Conservatory queries

WhatKatyDid_2

Apologies if this isn't quite the right place to post...

I am in the process of buying my house & want to add a conservatory. (As a single parent I am on a budget!) I would like this to be a kitchen/diner.

I have been looking on the internet & seem to be able to get something around 14' wide x 10'-12' deep for around £5000 by buying that way. I want to have one full height wall so that I can incorporate a kitchen into this new space.

Does anyone have any remote vaguest idea how much I would be looking at for building costs...??! (I'm sure once someone said allow the same amount again, ie £5k, but don't know & don't want to get totally ripped off or underestimate). It would be to do basework, dwarf wall for 3 sides, full height wall for the other side. And would I need to get a plumber/electrician in to work alongside the installer so that the basic pipework/electrics were in place once I was then ready to go ahead & get kitchen units fitted?? (this would be at a later date to the installation).

Sorry if this sounds a bit thick, but I don't want to get this wrong & waste several thousand pounds, but nor can I afford to just have it all done in one go.... No idea of the best way to approach it really

Grumps

Unless it was on a North facing wall then I would seriously doubt it being a viable proposition. Conservatory roofs lose a lot of heat in the Winter, and do you really facing cooking meals in there in the height of Summer. Opening the doors/windows is fine, but attracts flies. And as you are no doubt looking at UPVC, you've also got to consider fire risk/damage and, being a cooking area, you would be forever cleaning the insides of the glass and roof.

And would it increase the value of the property? I would suggest that it could make it less saleable. Not many people are happy to partake of their culinary habits whilst overlooked by neighbours.

Without intending to be flippant, if you are contemplating a 'modular' solution, then consider a shipping container. I've not had any experience of them but, windows, doors could be cut wherever necessary. The inside can be thermally lined, and then external brickwork and a pitched roof can be added as finances permit.

A 20' container would be 2.5 metres wide, which would be roughly the size that you are considering.

I'm not sure if that helps, but I'd certainly think long and hard about the conservatory option.

woodbutcher_2

B&Q do conservatories that can be built by the diyer on a budget.Modular bases and walls can be bought all in and the prices are reasonable.Never put one up or seen one but if money is tight they may be worth a look.

woodbutcher_2

Incidentally,the cost of a base shouldn't be anywhere near 5 thousand.

Cypher

I agree with Grumps.

I would seriously reconsider using a conservatory as a main part of the house. We had one built last summer with the intention of it being our main living room. Trouble is its way to hot in the summer, too cold at night and in the winter. Noisey as hell when it rains, and so bright on sunny days you can't see the TV. and the flies, its like a magnet for flies.

Planning Permission wise I would also doubt it would be "legal" (may be the wrong word). A conservatory is classed as an outbuilding I think, I know we had issues with ours. We did need planning permission for ours due to already having an extension. We wanted ours to be open plan into the house, but as it was classed as an out building we were told we had to have external doors fitted between the house and the conservatory, we were also told we couldn't fit a radiator in the conservatory as it wasn't part of the main house. We did end up doing it later as it was so cold in there at night, but as it does get cold in the winter nights there is a risk of the pipes freezing.

Moving a kitchen into a conservatory just doesn't seem feasible to me.

I'd build an extension if I were in your shoes.

HugoSP

For £10k you could get a reasonable single story extension I would have thought.

If you seriously want light coming though the roof consider roof lights. Plus some nice french doors wouldn't go amis.

deanos

I can recomend http://redbrookconservatories.com/ for getting a conservatory, my story is below

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=85379

We use it as a playroom and it was a godsend, bit of advice if you do get a conservatory put as many opening windows in as you can you can never have enough and add a roofvent this gets rids of the heat in the summer and makes it bearable or you could consider a built in air conditioner.

WhatKatyDid_2

Thanks all for advice so far. Definitely don't like the shipping container idea though.... but great creative thinking.

Was mulling it over during the night (insomniacs rule) and wondering if an extension would end up costing about the same (or within a couple of thousand). Think that may be a far better bet; just initially thought it would be way way above my budget.... So, where to start, how to start?? If I employ a builder (after having had a few quotes obviously!) do they do everything - who plans it (although it's going to be one rectangular room!), do they deal with electrics....etc etc?? Any suggestions on how to start planning/researching this (hopefully with work to start late spring/early summer) would be much appreciated.

Cypher

Get a couple of local builders in to give you quote's first and ask what they would do.

Then you will probably need to get plans drawn up and submitted for planning permission. This doesn't cost a lot I think it was £200-250 for ours, including the architect fees and planning application. The builder will probably be able to help you with this as well as he will know reliable people to ask, he may even do it all for you.

Bambam

We have a conservatory but for conventional use - not a good move. As people have said, cold in the winter, too hot in the summer and very noisy when it rains. If you have an integral garage why not go for a conversion instead? Wish we had done that.

OddjobKIA

Some posters are saying that their conservatories are noisy in the rain, There are a few options having a glass roof instead of plastic is the cheapest.

Also on my old house we had an extension that ran the full width of the house it. Had a tiled roof a wall up to your knees and windows all the way round. It had the benifits of conservatory ie more light garden living etc etc but the advantage of not having to worry about to much heat in summer cold in winter cleaning the roof after every 2 years. we used it as a dining room and computer room as it was about 20 foot long it it also created a circular route through downstairs from kitchen, dining room, living room, entrance hall, kitchen,