A conservatory has been a desire in Britain since the 17th century, and they have seen a steady rise in popularity since the 1980s. Approximately 18% of households in the UK have a conservatory[1] now, and if you’re looking to boost the value of your home or are dying for a bit more space, it may be worth adding your property to this figure. A conservatory is a cost-effective extension with many versatile uses that could benefit you and your home in many ways, though there are many things you’ll have to consider before adding your own.
If you’re wondering about the costs, the permissions and the processes of adding a conservatory to your home, have a read through this guide to help you out.
How much does a conservatory cost?
Conservatories cost anywhere from £5,000 to £75,000, so it’s important to have some idea of how much room you have for your conservatory and how much you want to spend on it. These are some of the most popular conservatory types and how much, on average, they are likely to cost.
| Style | Price |
| Victorian Conservatory | £5,300 to £18,500 |
| Edwardian Conservatory | £3,900 to £20,000 |
| P-Shaped Conservatory | £5,700 to £15,400 |
| L-Shaped Conservatory | £6,900 to £19,000 |
| A Sunroom | £13,300 to £60,000 |
Keep in mind that these prices are dependent on size, material, doors, glass, and roofing. There may also be extra costs such as groundwork, planning permission, building regulation and guttering. To find out more about the extra potential expense, check out this guide here.
Are conservatories worth the money?
Conservatories are a valuable asset to one’s home, especially if you are looking to sell (a conservatory is believed to add up to 15%[2] to a house’s value and increase its saleability), but even if you’re not, they provide a perfect space for yourself and your family or friends that is airy, bright and welcoming.
Natural light has been linked to numerous health benefits including improved sleep and a Vitamin D boost,[3] and a conservatory is the perfect place to reap all these benefits. The additional space can be used for a multitude of things – extending the kitchen or dining area, making a relaxing space, creating an indoor garden – and so also helps to declutter the rest of the house.
Do you need planning permission for a conservatory?
It depends on the size of your conservatory. It’s always best to double check with the council before going straight ahead, but these are the general rules when building a conservatory.
You Will Need Planning Permission If:
- More than 50% of the area around the original house is to be built upon
- The conservatory will be on the front or side of the house that faces onto a road
- The conservatory will be higher than that tallest point of your roof
- The height of the eaves and ridge are higher than the house
- The height of the eaves is more than 3 metres, if they’re within a 2-metre boundary
- A conservatory build to the side needs planning permission if it will be over 4 metres tall or is wider than half the width of the original house
- A conservatory built to the back needs planning permission if it extends beyond the rear of the original house by over 6-8 metres
You Won’t Need Planning Permission If:
- A side conservatory that is smaller than 50% of the area around the original house
- A rear conservatory that is less than 4 metres tall, or, if it’s within 2 metres of the boundary, less than 3 metres tall
- A conservatory that extends from the wall of the original house by up to eight metres (for a detached house) and six metres (for a semi-detached house)
How to build a conservatory
Although bringing in builders may seem easier, they can often equal a large bill that could easily be avoided if you were to build your own conservatory. It may seem daunting, but you don’t need to be a D.I.Y expert – you just need a bit of time, patience and the right guidance. Choosing to build your own conservatory could save you thousands of pounds and gives you free reign over the final finish, so if this is the route you want go down, here are the steps to take to get there.
1) Order Your D.I.Y Kit
You won’t be completely on your own if you’re building your conservatory – a self-build kit will deliver all the materials and instructions needed to get you started. A company will manufacture all the pieces you’ll need for your conservatory to the exact specifications that you require then send them over to you to be put together. This is a cheap, fast and tidy alternative to bringing in builders, though a builder is able to put it together for you if you wish. Make sure you know the size you want your conservatory to be and the material you want it to be made out of, then research the prices for your specifications – many companies offer D.I.Y conservatory kits and you want to get the best deal. Your D.I.Y kit may differ from some of the steps below, but this is the general route that people take.
2) Build The Base
Having a stable base for your conservatory is important because it will support all the weight of the building – you don’t want to finish your conservatory only to have it fall through dodgy foundations. To build the base, make sure that you:
- Measure the space – Have the exact measurements for the width and length of your conservatory and double check them.
- Dig the foundation – Dig out the shape of your conservatory and remove any waste and soil.
- Level the earth – You’ll need the ground completely flat to build your conservatory on.
- Add concrete – Concrete the foundation to the correct height, which is approximately 4 course down from the house damp course.
- Lay the damp course – Damp course stops rising damp from attacking your home, so is necessary to protect your conservatory
3) Putting Together Your Conservatory
Once your foundations are laid and prepared, you can get on with putting the pieces of your conservatory together. With a D.I.Y kit, most of the work is already done for you, so all you really need to do is fit everything together and fix it in place.
- Install the frame – Lay the conservatory cill on top of the walls or directly on the floor of the base if you are building a full frame conservatory. Fix these together and screw them to the wall with the equipment provided.
- Install the roof – Fix the roof beam on top of the frames and make sure everything is square before making and tightening the final fixes. Assemble the conservatory roof with the wall plate, ridge and rafters then bolt this to the wall.
- Add the glazing – Slot the glass glazing into the rafter bars and fix it with the rafter covers and end caps.
- Final additions – Once your conservatory is up, all that’s left to add is the ridge cap, the gutter and downpipe, plus any other extras that may be included in your kit.
4) Insulate and Heat
Something to consider for your conservatory is investing in good insulation, because they can get extremely cold in the winter and extremely hot in the summer, and you don’t want to have to stop going in there simply because it’s too warm or cold. Installing electric underfloor heating is perfect for keeping the room toasty on the coldest of days, as is roof insulation, adding radiators or bringing in thick curtains. Adding blinds, air conditioning, glass cooling film or vents will help keep your conservatory cool in the warmer weather.
For more information on insulation and some tips, check out this blog.
5) Decorate
Personalising your conservatory and creating a place that you’ll want to regularly use will make it feel worth the time and money, so add in furniture and decorations that will invite you back in. Make good use of all the natural light that your conservatory will receive and create a bright, homely space with plants, light colours and comfortable furniture, add some photographs, some personal touches, and really bring your extension to life.
If you want to use your conservatory as a dining room, lounge area, gym or anything similar make sure that the space will be comfortable and practical for its use.
Other worthwhile home improvements
If you want to sell your house, a few other improvements you could make would boost the value. Although adding a conservatory is good for the selling price, there are a few other additions that could boost the value even more, including:
- Modernising the kitchen and bathroom
- New, in-style flooring
- Re-decorating
- Update central heating
- Add built-in storage space
- Fix structural issues
- Add double glazing
- Improve kerb appeal
- Convert additional space – attic, cellar, basement, garage
- Clean up and landscape the garden
Reap The Rewards
However you decide to add your conservatory, it will be a perfect long-term investment whether you plan on selling your home in the future or not. You’ll have the perfect extra space to do with as you please, have an aesthetically pleasing addition to the exterior of your home and you’ll be able to soak up the heat in the summer and snuggle up in the winter without having even to leave the house. Just make sure that your foundation is strong and the fixes are tight, and you’ll have your own enviable conservatory in no time.
Built your own conservatory? Let us know any tips or advice below!
Sources
[1] https://propertydivision.co.uk/investing-conservatory-money/
[2] https://www.homelogic.co.uk/are-conservatories-a-waste-of-money
[3] https://www.healthline.com/health/natural-light-benefits