AIBU to think that conservatories are a total waste of time?

[RosaPfirsich]

Misread my own title then as 'Conservatives' then... they are a waste of space too tbf but my AIBU is about the uselessness of conservatories of the glass room variety.

Went to view a house yesterday. It's perfect except for the fact that it has a conservatory. The sellers had the standard wicker type furniture in there and it looked nice enough but in my experience the space is only ever fleetingly useful in maybe spring and autumn.

My experiences of having a conservatory previously have been that it's either so hot in them that you can't sit for longer than 5 minutes without feeling like you are going to pass out, OR they are absolutely bloody freezing and any efforts to warm them with additional heating are completely fruitless as the warmth wastes zero time escaping through the glass.

What is the point?! Have I just been stuck with really shit conservatories and other people don't have these problems?

We'd like to put an offer on the house but the conservatory is bugging me already!

What do you do with yours? Do you actually use it all year?

I think I'm kind of wanting someone to tell me IABU and sell the idea that they aren't a waste of space as I really love this house!

[Bluerussian]

You don't have to take a house with a consevartory if you don't like, there's no obligation. There will be plenty of other people who would like, I'd like one very much and last year would have been lovely.

Find something else that suits you.

[RosaPfirsich]

I quite like the idea of turning it into a glorified greenhouse and growing citrus 🤔

Laundry drying benefits and fridge extension taken on board too.

Maybe need to ask more questions about it as I have no idea of the spec. It's double glazed and has a small radiator but no idea about vents etc. Don't recall seeing blinds but that might just be my poor observation skills.

[buzzbobbly]

I have a major aesthetic issue with them.

All those ridiculous bloody faux-antique style finials and cresting gee-gaws they finish them off with. Do the makers think people will think "ooh look a genuine Victorian upvc conservatory!" when it's clamped onto a 1990s semi in Milton Keynes?

[RedRiverShore]

I see people are saying that they make the room they are attached to dark, this is one of the main reasons we didn't have one, at the moment our dining room french doors open onto the garden and it would make it very dark with a conservatory attached especially one with a more solid roof

[Urgh2019]

DH wanted one, our garden is south facing. Cannot think of anything worse!

[longearedbat]

I'm not a fan. As others have said, they often block the light into the room to which they are attached, and the other thing is insects. If it is the white plastic variety it gets covered in fly and spider dirt, and the flies etc bash around out of reach in the ceiling. I have also seen ones covered in black mould because the condensation hasn't been cleaned off regularly. They just seem to be high maintenance. Much prefer a garden room with a proper roof with roof lights, and then windows all round - but not if it is tacked onto a reception room. My pet hate is seeing a previously external window becoming a window between two rooms, it just looks odd.

[RosaPfirsich]

I don't feel in any way obligated to buy it @Bluerussian. It's interesting hearing how other people make use (or not) of their conservatories.

There is no rule which states you must be a card carrying conservatory lover in order to purchase a house with one. I should think most house purchases involve some degree of compromise.

[SlothMama]

When I was house hunting it was so annoying how almost all of the houses had tiny gardens because of massive conservatories. Luckily we found our house with a good sized garden and a massive conservatory. I hate conservatories but ours has been warm in winter as it has a big radiator in there. And it's been useful with the dog, even if it has disgusting green carpet. Depending on how long we live here we might convert the roof and make it more of an extension than a conservatory

[SlothMama]

Oh and our conservatory was built onto the home office so my partners office has no natural light and ends up smelling so stuffy.

[Clavinova]

My parents love their conservatory and use it all the time - but it has stone floors, underfloor heating, air conditioning, electric blinds, comfy sofa, small breakfast table and 2 chairs! Their attached dining room is quite dark though.

[TwoleftUggs]

Ours is fucking massive, I would have preferred a proper extension but it was already there when we bought the house. No idea why previous occupants needed such a massive space, it’s impossible to heat even with 3 radiators. Anyway we changed the roof, still a plastic one but triple layer something or other. And is very opaque rather than the godawful clear plastic it replaced. So that helps keep heat in/out depending on season. We also had a roof window added on the opposite side to the door. It REALLY helps with airflow in the summer. Just having a door open doesn’t do much but having hot air able to escape from the roof is a game changer! So now the room is usable 3 seasons out of 4.

[bettybyebye]

We have lived in a house with one for 5 years and I hate it! Freezing in winter and roasting in summer. We use it as a playroom so good for storing all the kids toys (especially the huge ones) but more often than not it’s too hot/cold for them to actually play in there I didn’t use it as an overspill fridge at Christmas time though! I cannot wait to knock the bloody thing down!

[lboogy]

I agree it's hideous

[bettybyebye]

• I did use it as an overspill fridge!

[MereDintofPandiculation]

Ours blocks the pantry window and the back door, so light into living spaces isn't affected at all. And it's lovely working in the kitchen with the back door wide open on sunny days in Feb and March, especially with scented jasmine or daffodils in the conservatory.

Cats approve of it too.

[Frazzledbutcalm]

They’re awful things! When we viewed houses, it was always with the knowledge that if it had a conservatory, it would be coming down! We would factor this cost into the price of the house.

[Clavinova]

I forgot the self-cleaning glass.

[HarrySnotter]

Depends I think. I don't have one but my friend's one has underfloor heating AND air conditioning in it. I'm so jealous of it it's embarrassing.

[Clockworkprincess]

Not a massive fan myself but when we were househunting this house ticked all of the boxes apart from the conservatory. Thankfully its quite neat and doesn't take over the garden and we used it as a dining room originally. As ds got older we turned it into a playroom with a small heater and it seems to work quite well so far. I said if we took this house that it couldn't be a dumping ground and had to be used - i cant stand spaces left to pile up junk

[diabeticsanon]

bigbluebuswe are kindred spirits , 'that's nice'

[triplettriplet]

I love mine OP, it's heated, huge, and we use it a lot.

Catches the evening sun, so perfect for a glass of wine at sunset.

[Bathbombs]

We have a south facing one. It has been useful for:

Storing garden toys and craft stuff (crayons have to be put away in the cupboard as they will melt as pp discovered!)
Somewhere to shut the dog away-(with Windows open when hot)
I love soaking up the heat in there-like sunbathing without the skin cancer risk
Eat Christmas dinner out there
Have radiator for occasional time when it needs to be used as proper room
Drying laundry

It’s been pretty useful. Having said that we’re about to replace it with a proper extension as it’s falling down.

[BlueThesaurusRex]

Ours is north facing- built last year! No heating but we haven’t needed it... yet.

Makes a lovely playroom at the moment and is great for sitting in and watching LO play in the garden ( cos I’m miserable and would rather be indoors )

[mrsrhodgilbert]

We built one about ten years ago and love it still. It’s east facing and has two roof vents which prevent it being unbearable in summer, also two large radiators for winter. Even in snowy weather it’s very comfortable. We have carpet and rugs plus two large squashy sofas and other normal furniture. It’s used just like any other room. I hate ones with hard floors and wickerwork.

[Pinkbells]

My aunt put one up. She has electronic blinds all over it that help loads in regulating the temperature, and underfloor heating for the winter. I agree they are pretty useless if the temperature in there is uncomfortable. Hers does look nice, and has a lovely outlook over the garden. Personally I would rather have an extension with huge sliding doors and the dining table in a space like that than have a designated conservatory though.