How much to add a conservatory like this? (With house pics)

[tailfeathershaker]

In the process of buying this house and we want to add space to the kitchen, also would like to keep the room at the front and not knock the two through. We don't have the budget for a full on extension so would adding a conversation with dwarf walls be a cheaper option or is it similar cost to as extension. We're in the south east if that's relevant. Any recently done an extension? Would be around 3x3m so not huge and we'd go upvc (although I'm hoping we can get one in a dark grey or green colour not the white options)

Just to warn everyone that bifold doors are particularly prone to draughts and also to leaking. I work in this field, calculating heat losses and assessing U-values, and have worked on various bespoke high-end builds over the last ten years or so where bi-folds were used. They are not good from a heat retention pov. All those hinges and seals are vulnerable, the tracking leaks into the house and heat escapes. I've already seen several sets remove and replaced with large sliding panels.

We have a lovely garden room with 2 sides of glass but a tiled roof so it doesn't get too hot in summer. It can get cold in winter if there is no sun to warm it up so on those days we use an oil filled radiator. We love it and use it as a dining room, reading room and generally do as much as we can in there.

you could do an extension with bi-fold doors to the garden and a roof lantern.

i would get quotes and see what the cost differences would be. If need be wait a few years and do a good quality extension or conservatory in a few years that you will truly love.

I doubt there's a huge difference in price between a conservatory and an extension. Our conservatory was unbearably hot in summer and freezing in winter but it is huge (7m x 7m) so we've had a roof put on and it is now so much better. Get some quotes for a proper extension with a roof light in instead....like an orangery type thing.

and you would have to have dividing doors between it and the existing house

I think the amount that a conservatory gets heated depends on the direction it's facing. Our small one is west facing, so coolish in the morning, and in the afternoon we open the linking doors into the house to benefit from thermal gain. We've put muslin drapes across the roof to reduce heat and glare in the height of summer. Winter we just don't go out there apart from drying washing. By the way we love it and wouldn't want to convert it. It's a lovely bright room to sit in and listen to the birds.

I think we'll have to go back for a viewing and meet with a builder to get some options and costs

A few years ago we priced up a 3x3m conservatory with a solid roof and one solid side I think. It came in at 30k but we did go upper spec. However they said we needed to keep the patio doors. This was 2018 in hampshire. Not sure where prices would be now

We moved instead btw, because our biggest issue besides a second living space was a second loo and there was no way we could add one in without considerable cost, so I can't comment on how efficient it would be but the company we consulted (local window / door place with excellent reputation) said they were by far the most efficient option and made the space usable all year round.

We have corner bifolds in our snug, so about a quarter of the walls are bifolds, 2 internal walls and two external. It's a bit chilly but not too bad, does get pleasantly warm in the summer but it gets full sun all day.
It's far better than any conservatory I've been in

I live in quite a small house and our conservatory is very much an integral part of our living.

I'll apologise in advance as I have no idea of the proper terms. But basically one side has no glass, just UPVC panels (?) and the roof is UPVC but not entirely transparent so there's a bit of protection there. Our garden is roughly north-facing though - might be different if you face the south.

It does get quite warm but if you open the doors, it's lovely and airy. We have a radiator and so it doesn't really get too cold either. In the past we had a move around and used it as the main living room for a while.

I bought my house with the conservatory attached but I would get another conservatory again in a heartbeat.

The conservatory. England's contribution to architecture

I had friends who had to pull out of a house purchase as the owners had built a kitchen into a conservatory and the banks refused to mortgage it. They tried 3 separate banks and they all refused. Maybe look in to turning one of the reception rooms into a kitchen then if your mil does need to come stay, you could have saved up enough for an extension/annexe for her to live in.

We are in the process of getting a single storey extension done to make the kitchen into a big dining/family room. All in it will probably cost about £28k but that includes the bifold doors (not corner ones), 2 velux windows and the new flooring. Considered an extension but for a bit more money I would go for an extension everytime.

We had a conservatory put on about 3 years ago, we love it, its the best room in the house, only small, 12 by 10 foot. We have solar blue glass in the roof and 2 full glass sides, one brick side with windows at the top and the other side is the old back wall of the house. Theres a door to the kitchen

We have an oil filled radiator in there for winter, we only turn it on when we need it and it doesnt get too hot in summer but it does get bright so Im just making a small sail for the roof to put up for mid summer. Most of the time I love looking at the sky out there.

Not a normal option but what about a shed type extension all kitted out similar way people do man caves but for cooking and dining in, with a tunnel entrance running off the back door ?

@Littlepixie85 that price is reassuring to hear, are you in the south too? I don't know if building costs are regional or not?!
We've also considered whether to look into getting a big built on to join the existing back of the house to the brick garage as we won't use the garage for a car or anything and all garden bits/bikes can go in the shed. Although it might end up an odd L shape.
Worst case we thought we can knock through then at a later date change the garage into a home office/guest room, it looks fairly solid brick but who knows!

We had a conservatory in our old house and had full, floor to ceiling brick walls so glass was only across one end with the double doors so it felt like an extension. Just get the best roof glass you can (blue tinted if south facing). We used it as a play room then dining room as dc grew older and used it daily. Modern conservatories are much better insulated.

We've just upgraded our conservatory with blue tinted solar glass. The difference is amazing, compared to the old standard glass. Sitting in it yesterday, with the sun full on it, it was still cool. Will retain heat in the winter too. We have always used our conservatory winter and summer. We do have radiators in there, a piano, a TV, so it gets used a lot. Even before the glass was done, there were very few days when we couldn't use it fully.

I am sitting in our Edwardian conservatory and am thinking your house is similar too ours .
We had ours built and it is attached too our kitchen .
We genuinely havnt had the problems that other pp have given.
We have a radiator and it is furnished with proper living room furniture.
It’s used all the year round as a second reception room and dining room at Christmas etc .
Husband sits in it in the evenings watching his ( boring) programs!
It was built about 7 years ago and cost approximately £50 K .
Not sure what the exact size is but am guessing about 3x3 m .

Gosh - these prices seem a lot. Op I recommend doing a proper comparison with a single floor extension

When we bought our house, it had a cheap, lean-to conservatory on in exactly the position you are considering. Over time we decided to upgrade, but couldn't afford a "proper" extension. So we replaced the old conservatory with a new spec one. Solar glass etc. It's south facing and 5m x 4m.
In summer, if the windows are shut it's cooler in there than it is outside, which shows the glass is working. In winter we use the one radiator, and it's warm enough. In spring and autumn it helps warm up downstairs rooms without paying for heating.

Whilst it's not my choice aesthetically it was a £££ compromise, and we just don't find the problem of it being too hot / too cold etc. It's definitely the room we spend most time in - all year round.

I had to check the date wasn't 2002 then. I'm assuming this is a typo? Nowhere in this country will you get an extension for 28k... even without bifolds/flooring etc, etc. Unless you are going to drop feed that you're building it yourself?

*drip

If you are looking to future proof for a OAP look at the downstairs bathroom first. You should be looking to have a walk in shower with enough room for a wheelchair and 2 carers.

So I would price to extend the bathroom and kitchen across the back of the building.

Plan to add a door opening under the stairs leading to the backgarden reception room and a way to close off the 2 reception spaces from each other. If MIL is still active it allows her to access the back garden, have an internal public space for visitors without involving the rest of the house, and leaves you with a family only room beside the kitchen.

This also gives you the option to convert either it or the reception beside the kitchen into a bedroom.

I really recommend watching "your house made perfect" on iPlayer, they show some amazing alternatives to conservatories within all different budgets