a electric heater. Few questions I had were;

1. Would these glass options keep the space warm/cold?
2. How much would one normally spend on a conservatory like this - looking for estimates as full build i.e. foundation, build, flooring, insulation works, electrical works etc..
3. Would one need planning/building permit for this, if the land has permitted development rights?

Thanks,
Tom
 
If its a new build house can't you get a proper room put in if the house is too small?

Generally conservatory's are un-usably freezing in winter and too hot in the middle of summer. I've yet to see any that was usable all year as a normal room without insane heating costs.

If you want it to be usable all year you really need a proper slate/tile roof and then just lots of windows around like a proper sun room.

As for point 3. if it is a new build property you don't have any permitted development i don't think so you'd need planning for anything?
 
sovietspybob said:
If its a new build house can't you get a proper room put in if the house is too small?

Generally conservatory's are un-usably freezing in winter and too hot in the middle of summer. I've yet to see any that was usable all year as a normal room without insane heating costs.

If you want it to be usable all year you really need a proper slate/tile roof and then just lots of windows around like a proper sun room.

As for point 3. if it is a new build property you don't have any permitted development i don't think so you'd need planning for anything?
Click to expand...

New build home as part of a large project by builders and those arent very flexible really when it comes to design changes and hence we couldn't add any rooms. Good to hear about the functionality of the room - my plan is to install the best/affortable solution using glasses with low U values to make it as efficient as possible.

Any take on cost involved?
 
I've been researching because we want to do something similar (despite being partway through a large double storey extension, we would like to move the dining table to a rear 'something' (5M x 3M))..

Out of all the people we know with conservatories, no one with a normal conservatory has been able to use it all year round, the only one we know that does has effectively got a mix between what looks like a conservatory and an orangery.

It looks similar to this: (I'm sure they've used Ultraframe products with some brick work)..
ZYNq7Su.jpg


There is a little consideration over whether planning and/or building control are required..

Getting around planning permission is easy enough, there are rules for this under permitted development (See here for some guidanceL https://www.hazlemerewindows.co.uk/...ngery is considered,exceed 4 meters in height)

Cost wise, well, that depends, the same builder who is doing our side extension took a look at the above, and just the foundations and brickwork was £10K, the roof/windows etc are £8K and then there is installation etc, so I think £20K would be conservative..
 
Spend more money and build a proper extension would be my advice, conservatories are a waste of space and i can't wait to get shot of ours.
 
Yeah really make sure you check the PD rights as a lot of new builds don't have any, i know ours (slightly different as its a self build) has no PD rights and that was built in 2015.
 
Parents have one they use as a dining room off their lounge all year around, however they have an external shade covering for the roof they put on in spring and take off in Autumn. Makes a massive difference to the summer temperatures, and then they also have a decent wood burner in the lounge that heats both rooms in winter. They also have a small electric heater in there on a low setting and timer to keep the overnight temperatures up for the plants they have in there. Its double glazed all around but not with anything special I don't think. Its no different in temperature to the living room really and I never feel cold in there, and being mainly wood burner heated costs are nothing really. I suppose it depends on you circumstances and what works for some people wont work for others.
 
Build a proper extension and just add lots of large windows and some sky lights, etc.

Conservatories are all a complete waste of money and time.

Anyone who says any different hasnr been in a decent well made extension called a Sun room.
 
Echoing the above - if your going all glass then your unlikely to be able to use it comfortably all year round.

Ours is triple glazed and can't be economally heated in winter.

The only way to use in the summer is to get every window and door open on the thing before the sun comes up and hope for a bit of a breeze.

I'm using mine as swing space as we get out house done up, as soon as I've got the rest of the house sorted the whole thing will be going in a skip and we'll get a proper extension done in it's place that we can use for more than just storage
 
My dad recently had a conservatory - almost all glass - built at about those dimensions and mostly going for the most basic options and it was somewhere around 30K - he has a couple of work benches and otherwise uses it for plants - you can't really use it as a room if it is even moderately sunny or at all cold.
 
What we have is technically a conservatory but in reality is constructed very differently which makes it useable all year round (more akin to a sun room).

The brick work is heavily insulated and runs up to roof level, one wall is brick, one has a low wall and large windows down its entire length and the final wall has bifold doors. It also has an insulated tiled roof with a couple of skylights.

It does get warm up in the summer but not excessively and a few minutes with the doors open soon takes it back to the outside temperature. There is a small electric heater which keeps it warm in winter without issue.

The key thing really is having an insulated roof and only having 2 walls with significant amounts of glass keeps the temps in check.

The main thing to think about with a new build is, you’ll likely need to get approval from the property developer to modify it and you may void any structural warranty as you will be disturbing the foundations. I’d look at the terms and conditions and get some advice.
 
Also no matter how good the R number of glass it's still pants compared to a real insulated wall, you may be able to get glass as good as R 0.8 but i think an insulated block wall would be something like R 0.15 so massively more insulated

We have a 3m bi fold and a 2m floor to ceiling window in one corner of our open plan bit of the house, both are high performance but it's still noticeably colder in there compared to the other side of the room.
 
sovietspybob said:
Also no matter how good the R number of glass it's still pants compared to a real insulated wall, you may be able to get glass as good as R 0.8 but i think an insulated block wall would be something like R 0.15 so massively more insulated

We have a 3m bi fold and a 2m floor to ceiling window in one corner of our open plan bit of the house, both are high performance but it's still noticeably colder in there compared to the other side of the room.
Click to expand...

Its the other way round with R rating, the higher the better
U values its the opposite

"Higher numbers are good when comparing the Thermal Resistance and R-Values of products
Low numbers are good when comparing U-Values.
The U-Value is the most accurate way to judge a material’s insulating ability, taking into account all the different ways in which heat loss occurs, however it is more difficult to calculate."
 
Get one with a solid roof if you want to use it all yrarr long.

Price between £20-25k depending on what extras you include e.g. Finishes, electrics, ironmongery, plumbing, warranty, etc.

Check your local planning website and make sure you meet the criteria to avoid planning Regs. A solid roof will need Building Regs but a reputable company will take care of it (hence higher price).

My parents got one last year, which I planed and organised, and they are very happy with it.

Tip: consider local companies which have showrooms where you can get a feel for the range, materials and quality they offer.
 
Firestar_3x said:
Spend more money and build a proper extension would be my advice, conservatories are a waste of space and i can't wait to get shot of ours.
Click to expand...

This.

I have a conservatory that came with the house - the max recorded temperature was 69.9 degC (max of the digital thermometer) but I was in there when it as 67degC! It's unusable due to the temperature even with underfloor heating (the heat simply disappears).

They also built a pond between the garden and conservatory.. So the first task is to move The pond to make space then next step is a replacement extension with bi-fold doors.

Also don't get a horizontal flat roof even if it has a portion with a skylight.
 
Initially I was Dissapointed that this house didn't come with a conservatory.

But my parents have a full on brick with proper roof type one and it's so much better than the tacky ones.

If I end up staying long term I'd like to get a proper one put on that can be used as a dining room. The garden has the space.

It's long way off but it's south west facing and would be perfect for the evening.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom