How Much Will It Cost to Build a Conservatory?
There are any number of reasons why you might be thinking about adding a conservatory to your home. You might want to add an extra room to your home, without the full expense of an extension, you may want to enjoy your garden or the feeling of being outside all year round – whatever the weather, or you may simply want one to add value to your home.
All of these are valid and sensible reasons for wanting to build a conservatory, and I’m sure there are plenty of others, but whatever your reason, everything will come down to a single question: how much will it cost me?
The short answer is, it depends. In a lot of ways, the cost of buying a conservatory is similar to the cost of buying a new car -what level of quality are you looking for, what additional extras do you want and crucially, how much can you afford or how much do you want to pay for it.
The Basics:
Size
Obviously, the basic cost of a conservatory will depend on how big you decide you want it to be. Ideally, you should choose one in keeping with the size of your house so that it does not look out of place – either too big or too small and it may end up looking a bit odd. However, you will also need to check building regulations to ensure it is within permitted development and doesn’t take up too much of your garden and curtilage.
Planning permission
Planning permission can be a complicated area as there are many variables when it comes to building a conservatory. You will need to consider the size, glass to other materials ratio, foundations, whether plumbing and heating are to be installed, and also whether your house is listed and/or in a conservation area. The best advice is to consult an architect and your local planning department to find out initially if you do need to obtain permission, then work with them to ensure you reach a satisfactory conclusion.
This should be done BEFORE you add the conservatory, as councils are well within their rights to force you to pull it down if you go ahead without permission.
The cost of planning applications vary between councils, as does the cost of a good architect, but look at a contingent of up to £2,000.
Materials
Once you have decided to go ahead with your conservatory, and have a pretty good idea of its size, and shape, you need to think about building materials. The two clear options are wood and UPVC, and your decision on this may depend on personal taste, the age and style of your home, and your budget.
If you are uncertain which way to go on this, it is best to speak to suppliers of both so you get a clear idea of their strengths and weaknesses, and their relative costs. UPVC does tend to be cheaper whilst still being just as durable and long lasting as wood.
Modern UPVC conservatories can be just as attractive as wood – with potentially less maintenance if installed well.
Glass can also vary enormously in price, depending on the quality you go for and whether it has been coated to make it more energy efficient. This may be important if you want a conservatory that you can use all year round, that will protect you from heat in the summer and cold in the winter.
Style
The style of your conservatory will mainly be down to personal taste, but may also be dictated to an extent by the age, shape and size of your house. It is important it remains in keeping with your existing home as, if or when you come to sell, buyers can be very influenced by this. Having said this, there are many many different styles out there, so it is likely you will find one that fits with what you want.
Additional extras
- With the basics in place – materials, size, planning permission, now is the time to decide what, if any, additional extras you want.
- If you are adding heating – what radiators do you want to use, or will you have underfloor heating instead?
- Will you add blinds as another way of protecting your conservatory in summer and winter?
- Are you going to use specialist, treated glass?
- And finally – will you be buying new furniture for your conservatory?
So what will your new conservatory cost?
As you can see from above, the answer to this really is, ‘it depends’. It’s impossible to give a fixed figure as costs will vary, not only according to what material and size you go for, but also which builder you use, or whether you decide to build your conservatory yourself instead.
But as a general guide, you are likely to pay anywhere between £10,000 and £30,000 and there is more price dtail here: https://www.conservatorypro.co.uk/lean-to-conservatory-cost/
This is a wide margin, so it is always advisable to shop around before you make your final decision. Get at least three quotes from reputable builders and specialist installers – ideally based on recommendations.
And remember, you do get what you pay for, so cheapest does not always mean best.
