Did you know that the daily recommended dose of vitamin D is 600 IU (15mcg)? Sunlight is an excellent source of vitamin D. A sunbath not only fulfills one’s vitamin D deficiency but also makes one feel fresh. How feasible it is to have a sunbathing room just beside your house?
People are moving more towards the idea of building conservatories and greenhouses if they have some extra space in the vicinity of their homes. If they build a conservatory, it provides them a sunbathing room, while a greenhouse will provide fresh vegetables and fruits. All in all, it is a win-win.
Source: House Beautiful
What is a conservatory:
A conservatory also known as a sunroom is a small, covered area built beside your home. It is attached to the house on one side and has a glass roof and walls. It not only adds ambiance to the place but also increases the resale value of your home.
Types of conservatories:
There is a multitude of conservatory designs and types to choose from. You can customize your own as per your taste, likening, and the structure of your house. The various types of conservatories are:
Victorian styled conservatory:
As the name suggests, this type of conservatory is of victorian style. It focuses on the panoramic view of the outside for which a bay window is built. The cost rises if one chooses a polycarbonate structure with glass. The average cost lies between £6000 to £8000.Edwardian styled conservatory:
Also known as the reverse top or hipped back conservatories, these feel quite big on the inside owing to their rectangular design. A glass one will cost around £7500 to £8500 while the addition of a polycarbonate version will cost between £6500 and £7500.Gable styled conservatory:
The gable styled conservatories will cost around £8500 but if one uses polycarbonate, then it can be built in £7500. These have huge gable tops that let in a lot of light making the area feel big, warm, and cozy.P – shaped styled conservatory:
This is a quite grand one. It takes designs from both the Victorian and lean-back conservatories but these are grander. These are designed in such a way that gives it the feel of a conservatory with an extension and a separate room of its own. Its cost range lies between £7000 and £10,000.Dwarf wall styled conservatories:
The dwarf wall is a low wall of less than 1 meter that acts as a strong base for heavy windows and helps in supporting the entire structure. The addition of a dwarf wall will increase the longevity and durability of your conservatory. This raises the cost to around £12000.Fully glazed styled conservatories:
A fully glazed conservatory brings a unique style to a simple conservatory. The addition of glaze gives it a rather new and different look. It will cost between £8500 and £9800.Lean-to-styled conservatories:
This type of conservatory is your best option if you have a small budget. Its roof leans and covers the three sides of the conservatory lying adjacent to your home. It can cost between £3500 £5500.Cost of a conservatory:
The exact cost of the conservatory is determined by the type of material and style one chooses. Below is an estimate of various types of conservatories:
P – shaped conservatory:
| Conservatory style | Conservatory size | Conservatory roof material | Estimated cost range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Victorian | 3500mm × 3500mm | Glass | £7000 - £9000 |
| Victorian | 3500mm × 4000mm | Glass | £7500 - £9000 |
| Victorian | 4000mm × 4000mm | Glass | £8000 - £10000 |
| Victorian | 3500mm × 3500mm | Polycarbonate | £6200 - £7700 |
| Victorian | 3500mm × 4000mm | Polycarbonate | £6800 - £8300 |
| Victorian | 4000mm × 4000mm | Polycarbonate | £7300 - £8800 |
| Edwardian | 3500mm × 3500mm | Glass | £7500 - £8500 |
| Edwardian | 3500mm × 4000mm | Glass | £8000 - £9000 |
| Edwardian | 4000mm × 4000mm | Glass | £8500 - £9500 |
| Edwardian | 3500mm × 3500mm | Polycarbonate | £6500 - £7500 |
| Edwardian | 3500mm × 4000mm | Polycarbonate | £7000 - £8000 |
| Edwardian | 4000mm × 4000mm | Polycarbonate | £7500 - £8500 |
| Gable | 3500mm × 3500mm | Glass | £7500 - £8500 |
| Gable | 3500mm × 4000mm | Glass | £8000 - £9000 |
| Gable | 4000mm × 4000mm | Glass | £8500 - £9500 |
| Gable | 3500mm × 3500mm | Polycarbonate | £6500 - £7500 |
| Gable | 3500mm × 4000mm | Polycarbonate | £7000 - £8000 |
| Gable | 4000mm × 4000mm | Polycarbonate | £7500 - £8500 |
| P – shaped | 3500mm × 3500mm | Glass | £8300 - £9300 |
| P – shaped | 3500mm × 4000mm | Glass | £8300 - £9300 |
| P – shaped | 4000mm × 4000mm | Glass | £9500 - £11500 |
| P – shaped | 3500mm × 3500mm | Polycarbonate | £7800 - £8800 |
| P – shaped | 3500mm × 4000mm | Polycarbonate | £8300 - £9300 |
| P – shaped | 4000mm × 4000mm | Polycarbonate | £8800 - £9800 |
Dwarf wall conservatory:
| Conservatory style | Conservatory size | Conservatory roof material | Estimated cost range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Victorian | 3500mm × 3500mm | Glass | £12000 - £14000 |
| Victorian | 3500mm × 4000mm | Glass | £13000 - £15000 |
| Victorian | 4000mm × 4000mm | Glass | £13500 - £15000 |
| Victorian | 3500mm × 3500mm | Polycarbonate | £11000 - £13000 |
| Victorian | 3500mm × 4000mm | Polycarbonate | £12000 - £14000 |
| Victorian | 4000mm × 4000mm | Polycarbonate | £13000 - £15000 |
| Edwardian | 3500mm × 3500mm | Glass | £9500 - £11000 |
| Edwardian | 3500mm × 4000mm | Glass | £12000 - £14000 |
| Edwardian | 4000mm × 4000mm | Glass | £14500 - £16000 |
| Edwardian | 3500mm × 3500mm | Polycarbonate | £10000 - £12000 |
| Edwardian | 3500mm × 4000mm | Polycarbonate | £11000 - £13000 |
| Edwardian | 4000mm × 4000mm | Polycarbonate | £13500 - £15000 |
| Gable | 3500mm × 3500mm | Glass | £12500 - £14000 |
| Gable | 3500mm × 4000mm | Glass | £13500 - £15000 |
| Gable | 4000mm × 4000mm | Glass | £14500 - £16000 |
| Gable | 3500mm × 3500mm | Polycarbonate | £11500 - £13000 |
| Gable | 3500mm × 4000mm | Polycarbonate | £12000 - £15000 |
| Gable | 4000mm × 4000mm | Polycarbonate | £13000 - £16000 |
| P – shaped | 3500mm × 3500mm | Glass | £13000 - £15000 |
| P – shaped | 3500mm × 4000mm | Glass | £14000 - £16000 |
| P – shaped | 4000mm × 4000mm | Glass | £15000 - £17000 |
| P – shaped | 3500mm × 3500mm | Polycarbonate | £12000 - £14000 |
| P – shaped | 3500mm × 4000mm | Polycarbonate | £13500 - £15000 |
| P – shaped | 4000mm × 4000mm | Polycarbonate | £14000 - £16000 |
Fully glazed conservatory:
| Conservatory style | Conservatory size | Conservatory roof material | Estimated cost range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Victorian | 3500mm × 3500mm | Glass | £9300 - £11000 |
| Victorian | 3500mm × 4000mm | Glass | £11000 - £13000 |
| Victorian | 4000mm × 4000mm | Glass | £12000 - £14000 |
| Victorian | 3500mm × 3500mm | Polycarbonate | £9500 - £11000 |
| Victorian | 3500mm × 4000mm | Polycarbonate | £10300 - £11500 |
| Victorian | 4000mm × 4000mm | Polycarbonate | £11000 - £13000 |
| Edwardian | 3500mm × 3500mm | Glass | £8300 - £9800 |
| Edwardian | 3500mm × 4000mm | Glass | £10300 - £11000 |
| Edwardian | 4000mm × 4000mm | Glass | £13000 - £14000 |
| Edwardian | 3500mm × 3500mm | Polycarbonate | £8000 - £1000 |
| Edwardian | 3500mm × 4000mm | Polycarbonate | £9500 - £11000 |
| Edwardian | 4000mm × 4000mm | Polycarbonate | £12000 - £13000 |
Lean – to conservatory:
| Conservatory style | Conservatory size | Conservatory roof material | Estimated cost range |
|---|---|---|---|
| No base | 3500mm × 2000mm | Glass | £4500 - £5500 |
| No base | 3500mm × 2500mm | Glass | £5300 - £6300 |
| No base | 4000mm × 2000mm | Glass | £4800 - £6000 |
| No base | 4000mm × 2500mm | Glass | £5500 - £6500 |
| No base | 3500mm × 2000mm | Polycarbonate | £4300 - £5300 |
| No base | 3500mm × 2500mm | Polycarbonate | £4800 - £5800 |
| No base | 4000mm × 2000mm | Polycarbonate | £4500 - £5500 |
| No base | 4000mm × 2500mm | Polycarbonate | £4800 - £6000 |
| Dwarf wall | 3500mm × 2000mm | Glass | £7300 - £8800 |
| Dwarf wall | 3500mm × 2500mm | Glass | £8800 - £11000 |
| Dwarf wall | 4000mm × 2000mm | Glass | £7800 - £9800 |
| Dwarf wall | 4000mm × 2500mm | Glass | £9300 - £11000 |
| Dwarf wall | 3500mm × 2000mm | Polycarbonate | £6800 - £8300 |
| Dwarf wall | 3500mm × 2500mm | Polycarbonate | £6800 - £8300 |
| Dwarf wall | 4000mm × 2000mm | Polycarbonate | £7500 - £9000 |
| Dwarf wall | 4000mm × 2500mm | Polycarbonate | £8800 - £1100 |
| Fully glazed | 3500mm × 2000mm | Glass | £6300 - £8800 |
| Fully glazed | 3500mm × 2500mm | Glass | £7800 - £8800 |
| Fully glazed | 4000mm × 2000mm | Glass | £6800 - £8300 |
| Fully glazed | 4000mm × 2500mm | Glass | £7800 - £9300 |
| Fully glazed | 3500mm × 2000mm | Polycarbonate | £5800 - £7300 |
| Fully glazed | 3500mm × 2500mm | Polycarbonate | £6800 - £8300 |
| Fully glazed | 4000mm × 2000mm | Polycarbonate | £6300 - £7800 |
| Fully glazed | 4000mm × 2500mm | Polycarbonate | £7300 - £8800 |
Conservatory cost influencing factors:
Several factors add to the final cost of building a conservatory. These are:
- Style of the conservatory.
- The base of the conservatory, i.e.; dwarf wall or glazed wall.
- Type of frame material.
- Type of roof material.
- Type of glass material.
- Type of glaze.
- Type of conservatory flooring.
Frame material:
You can choose from a multitude of frame materials. The type of frame chosen influences the final cost of building a conservatory. Some of the commonly used frame materials are:
UPVC frame:
Available in a variety of colors and textures, this material is less prone to fade and is quite durable. Being cheap, it is the go-to option for homeowners having a low budget to build a conservatory. Its cost for each type of conservatory is as follows:| Type of conservatory | Estimated cost |
|---|---|
| Victorian | £8000 - £11000 |
| Edwardian | £8000 - £10000 |
| Lean – to | £5800 - £7600 |
| P – shaped | £8500 - £11000 |
| T – shaped | £11000 - £13000 |
| L – shaped | £11000 - £13000 |
| Orangery | £14000 - £50000 |
Metal frame:
These are usually made of aluminum and are quite durable. Their durability lies in the fact that these are warp proof, distortion proof, and rustproof.Wooden frames:
Although wooden frames will give an aesthetic touch to the conservatory, these are very expensive and require constant maintenance. This cost range is as follows:| Conservatory style | Conservatory size | Roof material | Estimated cost range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edwardian | 3500 × 3500 | Glass | £13000 - £15000 |
| Lean – to | 3500 × 3500 | Glass | £13000 - £14300 |
| Victorian | 3500 × 3500 | Glass | £16000 - £18000 |
Type of roof:
There are several roof options to choose from. Some of these are listed below:Double glazed roof:
It brings in a lot of light and can be very warm during some arts of the day. Furthermore, it will exacerbate the sound of heavy rain creating noise.Polycarbonate roof:
It is one of the cheapest options and quite durable one too. Furthermore, it is easier to install. Make sure you install insulation with it otherwise your conservatory will be hot in summer and chilled during the winters.Classic tiled roof:
Homeowners are moving towards this roof option owing to its several advantages. Apart from easy installation, it provides the option of installing roof lights and maintaining conservatory temperature.System tiled roofs:
These are prefabricated roofs with easy installation. They are lighter in weight and can be customized as per choice.Type of glazing:
You can tailor the glazing as per your likening. Some of the glazing used are:Standard glass:
It is both cheap and durable and comes in a variety of designs.Self-cleaning glass:
Despite being expensive, it is easy to maintain. Being self-cleaning, it has titanium dioxide present in it, which in reaction with moisture removes all the organic material present on the glass, keeping it clean.Low E glass:
This type of glass will keep your conservatory cool during summers and warm during winters making it a good choice.Noise control glass:
This is your go-to option if it rains a lot in your area. The noise control feature, it will make the sound of rain a pleasant experience for you.Decorative Glass:
Available in a multitude of colors and textures, the decorative conservatory glass will add hype to your place and make it look classy.Toughened glass:
This one is quite tough and not easily breakable.Laminated glass:
This provides extra safety in case of breakage.Type of flooring:
The flooring is one of the main things to decide when building a conservatory. You can choose any type of flooring you like. However, the most commonly used are as follows:Tiles:
These are easy to clean and come in a variety of shapes, colors, and textures.Wooden flooring:
This type of flooring will bring an aesthetic and classy touch to your conservatory.Laminate flooring:
It looks like wood flooring but in reality, is artificial wood and is not much durable.Vinyl flooring:
This is a rather cheap flooring option and stays warm during the winter.Carpet flooring:
It is the least expensive option, but difficult to clean. However, it is your go-to option if you want to turn the conservatory into a playroom for kids.Conclusion:
When deciding to build a conservatory, choose the flooring and roof depending on the weather conditions in your area and what you want to turn the conservatory into.