5 Things To Consider When Buying A Conservatory

A conservatory can be a cost-effective way of adding more space to your home without moving and also increase the value of your home. In this article, I will look at 5 things to consider when buying a conservatory.

1. Research
Think about what you will use the conservatory for. Will you be using it as a dining room, a living room, children's play area or other use? This has implications on the requirements needed and how often you will be using the room, If the room will be used on a regular basis you may need to think about heating and ventilation. Ventilation is extremely important in the summer months as conservatories can become very warm, so consider vents in the roof or windows that open. Make sure you have a lightweight roof to ensure that your space is insulated, yet still bright and airy. You could also consider blinds for the conservatory that will keep the room cool in summer and warm in winter. Of course, all these options add to the cost of the design.

Other research that is important, is to check out conservatory companies. If you do not have a personal recommendation, check out online reviews, click to view listing,  and get some comparison quotes on a like for like basis. 

2. Design


Most people will want the design of the conservatory to complement their home so that needs to be taken into account when planning.   Will your conservatory be more traditional in design such as an Edwardian or Victorian style or will it be more sleek and modern? A lean-to conservatory is one of the simplest and cheapest designs with a single sloped roof with a long wall adjoined to the house. 

If you have a limited budget you may want to consider one of the many styles of DIY conservatories over a bespoke conservatory. Installing a conservatory yourself is the most cost-effective route but does take time and skill. Other options could be to employ a building company to install the conservatory and construct the base. A bespoke conservatory will give you the freedom to design what you want within reason but has obvious cost implications. 

3. Planning 



Adding a conservatory to a house is generally considered to be a permitted development but you should always check the building regulations for your area. You don't want to run foul of planning and then have to demolish the lot. There are some rules that are widespread, for example, you won't be allowed to plan a conservatory higher than the roof. 

It's also important to consider your neighbours as you don't want to build a conservatory that will block their views and have a potential legal battle on your hands.

4. Disruption



Having a conservatory installed can cause disruption to your routine and home life.  The time takes will depend on a manner of things such as if you are having in installed or if you are installing the conservatory yourself. 

If you are having the conservatory installed for you, ask the company for an estimation on installation time. Obviously, this will depend on the size of the conservatory and also whether you are having heating, lighting and other extras installed. allow 12 weeks to be on the safe side.

5. Budget
One of the most important considerations I have left to last is budget. This is because you may have a budget in mind but until you do your research on design, your requirements and potential costs then you cannot really tell how much it will cost. 

You also have to budget for hidden extras such as heating, ventilation, blinds, workmen, furniture and furnishings and don't forget to build in a contingency budget if something unexpected happens. 

Tell me, have you ever considered a conservatory?

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9 comments

  1. We've been looking at adding a conservatory to our current home. This advice is very helpful

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  2. I love conservatives but we rent at the minute, I will be having one when I buy my own house though some great advice here

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  3. I will probably never have a conservatory. I live in an apartment right now. And when I have a house on my own, I'd definitely use money to do something else with that :)

    Ann // Kitchen Showrooms Aberdeen

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  4. We had a conservatory fitted in December and it looks just like your first picture, design was so important to us x

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  5. We live in a condo so at the moment having a conservatory is not an option. But I sure would love to have one when and if we do move to a landed property.

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  6. Whilst we live in a flat and couldn't have a Conservatory, if I had a house then I would definitely have one!

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  7. I'm not considering a conservatory but I found this interesting! Some of these are beautiful! xxx

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  8. We considered a conservatory but then thought it might not add much value to the property. It would be so nice to have an area full of light though. That said, we didn't consider all of these things, but if we want a conservatory in the future I will know what you think about.

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  9. We've had ours for about three years now and love it so much! I think because my mother had wanted one for so long, she had considered all of the above, but I know some of our neighbours regret their decisions as they bought the first one they saw. Great post :)

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