WWYD: Orangery or extension?

[ConservatoryHell]

So we’ve currently got a very old conservatory which is the standard, too hot in summer too cold in winter. It sits off the back of our lounge and is a bit of dumping ground.

We would like to make it into a usable space and are wondering between an orangery or a conversion. A builder we have spoken to has said they would have similarish costs to build.

We are thinking orangery to allow more light into the lounge, however I am concerned the same issues of too hot or too cold could happen because of all the glass.

What would you do? Anyone with an orangery? Any advice?

TIA

Friend of ours has a very beautiful orangery, not huge, all brick walls but beautiful glass roof.
But, it’s always either freezing or boiling and she’s swap for a solid roof any day.

Extension with lots of windows.

Do you need more space? Why are you thinking of adding onto your lounge. What I see is people stop using one room and move into the new one, so they don't gain anything.

Extension with skylights and big windows

Another one with extension with loads of Velux and sliding doors or French doors. Built to full building regs...will be warm in winter and nice temp in summer. Adds value to the house unlike a conservatory or orangery which is life limited.

Extension, hands down. You need a space you can control the temperature like the rest of the house otherwise its not usable space.

Depends on where you are and what direction you face. Relative built a stunning extension with a huge glass lantern ceiling and wall to wall glass foors (so very much like an orangery) on a South facing house and ended up having to install air conditioning so that they could use the room in the summer (and then they have to whack up the heating in the winter).

We’re just replacing our conservatory with an extension - bifolds at the front into the garden, a door on one side, a window on the other side and 2 skylights. It’s only small and will be knocked into a much darker dining room to make a larger space instead of a plastic box stuck on the side. Hopefully!

We've put an extension in with glass sliding doors to the garden and 2 lantern rooflights. I think it will get hot in summer but we put opening windows in above the sliding doors. But it can't get anywhere near as hot as the consevatory it replaced. Unusable in summer, freezing in winter and incredibly noisy in the rain.

When I got rid of my conservatory I thought about an orangery but quickly changed my mind when I looked into the problems flat roofs can cause. I went for an extension with a beautiful sloped roof with huge velux windows and bi-fold doors into the garden. It's absolutely fabulous! Cosy in winter and cool in summer.

We spoke to a builder and he seemed to really push for orangery- are they easier to build?! Seemed old he had such strong feelings.

Thanks for all the replies. Perhaps extension is the way to go? It makes me wonder why people go for orangeries….

Are you looking for more house, or a warmer bigger patio...?

Orange ties and conservatories are great if you’re looking to extend when you use your garden...If you want more internal house space, then you’d be better with an extension (usually!).

Extension with a glazed gable and bifolds / sliding doors & skylights should give you more light than an orangery if done correctly

Get an architect involved and they can come up with ideas to maximise light and add architectural interest.

Thanks all for your comments and advice.

To be honest I am starting to get a bit confused with the difference between an orangery and an extension with a roof lantern. Can anyone explain what the difference is? I always thought that would be an orangery, but think I might be wrong! Getting lost and confused googling this! Thanks!!!

A proper extension could be called an Orangery depending on design. However, a fancy conservatory can also be called an orangery as well.

The key one is design. Does it have full spec foundations and not just a lightweight slap to sit on. Are there proper walls or columns to support the roof. Critically, does it require building regs approval and one factor is that if not, then you are now allowed to remove the external house doors that open into it...or you have to install external doors.

Frankly, get a proper extension, with building regs and insulation standards, heated but if you want a lot of glass then so be it but remember and check out which way the sun is at key points if the day, and will it still be usable.

Yes an orangery is easier, quicker and cheaper for a builder. Especially at the moment with lots of materials harder to source than they should be.

Builder is looking for easy £££.

Don't go on what they say alone for this reason.

Extension with roof windows and lots of windows/ bi fold/ french doors whatever

Isn't an orangery just a fancy conservatory that still gets too hot in summer and too cold in winter. I would definitely do an extension sloping roof and velux. I would also consider changing builders