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How Wooden Conservatories Add Value To My Home?

Wooden conservatories does not only offer a bright and exciting way to increase both your entertainment and living space, but can also go a long to add immense value to your home. If you recruit master craftsmen to utilize superior quality wooden materials to build your conservatory, it can boost the value of your property by 5 percent - ranging between £13,000 to £15,000.

Like many other construction projects, the amount of value that’ll be generated by a wooden conservatory depends largely on the quality of the materials and construction utilized. A higher quality wood like an Oak or Iroko will definitely add a greater value to your home than woods of a lesser quality.

Below are some good points you can put to use to ensure you get the best return on investment.

• Do not alter your home’s style

If you have a modern home, building a traditional conservatory would not only make your home have an inconsistent appearance, but also reduce its value. Ensure that your wooden conservatory has a similar style to your home to derive maximum value.

• A great looking and professionally done wooden conservatory equals a great value

To maximize the possible benefits from your wooden conservatory, it is essential to use a reputable company with a fantastic portfolio.

• Strike a balance between garden space and your conservatory size

A big or moderate outdoor space is just as valuable as your wooden conservatory. So when building your conservatory, do ensure to take the outdoor space into consideration, as a little garden space can imply a negative ROI.

• Consult a local estate agent

The size, style and construction of your wooden conservatory can greatly impact its value. A local estate agent can assist you to determine the potential ROI.

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When you build a new wood-constructed conservatory, or any type of conservatory, you’ll need to dig a trench for the footings. You’ll need to dig to a minimum depth of 600mm and at least 300mm below your property’s damp proof course. When you dig down, you might expose obstacles such as underground pipes.

If this happens, you’ll need lintels for your wood-constructed conservatory. These are usually concrete and protect the pipes or obstructions from being crushed. You may also want to use steel mesh for additional support.

Building Regulations state that if an opening is formed in a wall, the structure above the opening needs to be supported. This will be especially relevant if you’re building a wooden lean-to conservatory. It says that there are two ways that you can use lintels to provide support.

The first way involves using a steel lintel to support both the inner and outer leaf of a cavity wall. It can then serve as a cavity tray that directs moisture from the cavity through the outer skin of the wall as well.

The second way to use lintels is to use two steel or concrete lintels. They support each leaf of a cavity wall construction. You’ll need separate thermal insulation and a cavity tray as well.

Whatever type of lintel you use, it should have a suitable bearing onto the wall at each side. If you’re not sure, speak to the manufacturer of your wood-constructed conservatory, or ask a reputable company to install it for you.

What Is The Difference Between A Conservatory And An Orangery?

If you’re looking to build an extension for your home, one of the first things that comes to mind is the type of structure that would best suit your property. When it comes to glass extensions there are two major varieties which includes the traditional conservatory and the orangery, but there are usually a lot of confusion over the differences of these two varieties. With the growth in popularity of glazed extensions, the differences between the two structures are becoming more and more thin. However, the main difference between a conservatory and an orangery is the number of glass incorporated. Conservatories are fully glazed structures featuring a low brick base wall, meanwhile orangeries are grand brick structures with with glazed roofs. But as a result of innovations of over the years in glazing, the difference has changed a bit.

Here are some of the major differences between a conservatory and an orangery.

✓ Orangeries are generally best suited to traditional-styled homes or with older property making use of matching stone or brick in construction. Meanwhile for a more recent or modern property, a conservatory will be the better option to add the flair to your property.

✓ Conservatories tend to be larger than orangeries, therefore if you want a smaller extension, an orangery would be your best bet.

✓ Orangeries are typically rectangular in shape and is traditionally a more regular building meanwhile a conservatory can be shaped to suit your needs. With an conservatory, you can get a T-shaped, L-shaped, curved, double ended and lean-to extensions to suit your preference.

✓ An orangery usually possess a flat roof at the edges with a glazed lantern section right at the centre. You can also find more luxurious orangeries having two or more lantern sections. However, when it comes to the roofing, conservatories generally have more options. Some are gabled or pitched, others are lean-to with a plethora of choice to finish off the roof.

Do You Need Planning Permission For A Conservatory?

Adding a conservatory to your home or property comes with a whole lot of benefits. It provides you with the much needed additional living space within your property, add value to your home and creates a link between your home and garden. As advantageous as it is, one of the major reasons why some homeowners decide against constructing a new conservatory is because of planning permission. If you don’t know what you’re doing the entire process can be very tedious and you definitely do not want to go through the stress of completing your remarkable new conservatory, only to be instructed to have it removed again.

Therefore, as a homeowner, you have the responsibility to seek planning permission before you undergo such construction project and that’s more than enough to make some people reconsider the whole project. In this article, we’ll let you know whether you’ll need to apply for a planning permission.

Generally, conservatories falls into the category of permitted development rights which allows you to complete home building projects without having to apply for a planning permission. However, there are some circumstances where you’ll require a planning permission. These includes:

✓ If the conservatory covers more than 50 percent of the land around the main house.

✓ If the conservatory will be placed on the side of the house that faces the road.

✓ If the conservatory will be higher than the highest point of the main building’s roof.

✓ If the main building is lower than the height of the eaves and ridge.

✓ If the conservatory will be constructed to the side of the house and more than a single storey or it goes higher than 4 metres.

✓ If the conservatory will be wider than the width of the main building, if it’s to be built beside it.

✓ If the conservatory will be constructed at the rear and higher than 4 metres.

Many conservatories fall under permitted development which means they don’t require planning permission. There are exceptions to this though, especially if you’re looking to have a large conservatory installed. Read our guide on conservatory planning permission for more information.

If you’ve ever looked into different types of conservatories, you’ll see that wooden conservatories are not the cheapest. However, that’s not a reason to dismiss them as an option for your home.

Wooden conservatories can cost anywhere between £15,000 to £60,000. While this may seem expensive, they are often a much classier option for your home and are ideal for period homes and those in a conservation area where uPVC might not be permitted.

If you choose a hardwood conservatory, you could see your conservatory last over 15 years. Most uPVC conservatories will only last around this time, and as they get old they can look shabby; it’s common for the frames to discolour in the sun. With good maintenance, wooden conservatories can look fabulous for years. Wood naturally retains heat too, so ensure that you use low-e internal glass which reflects heat back into the room and you’ll have as warm a conservatory as any.

When you weigh up all of the pros and cons of uPVC conservatories compared with wooden ones, you might come to the conclusion that wooden conservatories aren’t that expensive when it boils down to it. Although the initial cost is higher, you’ll get a better-looking conservatory that works with both modern and period properties and will look elegant and tasteful for years to come.

How Much Is A Conservatory?

If you’re looking to install a conservatory in your home or property, one of the first things you’d have to consider is the cost of getting it done so you can set a budget and start planning. In this article, we’ll give you an idea of how much a conservatory price is, so you can have a rough estimate for your unique conservatory requirements.

Generally, the average cost of conservatory can be within the range of £5000 to £20000 and of course this depends on both the design and home. There are a number of influencing factors that can play a key role when it comes to determining how much you’ll be paying for your conservatory. Some of these factors include the size, style, material, colour as well as the roof type. All of these factors can greatly determine the overall price of your conservatory, so you’d most likely have to approach the acquisition process as a multi-staged concept so as to get the perfect fit for your home in every level.

So with these factors in mind, a lean to conservatory style with a polycarbonate roof material will range between £8100 to £11900. A Victorian conservatory with a polycarbonate roof material will range between £9600 to £14200. While their Edwardian and Gable counterparts will also cost within a range of £9600 to £14200 for either style.

A lean to conservatory style with a glass roof material will range between £9000 to £13200. A Victorian conservatory with a polycarbonate roof material will range between £11000 to £16200. While their Edwardian and Gable counterparts will also cost within a range of £11000 to £16200 for either style.

There are several reasons why an aluminium conservatory installation is a great way to expand your home.

Firstly, it’s strong and durable. This means that as well as providing you with a conservatory that’s more secure, this frame material will also last longer and cope with harsher weathering that wooden or uPVC conservatories.

Aluminium also offers more design possibilities. It can be bent into custom shapes, making it ideal if you want to create a unique, stylish home extension. It comes in a wide range of colours, so you can coordinate it with your existing property.

An aluminium conservatory installation can also help you maximise light in your home. They have very thin frames compared to wood and uPVC, so they’re a great choice if you want to let in as much daylight as possible.