HOW MUCH DOES A CONSERVATORY COST?

If you want more space in your home, you have three options: convert an existing space, such as a loft or garage, build an extension, or add a conservatory.

Out of these options, a conservatory is the easiest and the cheapest way to create more living space in your home.

When considering your options, the first question you're going to ask is, how much does a conservatory cost, so you can think about what you want and know if this is a realistic option for you.

A 3x3m conservatory costs from £13,950* – with no opening made into the house

A 3x3m conservatory costs from £18,500* – with an opening made into the house

The average cost of a conservatory is £15,000*

A conservatory can cost over £40,000 and up to £100,000*

*Prices are industry averages from Which? Not Everest list prices

To understand the different factors and needs that affect the average cost of a conservatory we've created this guide that covers everything you need to know about how much does a conservatory cost.

• What affects the average cost of a conservatory?
• Does a conservatory add value?
• How much does it cost to build a conservatory?
• The most popular types of conservatory
• Conservatory frame materials
• Conservatory roof styles
• Conservatory glazing options
• Other factors can affect the average cost of a conservatory:
• How much to put a tiled roof on a conservatory?
• How much does a 3m x 3m conservatory cost?
• How much is a conservatory per square metre?
• Do you need planning permission for a conservatory?
• Should I build my own conservatory?

What affects the average cost of a conservatory?

Comparing the average cost of a conservatory isn't straight-forward because there are so many factors and variables that can affect the price.

Yes, you can buy a cheap conservatory 'off-the-shelf' kit to DIY at a fixed cost, but in most cases, conservatories are built to specification for your requirements and your existing house. As a note, we don't recommend DIY kits and will explain later on.

When researching and shopping for a new conservatory, first of all, you should think about how you want to use the space.

• A tranquil space apart from the family
• A home office
• For entertaining and dining
• An open plan kitchen
• A home gym

Each of these choices would affect how the conservatory is planned to best suit your needs.

For example, an open plan kitchen is technically not a conservatory, as the adjoining wall would need to be removed and this involves extra expense and additional building regulations.

A home office might require a tiled roof so it isn't too warm in summer and for a home gym, you might want bi-fold doors so you can allow the fresh air in.

Does a conservatory add value?

A well-built quality conservatory can add an average of 5% value to your home, up to a maximum of 12% for a high-end build in London.

However, any building work that isn't up to standard, bodged DIY or a cheap structure can devalue your property. If you want to sell your house, a cheap conservatory could be detrimental to the sale.

Only ever use a quality specialist supplier to construct a conservatory.

How much does it cost to build a conservatory?

There are a lot of different styles and types of conservatory and a lot of variables in materials and extras that make it difficult to compare the average cost of a conservatory.

Websites that offer a list of conservatory prices don't consider your unique needs or the difference between the manufacturer’s quality or specification.

At first glance, a price of £8,000 for a conservatory might seem reasonable, but this doesn't include the specialist groundwork that you might need. The glazing is possibly a cheaper B rated glass. You might want plug sockets and underfloor heating.

For this reason, you should only ever compare the average cost of a conservatory when a supplier has quoted for exactly the same requirements and the exact same specification – and only after they have visited your property and conducted a survey.

Discovering you need expensive ground-work after you've committed to buying a cheap package conservatory is not an experience you want to have.

The most popular types of conservatory

Lean-to conservatory

A lean-to conservatory sits against the house and has a sloping roof. Originally developed from a greenhouse design, these are the simplest style of conservatory and the cheapest.

The lean-to is a timeless design that suits any property and is most often used as a tranquil sunroom for reading and relaxing.

The average cost of a lean-to conservatory can be from £13,950-£26,650*

*Prices are industry averages for a basic uPVC frame and not Everest list prices

Conservatory frame materials

Average cost of a uPVC conservatory

uPVC remains the most popular choice of material for a conservatory due to it being the most economical and maintenance-free choice.

Quality uPVC has advanced as a material and if it's reinforced with a steel frame much more robust than the cheap conservatories of the eighties. Frames that have insulated chambers manage heat transfer far better and can achieve an A+ energy rating.

Two colour frames allow you to have a different colour on the exterior and the interior to match your home.

The average cost of a uPVC conservatory can be from £13,950 - £26,650*

*Prices are industry averages from Which? and not Everest list prices

Conservatory roof styles

Polycarbonate conservatory roof

At one time, all conservatory roofs were polycarbonate but they suffered from leaking, overheating and poor sound insulation.

Today, polycarbonate is an affordable option that is much better at dealing with the elements.

The roof is multi-layered with clear or tinted plastic and the gaps between the sheets help to trap warm air. Tinted plastic can reduce heat gain on hot days and block 99% of UV rays.

The plastic is half the weight of glass so you won't need a reinforced frame.

Conservatory glazing options

The glass used in the conservatory will be either a double glazed or triple glazed option, depending on how much you want to pay.

There are several options of glazing that you can choose for a conservatory and all will impact on the final cost:

Standard glass

The minimum standard of glass in a conservatory permitted by building regulations is double glazing and is the same as you find in your windows.

Two panes of glass sandwich a layer of argon gas and joined together by a spacer bar as a sealed unit. Each sealed unit of glass is fitted directly into a frame of choice.

The layer of gas is what slows down the heat loss from the panes of glass.

You want to look for a minimum rating of A, ideally A+ or A++ for triple glazed. Many cheap conservatories are quoted on B rated glass.

Self-cleaning glass

Keeping a conservatory roof clean used to be a pain, but self-cleaning glass is now an option to reduce maintenance and make life far easier.

An outer coating of titanium dioxide reacts with water molecules in the atmosphere to break down dirt on the surface of the glass, which then gets washed away by the rain.

If it doesn't rain, the moisture in the atmosphere turns into a film and slides down the glass by gravity and takes the dirt with it.

The glass looks the same as standard glass even though the titanium dioxide stops slightly less light coming through the window.

Up to 20% more than standard glass

Solar or Low E glass

Heat transfer and glare from the sun on bright days can be a problem in conservatories that offer no resistance.

Low-E glass has a reflective layer on the outside that can deflect up to 80% of the sun's heat.

On the flip side, the glass also stops heat from inside the conservatory escaping – the space stays warmer in winter and cooler in summer.

Up to 25% more than standard glass

Toughened glass

Standard glass has an additional treatment in the manufacturing process that makes it four times stronger.

If the glass breaks, it shatters into small pieces instead of the large jagged shards that happen when standard glass breaks.

Building regulations stipulate that a glazed door up to 1500mm high and for any glazing within 800mm of the floor must use safety glazing.

Up to 25% more than standard glass

Acoustic glass

If you live in a noisy area and want your conservatory to be a tranquil space then soundproofing acoustic glass can reduce sound by 33dB (for double glazing).

Acoustic glass works by a polymer layer between the panes of glass that disrupt and absorb sound waves and less sound travels through the window.

Up to 25% more expensive than standard glass

Decorative glass

Traditional conservatories often include small panes of coloured or decorated glass to upper sections of the windows.

Much like stained glass, pieces of coloured glass are held together by metal cames (or leading). Different colours can be melted together or simply plain coloured etched glass.

We recommend keeping decoration to a minimum and out of eye-line so that you can enjoy the views through the windows.

Up to 50% more expensive than standard glass

Other factors can affect the average cost of a conservatory:

Size of floorplan – this is quite obvious that the bigger the conservatory, the more it will cost. Although, small conservatories are not necessarily much cheaper because you still have all the installation costs and a bigger conservatory might work out cheaper on a cost per square foot comparison.

Style – the most popular style of lean-to, Victorian and Edwardian all differ in price, with lean-to being the cheapest option. The different options available for glazing and styling all will make a difference to your cost.

Flooring – often overlooked, but you do need to consider what style of floor you would like – tiled, wooden, laminate, carpet. Underfloor heating is a popular choice in a conservatory for heating in colder months.

Amount of doors and opening windows – a standard conservatory might have two French doors and 2-4 opening windows. If you want more doors to open into the garden or even a wall of bi-fold doors this can raise the cost considerably.

Ground preparation/complex foundations – any structure is only as strong as the foundations it sits upon to distribute the load. And, all construction work is dependent on your unique ground conditions – the type of soil, over old mining shafts or landfill, trees and the dreaded drains and sewers. Most foundations are straight forward but if you come across a problem the cost does escalate.

Opening up walls from the house – technically a conservatory should be connected to the house by a closing door or window. Many homeowners choose to make an open plan space with their conservatory and that involves removing the adjoining wall. This is another expense that makes a huge difference, depending on if you need to insert beams and lintels to keep the open wall strong.

Brick base or full glazing – traditional conservatories have a fully glazed wall frame to the floor but some styles such as Edwardian have a small brick wall. The option to add brickwork at the base of your wall will make the space warmer and more like a traditional room. Many people do have a hybrid structure that sits between a conservatory, orangery and an extension.

Heating, electrical points, TV point – the small details can add the most costs and are often not considered. If you're using the space as an office or a family room you will need a power point and a TV co-axial point. Technically a conservatory has a heating source separate from the house (for building regulations) so you need to think about how you will heat the space and factor that into the cost.

How much to put a tiled roof on a conservatory?

Homeowners with older conservatories that have problems with keeping warm or cool have opted to add a tiled roof to address the problems rather than the expense of a full rebuild.

Conservatories today are far more efficient and with the different glazing options, thermal transfer is significantly reduced and the space can be enjoyed as it was designed to be used.

However, adding a tiled roof to the design of your new conservatory will create a space that is more versatile and more like an extension to your home. If you want to use the space for a home office or a family room used daily then special roof tiles will keep the space much warmer.

To retain the light and airy feel in the space whilst benefiting from more cover you can add roof lights and glazed sections.

A tiled roof on a conservatory will cost 50% more than standard glazed.

How much does a 3m x 3m conservatory cost?

A 3m by 3m conservatory floor plan (of 9 square metres floor plan) is a very popular size for cheaper conservatories and for small houses.

A 3 x 3 m conservatory cost also seems to be a popular way to compare different suppliers and manufacturers. As we outlined above, we don't recommend comparing standard list prices as there are so many variables to factor in.

However, as a guide, a 3m x 3m conservatory cost would be from £13,950*

*Prices are industry averages for a basic lean-to style in white uPVC and not Everest list prices

How much is a conservatory per square metre?

The cost of a conservatory build will vary dramatically depending on all the variables we outlined above ­– style, material used, glazing, extras and of course the size.

What you need to consider when costing a conservatory build is that with scale comes economy and the bigger the conservatory the less the cost per square metre will be. A small conservatory will cost more than a large one per square metre.

If you're thinking of building a conservatory and want to know what will be the most economical way to do this, a small conservatory will cost you less overall but you will get more value for what you get from a large structure.

A small, but popular 3x3m conservatory has a 9 sq m footprint, a 4x4m is 16 sq m and a 6x4 is 24 sq m. An average-sized room in a house is 16 sq m.

The average cost of a conservatory per square metre can be between £1,100 – 2,500 per Sq m.

3x3 average cost is £1,550 - £2,500 per sq m

4x4 average cost is £1,200 - £1,850 per sq m

6x4 average cost is £1,100 - £1,600 per sq m

*Prices are industry averages and not Everest list prices

Do you need planning permission for a conservatory?

There are two factors of consideration: planning permission and building regulations.

For planning permission purpose a conservatory is classed as an extension and falls within permitted development rights and doesn't need planning permission if it meets the following limits:

• Is less than 50% of the land around the original house
• Isn't facing a road or at the front of the house
• Is less than 4 metres high (or 3 metres if within 2 metres of the boundary)
• Not as high as the highest point of the roof of the house
• Less than half the width of the house if to the side
• Extends less than 6 metres (semi) or 8 metres (detached) at the back of the house

For building regulations, to be classed as a 'conservatory' and exempt from regulation, the structure must be:

• No more than 30 square metres of floor area
• Built at ground level
• Separated from the house by an external wall with a door or window
• Have an independent heating system
• All glazing must meet requirements

To meet the regulation standards for glazing, using a specialist supplier registered with a competent person scheme will grant automatic approval.

Don't forget, if you live in a listed building, a designated area or a leasehold property other rules and exemptions may apply. You also need to check for a local Article 4 Direction or a restrictive covenant on the property.

Read more here – Do I need planning permission for a conservatory?

Should I build my own conservatory?

You can buy off-the-shelf conservatory kits from DIY suppliers and if you were highly competent you could build your own conservatory.

But, tackling this job is far more complex than might first appear and far more difficult than putting up a shed.

For the following reasons, you shouldn't try to build your own conservatory:

• Foundations and groundwork can be complex, especially if you have adjacent trees, rivers or train lines. Existing house drains, sewers, guttering and outdoor taps all need to be negotiated
• A structure made of glass needs to be robust and secure to avoid any issues or dangers
• Installing glazing will need to meet building regulations that you will have to seek approval from your local authority for
• If you get half-way through the installation and hit a problem, it can cost a lot more to put right if you need to get a professional to fix it for you
• A badly fitted conservatory that doesn't look professional can devalue your property

How much does a conservatory cost (recap)

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