WWYD Extension/conservatory or move house

[Newbie2025]

Hello,

We are desperate for more space so weighing up our options of adding a single story extension , a conservatory (possibly with the supalite tiles so would have a solid roof) or just move.
We're in the north so house prices and building costs are manageable but any extension we do will cost more than the value it adds to the house however if we extend we would stay here longterm.
We really only need the extra space for a dining space and additional family space so a conservatory could work and the obvious attraction is the cost compared to an extension which is over double the cost of the cost of the conservatory however I see mixed reviews of whether conservatories are a waste of money as difficult to use year round.
Looking for any advice or experiences so help us make a decision.

That's been our dilemma, is the cost of the extension worth it for what we want to use it for?! But then again from advise on here I think the extension will be worth the cost in the end. I suppose if we go down the extension route then there's potential in the future to move the kitchen into the extension possibly, there's just so much to think about!
I just definitely can't face another house move unless absolutely necessary!
I just need a lottery win really 😅

Yes, I often think how a lottery win would solve so many problems!

For us it was an easyish decision as a) we didn't have the money for an extension (we were quoted £100k); b) the conservatory was already there when we moved in. We just had to replace the roof and windows and put underfloor in. It all took a week as opposed to 10+ for an extension.

If we'd had the money, we'd likely have extended the whole back of the house to fit in a utility room. But you can't have everything!

Incidentally, we now do have the money but are using it to do a loft extension as the downstairs actually works well for us as it is.

I would stay, and extend. You never know what you're getting when you move (building problems, neighbour problems, etc).

If you do extend, whatever the type, I would install underfloor heating. We did that in our kitchen when we moved it, with limestone tiles over it. We love it! The tiles extend into our larder and obvs that's not heated, and you can tell the difference in the floor immediately you tread on it ❄

Yes, underfloor heating is such a revelation - it’s amazing!

We added an orangery to a previous house. We wanted to remove the door between it and the main house to keep it open planned. It came under permitted development, but we had to get planning control to inspect it due to removing the door.

Do you have any man holes where you'd want to build it? If you don't then ignore the next bit.

We did which was a sewer pipe and 2 conservatory companies said we just needed a build over agreement. If it had just been sewer from our house, then yes, that is correct. BUT- it was the entire streets sewer, where each house drains into it a huge pipe and it passes behind all the houses. It was an absolute PITA and cost thousands extra. We had to get the sewer pipe routed around the conservatory which also took weeks more time. They had to dig down 6ft, permissions from the water board and so much more. We were too far in at that stage to pull out.

How old are the DC now? You may find the lack of space now is only a temporary issue.

Have you had a serious declutter , could new storage help out. This are definitely things to consider.

This is true and I have already had quite a bit done to the house to rectify the previous owners disastrous diy , i don't think I could face doing it again somewhere else.
Do you find the underfloor heating economical to run?

Yes - it’s wet rather than electric so the same as using radiators

We do have a drain unfortunately but if we only go 2.5m out then it will miss it but if we go to 3m then we will have to have it addressed and don't think it will be worth it for the cost for the extra .5m especially if that's the procedure to address them, i'm anything for an easy life 😅