Room with a view

Above: .

As house prices soar and interest rates rise, more people are choosing to enhance their property rather than move. A conservatory is one of the easiest ways to extend living space. It is ideal for informal family living and dining or a ‘grown-ups’ retreat, positioned away from the hubbub of family life and enjoying a view of the garden.

“These don’t have to be large structures,” says David Waxman, Apropos’s general manager. “In fact, the demand for roof lights, lean-to’s and summer rooms is on the increase.”

Added value
We asked Peter Bolton King, chief executive of the National Association of Estate Agents, whether he thought that adding a conservatory would increase the value of your property. He told us: “A conservatory is an attractive addition to a home, and is likely to increase the property’s saleability.

“But don’t forget that the average price of properties in the local area will dictate the maximum price your property can achieve. Adding a conservatory should be a lifestyle choice, rather than a means to generate revenue, as it's entirely possible that the conservatory will cost the same amount to build as the value it adds."

Your budget

According to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), an average conservatory costs around £10,000-£15,000 and could increase the value of your house by up to 15 per cent. As with anything, it is best to work out your budget first. What you will use your new conservatory or sunroom for will ultimately determine the specification and cost.

Do you need an occasional sunroom for use on warmer days only (a fully glazed, lean-to style might suffice to give the best view of your garden), or do you require a more permanent structure, an additional room that you may use most of the year? Or is the room to be a true additional living space that can be used all year round, morning, daytime and evening, no matter what the weather? If so, then prepare to pay more.

What will the room be used for? Will it be a place to for the whole family to relax, a pretty dining area, a quiet study area, or something else entirely?

Charles Turner, of Richmond Oak, makers of fine oak conservatories, says that vast improvements in heat retention in glazing have led to more hybrids between kitchen/breakfast rooms and conservatories. He has noticed an increased number of people opting for orangeries (structures with a flat roof and roof lanterns to let in the light) as alternatives to conservatories. Mark Jones of Town & Country Conservatories, echoes this. He says: “Customers continue to be seduced by the orangery-type interpretation of the home extension conservatory. It achieves the perfect balance, being a garden room bathed in natural light, while feeling less exposed than the more delicately framed conservatory.”

To add the most value to your property, use the conservatory to provide something the house lacks, such as a kitchen/diner, if the existing kitchen is tiny.

Check with your local authority to see if you need planning permission or building regulations approval. Normally, in England, you don’t need planning permission for a conservatory, unless you live in a conservation area, have a listed property or your home has already been extended in some way.

Location, location, location

Where you site your conservatory will make a difference to how you can use your room. A south-facing conservatory will get plenty of sunlight, but it may also feel like a sauna in the summer. Plants will thrive in a west-facing conservatory that receives good sunlight on summer afternoons and evenings. An east-facing one will benefit from early morning sunshine and makes a lovely breakfast room. A north-facing one will be without direct sunlight over the winter months, but is warm and bright during the summer.

Conservatories come in all shapes and sizes. A general rule is to choose something that fits with the overall look of your house, is pleasing to the eye and is in proportion. There are many styles to choose from and they can be made from wood, uPVC or aluminium.

Wood does look stunning, but do ask about maintenance. It could need oiling or painting annually or every 10 years depending on what products you use.

uPVC comes in white or wood effect and varies in quality. Ask about the engineering behind it and how the frame and the windows have been tested: you don’t want your conservatory to collapse during strong winds.

Ian Davis, director general of the FMB, says: “A number of materials can be used for the roof frame, with uPVC being the most economical, with aluminium, steel and timber as alternatives. All can provide a good result, but achieving watertight joints with timber is dependent on the skill of the installer, while uPVC may not be allowed on listed buildings or in conservation areas.”

To ensure you can achieve year-round use, consider heating, blinds and ventilation


Most of us imagine a conservatory as a warm, sunny room. To ensure you can achieve year-round use, consider heating, blinds and ventilation. Double glazing is the obvious way to reduce heat-loss, and special glass, known as K glass, has a coating that lets in radiant light but acts as a mirror on the inside, reflecting heat back into the conservatory.

For even better insulation, consider adding argon-filled units to the specification. At the top of the range, Pilkington Activ Blue is a blue-tinted glass that combines dual-action, self-cleaning properties with solar control technology helping to prevent conservatories becoming unbearably hot in the summer.

Melanie Russell, communications director for Anglian Home Improvements, advises: "When buying a new conservatory, consider a system such as Anglian’s Solaroof which keeps the conservatory cool in summer while providing insulation in winter."


Feel the heat
Underfloor heating is ideal for use in conservatories, creating even warmth throughout. It also means that you can avoid radiators, freeing the walls to stimulate a new approach to how the furniture is arranged.

Ventilation is a must. Roof vents allow the heat to rise out of the room, while blinds reduce glare, protect soft furnishings from fading and give shade to plants while also providing privacy.

If you don’t like the idea of blinds, why not consider shutters? Aideen Smith, marketing manager at Shaftesburys, says: "Conservatory shutters, apart from looking great, offer a degree of flexibility simply not possible with most other shading options. Unlike fabric-based shading systems, shutters will not rot and are easy to clean."