Is it a bad idea to get a glass extension

[user1477259453]

Hi there,

We've gone out to quote for getting a glass extension on our house. It'll be tied into the lounge with no external door but will have underfloor heating, triple glazing etc. We don't want a full structural extension for many reasons (money, although we could get enough if needed, time for structure to be built (young kids and bad house layout for that), restricted footprint so don't want thick walls, etc). But the last guy to quote was heavily leaning towards full extension and basically said people wouldn't want anything like a conservatory so it'd be hard to sell. But I genuinely see these modern glass extensions and think they're lovely! And in our case, opening the back door to use our tumble dryer in the old conservatory makes the lounge far far colder than a glazed extension would any day! Thoughts?

I would never buy a house with a conservatory. I know they can be better quality now but I just associate them will condensation and cold. They are also noisy in the rain.

I am confused as the picture form the outside looks like a normal conservatory. I would rule it out if I saw that on a property website to be honest (maybe my loss)

Oh I see! It's the other way round

They are noisy in the rain, that's true

I'm going to go against the wave of opinion here - we have a large L shaped conservatory at the Babi of our house (south facing) and we love it, it is attached to our dining room + kitchen. Not hot in summer (we had the decent glass) and warm in winter - good radiator. It has two 'proper' walls and the rest half walls - painted in Farrow + Ball. I think they can look nice x

@PressPauseontheMenopause

I'm going to go against the wave of opinion here - we have a large L shaped conservatory at the Babi of our house (south facing) and we love it, it is attached to our dining room + kitchen. Not hot in summer (we had the decent glass) and warm in winter - good radiator. It has two 'proper' walls and the rest half walls - painted in Farrow + Ball. I think they can look nice x

Oh great thanks for replying! They really seem like marmite don't they. I think if they're done properly they can be really nice and bring in so much light. Also I like the sound of rain ha. Although not too hot, is it too bright for you in the summer? Also do you have no doors separating from your living areas either? If not does it make those areas colder?

Although most people use them as such a conservatory is not considered part of the house for building regulations and insurance purposes. If you are going to remove the doors or have no door to the outside the new bit will be an extension and require building regulations in order for your insurance to be valid or be able to sell in the future. The pictures you show would all require building regulations.

Building regs will dictate minimum levels of insulation, fire protection, electric etc.

I have a conservatory semi open plan to my kitchen diner, with dwarf walls, triple glazed roof and tinted, sun reflecting glass. I didn't completely remove all the wall, as I still wanted a separate room layout. We don't get the extremes of temperature that people complain about with old conservatories. I would say to get good blinds though - we get morning sun and it can be blinding.

what is above the glass roof? As hearing rain on a glass roof from bedrooms above can be really annoying.

I like the sound of rain. When I'm in the bath or when I'm sitting flicking through a magazine or something.

Not so much when I'm trying to watch Line of Duty and can't hear it for the rain. Or when I'm trying to have a conversation over dinner and we have to shout.

I'd never buy a house with a conservatory

As a buyer it would definitely put me off. I would rather buy with no extension so I can do my own rather than have to pay to take the 'conservatory' down.

I think it looks lovely and for me would add points when house hunting. I love conservatories though and am surprised by how many people don't seem to! What you have posted looks to be a good compromise between a full extension and conservatory. Will you be staying there long enough to enjoy it because that would be a factor for me if it was a bit of a marmite situation.

It’s surprising some people would be put off by a conservatory.

Mine is large and build very sound. Very warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
The glass is triple glazed also so we don’t hear rain on the roof any louder than it would be on a slate roof.

I think when done properly - they can be a very nice bonus to your property and I know since having mine up - I have had plenty of offers on my house (which isn’t even up for sale)

@LopsidedWombat

I think it looks lovely and for me would add points when house hunting. I love conservatories though and am surprised by how many people don't seem to! What you have posted looks to be a good compromise between a full extension and conservatory. Will you be staying there long enough to enjoy it because that would be a factor for me if it was a bit of a marmite situation.

Thanks I know it's crazy 😂. I don't like old conservatories, although it didn't put us off buying our current house, and the one here is awful... But I love glazed extensions I think they're lovely if done properly! We will be staying 8 or 10 years depending on schools, maybr longer. So we'd defo get use! X

@Daftasabroom

Although most people use them as such a conservatory is not considered part of the house for building regulations and insurance purposes. If you are going to remove the doors or have no door to the outside the new bit will be an extension and require building regulations in order for your insurance to be valid or be able to sell in the future. The pictures you show would all require building regulations.

Building regs will dictate minimum levels of insulation, fire protection, electric etc.

Thanks for your reply, so I've looked back at the email from the guy and building regulations are included in the quote. So I guess that makes it a full extension with orangery, really. Thanks for letting me know that part!

@CtrlU

It’s surprising some people would be put off by a conservatory.

Mine is large and build very sound. Very warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
The glass is triple glazed also so we don’t hear rain on the roof any louder than it would be on a slate roof.

I think when done properly - they can be a very nice bonus to your property and I know since having mine up - I have had plenty of offers on my house (which isn’t even up for sale)

Thanks this is good to know! I think it's pretty mad I think they're a lovely addition if done properly and modern and insulated etc! We have an awful one currently, although it's not like we don't just get on with it ha. But I have seen some lovely ones! Our quote is for a flat roof with roof lantern, so orangery I suppose. I know a few people with those and you can't really hear rain 🤷

If you're SE facing, I would consider v carefully. Family member did a large proper extension, massive glass lantern roof and whole back wall of bifolds, so masses of glass. All top of the range glass / fittings so they didn't scrimp on the build etc. Really stunning (combined large kitchen diner - maybe 8m x 8m). It was so hot from about April onwards they ended up having to have air conditioning installed to make it a useable room.

@refusetobeasheep

what is above the glass roof? As hearing rain on a glass roof from bedrooms above can be really annoying.

The boy's bedrooms are there but they're currently over an awful conservatory so literally can't sound worse that that 😂

You've pretty much made your mind up already so I don't get this thread.

ILs have what you've described. It's noisy in the rain and not enjoyable to sit in on a hot day. They didn't scrimp on it either.

The point was I had made mind up but the guy doing the quote today tried to tell me otherwise and it really confused me re byilding regs and sellability etc. I've learnt a lot from this post so glad I did it x

I had a conservatory facing SE. It's very hot. You get sun all day. My current house has a north facing garden but conservatory faces east mostly. We only get direct sun in the morning, and it's only very hot in mid summer.

I think you'll want a lot more solid structure with that direction.

@HasaDigaEebowai

No, buyers wont want an open plan extension which fails building regs!

Why would it fail building regs?

Conservatories are exempt from building regs only where they are separated from the house by external quality doors. If you make it open plan you'll need what I'd call a "full" extension in order to meet building regs.

It would meet building regs, I wrote above that they've included regs in their quote, so presumably it's more of an orangery than a conservatory? Just learning all this x

@NotGenerationAlpha

I had a conservatory facing SE. It's very hot. You get sun all day. My current house has a north facing garden but conservatory faces east mostly. We only get direct sun in the morning, and it's only very hot in mid summer.

I think you'll want a lot more solid structure with that direction.

Thank you that's useful advice. In my opinion my garden is much more easterly with a slight tilt towards south. The southerly wall will be the bricked one, I wonder if this would make a difference? Interesting there's such a difference between your two conservatories just my aspect!

@NotGenerationAlpha

I had a conservatory facing SE. It's very hot. You get sun all day. My current house has a north facing garden but conservatory faces east mostly. We only get direct sun in the morning, and it's only very hot in mid summer.

I think you'll want a lot more solid structure with that direction.

Yes almost due East, I thought they had said SE optimistically when they were selling! Do you think this will make a difference?

Unfortunately advice is not always truthful. My snobby cousin assures me her garden room extension is not a problem in the summer. One sideways glance up at the horizontal fascia, twisted like a half melted candle, tells me otherwise.