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Original poster

Conservatories for bungalows

18 replies

superkatee · 10/04/2014 15:49

Anyone have have any info on conservatories for bungalows? And what do you guys think of a conservatory to a bungalow?

OP posts:

MillyMollyMama · 10/04/2014 16:18

My mum has one. It is not a problem to construct but make sure it is warm enough in winter and not too hot in summer. The can be stand alone type structures so I do not see why you cannot have one on a bungalow but I would try and choose one which blends sympathetically with the style of the bungalow, ie not a Georgian style one!

IAmDoneNow · 10/04/2014 16:21

I wouldn't get one again regardless of what type of home you have and would not want to inherit one if house hunting. If you can afford it get a proper extension.

Original poster

superkatee · 10/04/2014 17:06

Haha definitely not a Georgian style! People have told me about the issues of heating/cooling but I think there are ways around that. Thanks MillyMollyMama :-)

Why do you say that IAmDoneNow? I don't think conservatories are all that bad! I think if you match style to home they can look lovely.

Thats the thing - the costs. An extension to the back of our home would be rather ideal but unfortunately do not have the funds just yet which was why we were looking into conservatories! Really like the idea of turning it into a TV/ Playroom.

OP posts:

Original poster

superkatee · 10/04/2014 17:16

Something like this: www.pinterest.com/pin/507147608007992005/

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IAmDoneNow · 10/04/2014 17:47

I would not buy a house with a conservatory attached as I would have to factor in the cost of removing it.

They make the room they come off dark. They are hard work to clean from spring to autumn, cobwebs, dead fly poo. I had a very large one 20x20 so all that window and window sill cleaning, all the window opening was too much. They are hard to keep warm from autumn to spring. Then trying to hoover and clean the roof was such a pita. The only good bits were displaying Christmas lights and being able to set the spare dining table in advance in a room that wasn't used often in winter when we had guests over.

MillyMollyMama · 10/04/2014 18:46

Most people would not be turned off by a high quality one. The overhead natural light means tv watching can be a problem and the one in your pix has roof blinds which are fairly expensive. You do need very effective heating though and underfloor is best as it is not zonal. The conservatory in the pix would also need the best glazing you could afford or it will be cold. Is there much difference between the cost of an extension and a decent conservatory? Not a lot I would have thought.

heavenstobetsy · 10/04/2014 18:59

We have a large p-shape conservatory across the back of the house which we have integrated in to the main living area - it is chilly in winter and it does get very warm in summer but both are manageable. It is a lovely bright family room and was significantly less money to build than a similar sized extension. I think a conservatory on a bungalow would be great!

Nocomet · 10/04/2014 19:08

People clean their conservatories?

Madness, the DDs don't mind cobwebs and the odd slow worm in their playmobil!

Nocomet · 10/04/2014 19:12

Mine is between rooms so it doesn't make anywhere dark.

It is too hot (great for drying washing) and too cold, but I've never shelled out for blinds and I don't often run the heating. It's play room, toy storage and now the DDs are older dance studio.

As DD2 doesn't keep still she doesn't bother asking for the heating on.

Original poster

superkatee · 11/04/2014 14:37

I agree, I think high quality ones are more appealing. Also it depends on what type of glass you have, theres soo many different types out there which I was not aware of. This goes for roof types too.

I do see the benefit of an extension instead of a conservatory, you obviously won't have the same heating and cooling worries but you will end up losing out on light.

Plus a bright room in which the kids could play...I think im leaning more towards a conservatory but still in the very early stages of planning!

OP posts:

Joey8 · 11/04/2014 14:41

What style of conservatory are you after? I think its mostly lean-to designs which are recommended for bungalows.

Great article on this:
www.conservatoryonlineprices.co.uk/conservatories-bungalows/

hiccupgirl · 11/04/2014 17:07

We inherited a conservatory with our house. We re currently trying to decide whether to replace it a much more high spec and bigger one or have an extension instead.

An extension is more sensible but the light in our conservatory is amazing and it doesn't block any light coming into the house whereas an extension would leave our dining room very dark.

It is a pain to heat in the winter but it's great or drying washing in, is always bright even on cloudy days and it's a great playroom.

PrimalLass · 12/04/2014 10:20

Ours was an enormous waste of 10k. If you do it, you must factor roof blinds into the price IMO. Ours went in in February and was meant to be a playroom. My children would have needed to wear sunglasses. As we were replacing a ramshackle lean to, to sell the house, I didn't bother with the blinds. It probably would have made a huge difference though.

Original poster

superkatee · 15/04/2014 15:02

Do you have a picture of your conservatory hiccupgirl? Sounds lovely!

Well we have been talking things over and been looking at a few companies, has anyone ever used this one before?

www.double-glazing-leeds.co.uk/

Prices were very good.

I still have the idea of an extension at the back of my mind, it would be just as great as a conservatory...decisions!

OP posts:

Original poster

superkatee · 15/04/2014 16:23

ooh heavenstobetsy - your conservatory sounds grand! I wish we had the space for a P-Shape! (Had to look it up!)

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whydidyoudothat · 16/04/2014 00:10

We have had a conservatory with a plastic roof in a previous property, made the kitchen very dark and didn't really get used between November and April. In our current home we have recently had an orangery built with a glass roof, doesn't make the joining room dark at all, get used all year round, A good compromise between a conservatory and an extension I think.

Original poster

superkatee · 16/04/2014 15:46

Oh right, to be honest I never considered an Orangery before. How much was your Orangery if you don't mind me asking? It actually sounds like the perfect combination.

Can you have an orangery added to a bungalow?

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whydidyoudothat · 16/04/2014 16:55

It was around 13k, shop around local companies though, we had some ridiculous quotes from the national ones. You can have one added to a bungalow, I think it would be a double hipped roof that you would need. There were 2 types of roof to choose from, a sit in roof which was the more expensive and more of a conservatory roof which is what we have. I have to say it is my most favourite room in the house.

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