AIBU to take out a loan to put in a conservatory?

[Mirrorwriting]

We are first time buyers and have just exchanged contracts. Would it be unreasonable to take out a loan to put in a conservatory as soon as we move in?

I really wouldn't do this. Give yourself some financial space after moving in before taking anything else on.

Nearly all our neighbours (including us) who had conservatories have had them converted into garden rooms now. They cost a bit more but add real value to the house and are so much nicer! I would go straight to that when you can afford it.

I love my conservatory. Currently sat in it. We use it as our dining area and family room as it's quite large. Lovely view of my garden from it. Yes it can get cold in winter but I have 2 electric heaters. Best thing I did was having it built!

When the time comes for my conservatory to be replaced I will have another in a heartbeat.

I love mine too. Best thing we ever did. We do have two sets of French doors which open out fully, making it an outdoor room in this weather, so not too hot.

When you move into your first house it cost WAY more than you think it will. Even things like curtains are really expensive, there are so many things you need. It really adds up.

We have a beautiful wood one we inherited with the house and had to put in stupidly expensive blinds in it. It’s still shite. Ours doesn’t get too cold in winter but it’s boiling in summer and EVERYTHING gets bleached out by the sun. All plastic dvd covers cracked. Books can’t be displayed as the sun damage is awful on the paper. Rug has faded, sofa has been bleached by the sun.

Conservatories actively put me off houses. If we fell in love with a house that was perfect in every respect but had one, it would be demolished within weeks of moving in. Horrible, useless things.

Thanks for all the advice.

The reason I wanted to do it now is to ‘start as you mean to carry on’. I have lived in a house with one and I like them and especially as they are cheaper than extensions, but it sounds like it would be wise to settle in and see how the finances are before starting a project.

I don’t know what an orangery is .

The thing with garden rooms is that you have to go outside in the rain or snow or grey to get to them. I’d prefer something actually joined to the house.

A garden room can also be attached to the house but will have doors to the garden, lots of windows and these days probably a roof lantern. Ive lived with conservatories for years and love them - our last one was a beautiful wooden one and opened out from the kitchen. Had a radiator but i also had an aga in the kitchen which kept it extra warm in winter. In summer we just opened all the doors and windows - and when thecweathercwas that nice we were sitting in the garden. It might also depend which way your conservatory will face - south will be a bit much in summer. Ours was east facing so lovely morning sunlight but it went into the shade during the afternoon so not too hot later in the day. I would never have one with a plastic roof as they creak in the heat and are very noisy when it rains. A good conservatory isnt cheap though.

Mirrorwriting I think you understand the term "garden room".

It's usually attached to the main house like a conservatory and accessed through the house, it will typically ( unlike a conservatory) have a tiled roof, and half walls, with huge expanses of windows.

So a garden room is a cross between a conservatory and extension basically?

What about an orangery?

What is the difference between a conservatory and an orangery?

I love mine but it does need to be a decent size. Mine was built to be big enough to use as a dining room although I now use it as an office. Electric Underfloor heating is cheap and I can use it all year. Love sitting at my desk and looking onto the garden.

Conservatory’s are the worst thing someone can do to a house. Surely a proper extension is a far better option?

Conservatories*

“In summer we just opened all the doors and windows...”

Oh yes, that reminds me - absolute death traps for 🐝 bees. Something about them draws them in and then of course they can’t get out. We had to put net voiles over our open doors and can’t open the windows. I routinely rescued 5-10 bees every day before the curtains.

And spiders love love love our conservatory. Twice a day I pull their cobwebs down and the fuckers still somehow don’t starve.

I wouldn't have got into debt for ours - it was a conversation between my mum and my builder neighbour which sparked it all off and my mum decided it was a good idea to get it done (and paid). Eventually it'll be my craft room/woman cave once the kids ever leave home.

I wouldn't have put getting one in as a high priority if I was just buying a house though - it's one of those "nice bonuses" (if you're not a MN poster) rather than a must have... I'd put getting a good kitchen and bathroom much much higher in terms of how it'll improve your quality of living in a house.

I've just moved into a house with a conservatory and absolutely no way would I have got a loan for one. It is a very expensive time and out car broke down to wrote off point so had to get a loan for that. You don't know what crazy expenses may leap up at you. Save money. Enjoy home at it is now. Debt is not fun

I loved my conservatory when I had one. OK, it was very hot for about 2 weeks in the summer, but I got more use out of it than out of my spare room or the ensuite bathroom, for example.

I wouldn't get one immediately though, get yourself sorted in the new house first, see what other things you need to fix and spend money on before you commit to a big expense.

Depends on the rate of interest. If it is a sky high rate then it's pretty financially bad - it would save you money in the long run if you put the money away that you would have repaid the loan with, then do it when you get enough. Presumably the conservatory doesn't stop you living in the house, or do you need the space urgently?

Freezing in the winter and unless windows are left ajar damp as well
Boiling in the summer and can become dumping grounds

Conservatories are a bit yesterday. A proper extension is a better investment. Not yet though. Wait till your finances settle down and then decide.

It does sound as if the aspect is crucial as whether it's usable in summer. Our south facing conservatory was far, far too hot.
The huge windows, velux windows in the roof and French doors, in our replacement extension/garden room still give the same light and feeling of being connected to the garden, but is much more practical and usable. It is attached to the house op, you seem to think they are separate.

I did think a garden room was separate but I’ve been set straight. I still don’t know what an orangery is. We don’t need it urgently so will wait, maybe for an extension.