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Original poster

Conservatories? Yes or no? How Much?

45 replies

crunchie · 12/12/2005 12:36

I am thinking of getting a conservatory, and need some input from those of you who have one. What do you use it for? How much do you use it? Does it cost a fortune to heat? How much did it cost? Was it worth it? What style have you got?

In fact just tell me anything about your conservatory that will help me decide. AT the moment we have 2 large rooms downstairs, a Kitchen breakfast room (separated by an archway, was 2 rooms) and a long living room. That is it for 'Living space'

OP posts:
Hadalifeonce · 12/12/2005 18:16

We had ours about 3.5 years ago. We have a glass roof as the polycarbide ones are too noisy when it rains, and you can't hear yourself think. If I were putting one in now, I would deffinitly have underfloor heating. Although it's not too cold (we have a large radiator) underfloor would be much more cosy. We had to get planning permission, but the conservatory co. took care of that for us.

Blossomgoodwill · 12/12/2005 18:17

hadalifeonce - why did u need pp?

006 · 12/12/2005 18:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

IOTAnnenbaum · 12/12/2005 18:19

lots of reasons for PP:

Do I need planning permission for an extension or conservatory?

If you live in a flat or maisonette you will need to apply for planning permission for an extension or conservatory.

If you live in a house you will need to apply for planning permission if the extension or conservatory:

  • Is more than 4 metres high and within 2 metres of the boundary.

Is higher than the highest part of the original house.

  • Is nearer to the highway than the nearest part of the original house, unless there is at least 20 metres between the extension and the highway.

  • For a terraced house or any house within the Conservation Area, the extension will increase the cubic volume of the property by 50 cubic metres or 10% (whichever is the greater).

  • For a detached or semi-detached house outside of the Conservation Area, the extension will increase the cubic volume of the property by 70 cubic metres or 15% (whichever is the greater).

  • Is more than 115 cubic metres in total.

  • Will cover more than half the area of land around the original house.

  • Original house means as it was first built or as it stood on 1 July 1948.

There are times when the volume of other buildings within the curtilage of your property will count against the volume allowances. These are listed below:

  • If an extension to your house will come within 5 metres of another building.

  • Any building that is more than 10 cubic metres and within 5 metres of your house.

  • Within the Conservation Area all additional buildings which are more than 10 cubic metres, wherever they are in relation to your house.

Additional points

  • You may need to apply for planning permission if you live in an Article 4 Direction Area. Please refer to leaflets "Article 4 Direction, A Householders Guide to the Legislation".

  • If your home is a Listed Building you will need Listed Building consent

Hadalifeonce · 12/12/2005 18:19

There was a possibility that we didn't (apparently) so it was a bit of a belt & braces thing. It only cost about £300.

leggymamba · 12/12/2005 18:44

we were thinking of under floor heating but a friends with it say that unless the conservatory is open to the house then it gets expensive as it's best left on all the time or else it takes ages to heat the room. Both I know have ended up with a heater and underfloor heating.

Would also be interested in other peoples experiences as I still quite fancy it.

leggymamba · 12/12/2005 18:49

If you have a plumbed in radiator it think you need to get building regs approval rather than planning permission. You need that too if the conservatory is through to the house i.e. no doors.

This is what I've just been told any way

Yorkiegirl · 12/12/2005 19:00

Message withdrawn

Blossomgoodwill · 12/12/2005 19:17

could u not have a plumbed in radiator yorkie?

Yorkiegirl · 12/12/2005 19:19

Message withdrawn

Blossomgoodwill · 12/12/2005 19:27

Oh yorkie u couldn't share that advice with me please could you?

LucycatsGotTheTurkey · 12/12/2005 20:17

They tend to have concrete floors and if the pipes were to burst then you'd have to dig up the concrete to get to them and mend the radiator? possibly?

Original poster
crunchie · 12/12/2005 22:07

keep bumping in case there is more advice

OP posts:
MUMBOjingleJUMbells · 12/12/2005 22:25

Having our conservatory built was the best thing we have done to our house. It was built earlier in the year (also had new windows in the house) Size 5m x 3.75m, "Edwardian" style (ie square end). We have a three quarter high wall on one side (which is next to the fence) with small windows above. Top opening windows all round and double patio doors. Also have a roof vent. Got underlay and carpet and vertical window blinds. Hope to get new roof blinds fitted next year (couldn't afford them after getting the thing built this year!).

Use it all the time, sit out there in the daytime. Kids toys are out there in a wooden toy box. (Actually the toys are all over the lounge and conservatory! . Got sofa and chair out there and portable tv/video/dvd. Got freeview out there too so they can watch cbeebies. Sadly they seem to prefer nickjr now which we can't get on freeview!!

Got it from a local firm who had done windows for our neighbours. Was only saying to dh at the weekend, don't know how we coped before it was built!

PantomimEDAMe · 12/12/2005 22:28

Ours is freezing cold in winter and boiling hot in summer. Installed by previous owners. So make sure you get one that isn't. Apparently a well-insulated floor helps.

I'm planning to knock ours down and build a proper extension when we get some money together.

Mistletoo · 12/12/2005 22:29

every time I see this thread I read it as 'Conservatives' LOL

PotPourri · 12/12/2005 22:30

No. They are too hot in summer, too cold in winter and IMHO don't look very nice. An extension with lots of windows is a better option if you want it to admire nice views outside. But a normal room would be best if you just want more living space.

Yorkiegirl · 12/12/2005 22:31

Message withdrawn

jamese · 13/12/2005 09:44

couldn't have coped without ours in our previous house (had it built when I was pregant) our garden for north facing - so as previous postings, never too hot in summer and had a good radiator so never cold in winter (in fact was lovely to come down to in the morning and we could open the doors to heat the other room)

We also had lamintate flooring which was ideal. Ours cost approx £11k and worth every penny.

BROWNYtherednosereindeer · 14/12/2005 13:16

Just a thought about having a radiator plumbed in - we have one plumbed in - our plumber ran a pipe through the wall from the conservatory to the living room and joined the two pipes - therefore, no need for pipework under the concrete floor of the conservatory.HTH

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