Conservatory or extension?

[MissAtomicBomb1]

So we've just had a quote in to refub our old 3m x 3m conservatory. They'd pretty much be starting again.
It's coming in at 30k for a warm roof with 2x velux, new windows, sliding doors, plastered & electrics etc.

It seems a crazy amount of money for a non permanent solution?!

Has anyone had a similar sized single storey extension built recently? How much more do you think we'd looking at for a basic single storey extension?
Think we'd have to remortgage for that though which would take DH some persuading!

Conservatory is permanent isn't it? The difference is you can't connect it to the radiator system and you have to have an external door between it and the house.
The extra cost with extensions is they aren't just effectively a square box that's kind of pre designed and much of it is a kind of kit, also you have to have proper foundations and insulation. Also you don't have to worry about knock throughs or any effect on the existing house apart from maybe some electrical work.
But the difference in usability is huge, a conservatory is basically a box on the back that blocks out all your light, but a proper extension is a better house and space (if properly designed)
Personally I hate bolt on conservatories,I think they only make sense if the house is originally designed to have one in that position.

Thanks,
Yes ours is definitely cold & draughty hence wanting to upgrade. I think the usual lifespan is usually about 20-30 years, which I would say ours is. The new style ones possibly will last longer.
I certainly don't fancy replacing ing it again in my lifetime! I think an extension would definitely be a better bet, just not sure how much more to budget.

We discovered that we were only permitted to build an extension smaller than our current conservatory due to angles, drains etc.

So we are upgrading the roof and building a garden office instead....

An extension will cost more, but add more value. Lots of people don't like conservatories. I do, but am in the minority. If you intend to move at any point, it is worth considering. If thisnis your forever hone, do whatever you can afford that will get you the most use.

I would go for the extension over the conservatory and it will add more value when you come to sell! We had a conservatory built on our current home in the mid 90s, we demolished it and built an extension about 15 years ago now.

We’re buying a property (due to complete in weeks) and it has a conservatory that was built in 2001. We will be demolishing it in the spring next year and building an extension!

Depends on what type you go for but I’d budget about 50-80k….

Having similar issues to you OP. My thinking was way out, we’d budgeted 10k to upgrade the conservatory vs 30k for an extension, which we’d been looking at pre Covid, Now realise it’s 15k + just for the roof and our local builder has warned us we’d need to budget around 100k for an extension! Ours is 4m x 4m. We’re doing nothing for now, but ours has a radiator and roof etc is ok, although it’s also 30 years old.

I take it for a 16sqm extension for 100k you must be living in Holland Park. 😮

@Diyextension
We paid around £70k for 4m x 4m extension in Sussex 2 years ago! (A long way from Holland Park…)
The cost of living is crazy in the S/E, trades charge more than further north, because they also have their own bills, and endeavour to raise their own kids and keep a roof over their heads.
All sorts of individual items raise the cost, such as double depth foundations if you are near trees with TPO’s on them, or extra windows necessary if your house would be too dark without them, (owing to the orientation of your particular plot.)
We are really pleased we bit the bullet and took this route rather than a conservatory, however unless you have the skills/mates & save money in this way, cheap it isn’t…

It must be a seriously high spec or an extremely difficult build for it to be over 6 grand per sqm.

Not really, although the builder (his firm that is) is excellent and does work to high standards. He wasn’t quoting even to do it - just a friendly neighbour offering advice re expected budget.

And not Holland Park either - good ol’ leafy London commuter belt.

we are in between two minds whether to extend or go have a conservatory. But I fear the price of the extension for the value we’d be getting (not a big extension)

What do you want to use it for? An actual conservatory with plants and whatnot, or a general living space?

We had a single storey extension 3.5x3m approx, built last year for £38K. It is so much better than a conservatory as it is useable in the winter months

Extra living space. We only have a small lounge. The conservatory is a playroom at the moment (well, a dumping ground for toys!) It extends from the dining room to the garden. I'd like to use it as an extra sitting room, especially in summer when we can open the doors onto the patio. It would also mean we have a bit more entertaining space. It's always a bit of a squash if we have more than 4 people round!

Wow! That sounds like a great price! Where in the country are you? We're in the midlands.

We were able to build an extension for around the same cost as a similar sized conservatory.

However, DH did an awful lot of the work: dug out for footings (had to be done by hand because of access), dry walls & ceiling, wiring, fitting windows & doors, moving a radiator.

DH had been an electrician and still knew people in the building trade. The builder was quite happy to only be doing walls & roof leaving DH to finish off everything else.

The extension made a huge change. We have a 3 storey townhouse. Sitting room originally on the 1st floor but that had become DS' bedroom as the stairs were tricky for elderly relatives.

The extension is our sitting room, kitchen now extended into what was a dining area, seating area now our dining area.