Conservatory Upgrade - Worth the Investment?

[Sarahr999]

We have a 3x4m Victorian conservatory bought with the house that’s seen better days. You know the ones with the straight sides that finish in a slight fan shape at the front. The frame sits on a small brick wall and the roof is polycarbonate so no heat retention at all.

There’s no question that it needs to go. It’s just what the best option may be.

We’ve had someone over to make a few recommendations as to next steps. Option 1 might be to add new reinforced window frames and a light tile effect roof, plastered with a pendant and skylights. Option 2 the same but square off the front as well with some brick or insulated UPVC pillars to give make it feel even more like a room and give slightly more useable space.

I don’t think we’ll be in this house forever so I wanted reassurance that either of the above would either recoup our costs or ideally add value.

Is anyone an estate agent or have experience of a similar project with pre and post valuations? Thanks.

We’re about to embark on the project you describe. The quotes were around 20-25k.
I’m not sure that you would recoup the full cost but it would definitely make your house more saleable. A draughty leaky old conservatory would put a lot of people off and perhaps mean the house takes longer to sell.
I’d ring a local EA and get their thoughts.

I’ve just had my polycarbonate roof replaced with lightweight tiles and spotlights/velux as per your option 1 but didn’t need window frames replaced. Paid about 6k and love the room much more now it’s a temperate climate in there instead of boiling or freezing.

Yes, just not sure how willing they would be to value when we’re not moving. But I can only ask. If there were EAs on here for a top-level opinion that would be v useful!

Out of interest, where in the UK are you for cost comparison? Do you find the roof has made a massive difference summer and winter? Does it have extra heating?

We got rid of our conservatory and replaced it with an extension. It cost about 20k, and has put value on the house as we now have a huge kitchen diner. The builders told us conservatory’s are being ripped out everywhere

No, they’re not really going to want to come out & value it, but couldn’t they just tell you over the phone roughly how much value it could add so that you can compare it against the cost of doing the work?

Hard to know without knowing more about your house, value of street, top price for street.

we bought a house with a crap old conservatory, we bought at a good price for houses in the area as it needed a major refresh. It was also likely that whoever bought it would want to build an extension to replace the conservatory and tiny original 1905 kitchen. Which is what we did.nWe now have a lovely kitchen diner. The conservatory being liveable would have made it nicer for us living there till we took it down, but that would have been it.

I'm in SW England and we did option 1 last year. The brick foundations and most windows and doors were fine, as we had them refreshed 10 years ago.

Our new roof, plastering, spotlights etc cost £12k. This is our forever home and we have gorgeous views out the back. I now spend most of my time out there, whereas before it was freezing or boiling and just a dumping ground with a leaky roof.

Oh, btw, our conservatory roof people advised against sky lights so we don't have any. Lots aren't particularly good at retaining heat and can have the same issues as the glass roof you're replacing, ie leaking.

(Thought I posted this yesterday but just found it!).

Hi. can you tell me what area you live in, and who did you use? I am in Suffolk and the conservatory is 4mx4m.

Hiya. That seems a really reasonable cost. May I ask where you live and if it was a local builder? I am in Suffolk. Thanks