Conservatory Or Not?

Vern1961

Vern1961

Vern1961

Soldato
Joined
29 Mar 2007
Posts
4,658
Location
Swindon UK
Our old lean to 8' x 8' conservatory on the back of the house has seen one too many winters and on its last legs. It's a self build effort put up by a previous owner and probably ~18 years old. Beyond repair as the laminate roof is coming off and punctured by too many bird landings, the wooden framework is rotten in places and started to drop at ground level.

Our options vary from dismantling the thing ourselves and hiring a skip to dispose of the debris, then getting the area re-laid as patio or decking, or getting a conservatory company to come in and demolish it and put up a similar replacement. First option probably looking at £2 - 3k depending if we get the back door replaced, with the latter no doubt looking at a 5 figure sum. Got a rep from a local conservatory company coming out this afternoon to give an estimate but not holding my breath. And that's before getting into any issue of planning permission as we were led to believe by our solicitor when we moved here 13 years ago that none had been sought for this conservatory - though I believe the regs have relaxed a bit since then.

My view of conservatories is that while they provide a buffer zone between the back of the house and the garden, overall they are really just an expensive junk storage area. For £10k we could re-carpet the floors, get a new CH boiler put in and probably refresh the kitchen with new fronts and worktops, as opposed to blowing it all on a glass and uPVC shed.

So just wondering what others think about the value or otherwise of a conservatory?
 
I suppose it’s whether you’d use it and whether or not it will add a little value to your property.

Personally i’d like a conservatory and a definite box ticked if looking for a new home.
 
I wouldn't spend money on a conservatory, we've got one but it was already fitted before we moved in. Fortunately this one is quite large and on the south side of the house. They're generally too cold for 3-4 months, yes you can heat them but they're so poorly insulated it's a waste, in the peak of summer it's like stepping into a furnace. Late spring and early autumn are when they're best.
 
If you don't need the room, then certainly no point building one.

If you do need the room, then I'd strongly recommend a 'warm roof' system. Adds a fair bit to the cost, but results in a room that's usable all year round instead of one that you just use for storage because it's always too hot or too cold.
 
bazzabear said:
If you don't need the room, then certainly no point building one.

If you do need the room, then I'd strongly recommend a 'warm roof' system. Adds a fair bit to the cost, but results in a room that's usable all year round instead of one that you just use for storage because it's always too hot or too cold.
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this is the major thing wrong with conservatories.

people want more space for cheap. so the skimp and buy a conservatory instead of a proper extension. they then skimp on the conservatory and go for the cheapest options available. what they then end up with is useless.

just build a proper extension with big glass windows or even floor to ceiling glass. won't be cheap though.
 
I have agree with the above.

I love our conservatory, but it's either too hot or too cold in the summer and winter respectively. After 9 years, we've had a few leaks so when the warranty runs out next year, we are on our own.. At some point we'll have to decide to remove it all together.

I wouldn't say it's been a waste of money, we've had some great family parties and dinners etc.. but I wish I had invested in a full extension when we had the chance.
 
Don’t necessarily have to have a conservatory. Could have a solid roof with roof light and large-ish format windows to let the light in. Allows for a more usable room and you won’t experience extreme temperatures.
 
Admiral Huddy said:
I have agree with the above.

I love our conservatory, but it's either too hot or too cold in the summer and winter respectively. After 9 years, we've had a few leaks so when the warranty runs out next year, we are on our own.. At some point we'll have to decide to remove it all together.

I wouldn't say it's been a waste of money, we've had some great family parties and dinners etc.. but I wish I had invested in a full extension when we had the chance.
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it's not even 10 years old and you have had several leaks.

could you not have had the parties outside or in another room? or in a proper extension?

it sounds like you are trying to justify the purchase tbh.
 
Conservatories don’t add value - they add space. Often it’s space you can’t use either.

Spend it better on areas of the house that enhance value such as bathrooms, kitchens and carpets
 
Thanks for all the advice guys.

In the end we knocked it on the head and told the guy not to bother coming, at least until we think it over a bit more. Personally there are higher priorities around the house to spend money on first, so either I'll try and patch it up once the weather improves or do some DIY demolition then lay the area out to patio.
 
thezappa said:
Don’t necessarily have to have a conservatory. Could have a solid roof with roof light and large-ish format windows to let the light in. Allows for a more usable room and you won’t experience extreme temperatures.
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This defiantly works needs a bit of forward thinking but i gained on my house roughly 6 meters x 2.5 conservatory put the false ceiling in blocked the 2 sides its well snug in here.

I did it all myself cost about 3.5k in total much cheaper than an extension and got a extra room to the house

 
That looks very good clubb699 but how do you fare as regards planning permission on that? My understanding is if the conservatory becomes a useable room i.e. liveable then you need permission and, possibly, council tax band re-assessment?
 
Vern1961 said:
That looks very good clubb699 but how do you fare as regards planning permission on that? My understanding is if the conservatory becomes a useable room i.e. liveable then you need permission and, possibly, council tax band re-assessment?
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Well it needs to be played well lol, you have to keep the doors between the house and conservatory they can't be removed , the roof is underneath the polycarb so it can be removed if needed, so it's not perminant roof structure.;)

This was 8 years ago so things might have changed but was good at the time ;);)

Adding a conservatory to your house is considered to be permitted development, not needing an application for planning permission, subject to the limits and conditions listed below.

  • No more than half the area of land around the "original house"* would be covered by additions or other buildings.
  • No extension forward of the principal elevation or side elevation fronting a highway.
  • No extension to be higher than the highest part of the roof.
  • Single-storey rear extension must not extend beyond the rear wall of the original house* by more than three metres if an attached house or by four metres if a detached house.
    In addition, outside Article 1(5) designated land* and Sites of Special Scientific Interest the limit is increased to 6m if an attached house and 8m if a detached house until 30 May 2019.
    These increased limits (between 3m and 6m and between 4m and 8m respectively) are subject to the neighbour consultation scheme.
  • Maximum height of a single-storey rear extension of four metres.
  • Extensions of more than one storey must not extend beyond the rear wall of the original house* by more than three metres or be within seven metres of any boundary opposite the rear wall of the house.
  • Maximum eaves height of an extension within two metres of the boundary of three metres.
  • Maximum eaves and ridge height of extension no higher than existing house.
  • Side extensions to be single storey with maximum height of four metres and width no more than half that of the original house.
  • Roof pitch of extensions higher than one storey to match existing house.
  • No verandas, balconies or raised platforms.
  • On designated land* no permitted development for rear extensions of more than one storey; no cladding of the exterior; no side extensions.
 
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I dont see the negativity with conservatories.

Proper extensions are great but a rip off in build costs from builders. A dwarf wall conservatory with internal plasterboarded walls, insulated walls and insulated floor and a radiator in is usable all year round. If its too hot in summer open the doors and fit blinds to shield the heat.

Just make sure its not a little 2mx3m one and youll enjoy the extra space it gives. Id be going as far out as permitted and at least 4-5m wide along the rear of the house (depends on your house layout of course).

In my next house Id be tempted to build my own. Can make sure its all well insulated then, proper 12" wall thickness with insulation in. Insulated concrete floor. The trickest bit id imagine is fitting the roof system. Possibly do brickwork myself then get a conservatory company to do the upvc.
 
Had 2 conservatories on the last 2 houses. They fulfilled a need for extra space and added a little value. Would I have another? Probably not. They are limiting in extremes of temperature and heat pours out of them in winter. In all honesty, an extension of a similar size would cost around 50% more and would be much more useable.
 
danlightbulb said:
I dont see the negativity with conservatories.

Proper extensions are great but a rip off in build costs from builders. A dwarf wall conservatory with internal plasterboarded walls, insulated walls and insulated floor and a radiator in is usable all year round. If its too hot in summer open the doors and fit blinds to shield the heat.

Just make sure its not a little 2mx3m one and youll enjoy the extra space it gives. Id be going as far out as permitted and at least 4-5m wide along the rear of the house (depends on your house layout of course).

In my next house Id be tempted to build my own. Can make sure its all well insulated then, proper 12" wall thickness with insulation in. Insulated concrete floor. The trickest bit id imagine is fitting the roof system. Possibly do brickwork myself then get a conservatory company to do the upvc.
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Most customers go for the cheap option.
Small conservatory, no planning permission so no heating, laid on a concrete slab so no insulation either and a cheap plastic roof, rubbish.
The trouble is if you do it properly the costs are close to having a full blown extension fitted which would be a far better option.
 
Foghorn Leghorn said:
Most customers go for the cheap option.
Small conservatory, no planning permission so no heating, laid on a concrete slab so no insulation either and a cheap plastic roof, rubbish.
The trouble is if you do it properly the costs are close to having a full blown extension fitted which would be a far better option.
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Agreed
 
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