What is the point of conservatories?

[ReshapeWhileDamp]

I am genuinely curious (and not wanting to start a Conservatorista/Non-Conservatorista fight! ).

We've viewed a lot of houses recently that have one attached, and the estate agent sort of unveils them with a lot of 'ta-da-ing', like it's the high point of the house. They do seem to enable vendors to add a hefty chunk to the asking price, but why are they so desirable?

In all, and I mean all, of the houses with conservatories we've seen, there are blinds or apparatus to cool them down in summer - blinds or opaque stuff on the ceiling, blinds down the sides, air con fitted in some cases... We've viewed this summer, so mostly the impression is of a sweltering pit. However, I've also been in houses with conservatories in winter, and then it's more a case of really not wanting to be in there because of the cold. Several we've seen this summer have both air con and plug-in heaters.

So you end up maxing on your heating and electricity bills all year round! Some houses we've seen, you'd have to use it all year round because it's the dining room. Others, the conservatory is open-sided onto a room in the house, so god knows how you'd stop the ground floor overheating in summer or leaching cold in winter.

I mean, I like sunshine and being warm as much as the next person, but conservatories seem a waste of space and fuel to me. Can anyone convert me to the conservatory cause?

It's cheaper than an extension in most cases

I have a large conservatory across the back of the house and it is marvellous in spring autumn. On a sunny day in the winter I absolutely love it as it warms up the whole of the downstairs. It does get cold in the evening but then the heating is rather effective. Summer can be hot but we keep the doors wide open and it is fine.

I love lying on the sofa in the conservatory and having a snooze on a sunny day. It really is my idea of heaven in a quiet house.

It has enabled us to extend our house and we now have quite a bit of room for our children to play. The insects, flies and butterflies are a pain, however.

They're clearly an insect mortuary.

If it didn't count as part of permitted extension footage with the planning dept, I'd have a garden room over a conservatory any-day.

Instead we inherited with the house a ginormous sauna/freezer depending on the season.

Many thousands of ££ later, we have a lovely conservatory with underfloor heating that genuinely can be used all year round. But imho unless you spend the money then it's no asset but a liability.

Definitely agree on the underfloor heating.

When I was in hospital with a broken foot I used to dream of getting home to lie in my conservatory in the winter sunshine. We don't have any blinds etc. Yes it is blistering in summer but with all the doors and windows open it is just perfect for a well timed snooze.

We're replacing ours with an extension. We had one at our old house and it was the same, too hot in summer, too cold in winter. Basically couldn't use it for well over 6 months of the year, thats no good to me. And you're right, they cost a fortune to heat / cool. Having had a conservatory for 8 years, I really have yet to see the point in them I'm afraid.

See, I can see the point in having a high end conservatory where you've spent loads on under-floor heating and climate control, etc. It's just that every house with one I've been in recently feels uncomfortably hot right across the ground floor because of it.

I can appreciate they're cost-effective extensions, just worried (from a buyer's point of view) that you'd spend loads on heating in winter.

Reshape - I could have written your OP. Many convos with friends, agents and strangers alike - I remain unconvinced.

The other thing is that they really cut down the light in most houses.

I have a friend who was able to heat her entire (small, well-built) house in winter off the solar gain from her conservatory. Now that was handy.

I've always wanted a really, really swish conservatory for growing semi-tropical plants in. I'd have bouganvillea up the walls, and more climbers dangling down overhead. There'd be deep beds for planting, and definitely no room for any sun loungers, TVs, kids toys, etc. No chance, alas.

When we bought our house there was a conservatory attached which is exactly as you described.

We knocked it down and started again. It has underfloor heating, tinted roof to stop it getting too hot and we built one wall with bricks, so it's kind of only half conservatory/half an extension iyswim.

It's the childrens playroom (godsend) and it doesn't block any light out at all. I think that would depend on where you place it really.

Oh and it runs the full side of the house, which I guess makes it look less like a conservatory.

I agree those little hexagonal ones stuck on the back of someones house always look a bit to me.

One of those might actually put me off buying tbh.

We're building a conservatory to use as a dining room (so are putting in plenty of windows/heat-reflecting glass for summer, and an air-con unit for heat).

A bit like sorky, my pet hate is the pointless conservatory - 3 cane chairs in an off-the-shelf conservatory not big enough to swing a hamster in!

If used as a room with a function, and properly heated/cooled - great. If stuck on to boost the number of rooms for house sale - pants.

Yes, cane furniture...what's that all about?

Yack!

I use my conservatory to condition the wood for my wood burner and to dry my clothes on airers. It gets as hot as an oven, which is fabulous.

I wouldn't want to sit in there. But then I am not a sitting sort of a person.

We were going to have a conservatory but fortunately got advice from a friend who had moved into a house with one NOT to bother for the same reasons that concern you. We ended up paying extra for an extension instead and have got far more use out of it.

I think we were quoted (this was 7 years ago) around 18k for a conservatory or 30k for an extension with triple the living space and far more practical. I really can't see why people go for the conservatory instead.

I love my conservatory! We have the undefloor heating, which makes a big difference in the winter, but as for the heat of the summer? Just open all the windows and doors and let the breeze flow through! It feels grand :D Plus, unlike an extension, no planning permission was needed (big drawing factor for me!)

It really is a personal choice though....but really. how pretty is this?!
www.doubleglazingontheweb.co.uk/conservatory_gallery.php

Grendelsmum I think what you want is a greenhouse .

I'm about to get a greenhouse - but sadly not frost free. When I say Conservatory, I'm thinking more a mini Palm House at Kew.

Absolutely love ours, best 12K we've ever spent. Have top of the range glass roof to keep it warm in winter, 3/4 block walls on both sides to keep it warm/cool and proper central heating. We use it all year round, I can shut the door to the lounge and get some peace and quiet! So, don't rubbish the conservatory , done properly they are brill!

we grow bananas in ours, and passionfruits
its a lovely place to sit and read
its always warm (underfloor heating) in winter
I have never succeeded in growing a pineapple but we continue to try

MommaDude & Helennn, so glad you like yours! (4 weeks to go until they start digging up our patio - I am sooo excited!)

Ours is just a small old lean-to rather than a conservatory ? but I love it because:

• We keep our washing machine there which keeps the noise away from the kitchen/diner.
• We can have lovely breakfast there in chilly summer mornings or late spring/early autumn ? it feels half-outside but no rain or wind.
• We dry our clothes there in a rainy day.
• We ventilate our shoes there rather than in a hallway.
• I can grow my pot of herbs there (as all herbs in the garden got eaten by slugs).

I see conservatory as a big plus, even if hot in summer or cold in winter.