Conservatory

Annieuk75

We are quite squashed in a small 2 bed bungalow, with 2 children - a boy and a girl. We thought the best idea would be to have the bedroom as a room to sleep and have a conservatory as a playroom for all their toys. How much roughly would I be looking at? Thanks

ed110220

Annieuk75 wrote: »

We are quite squashed in a small 2 bed bungalow, with 2 children - a boy and a girl. We thought the best idea would be to have the bedroom as a room to sleep and have a conservatory as a playroom for all their toys. How much roughly would I be looking at? Thanks

Can't say how much it would be, but I wouldn't think it will be suitable as conservatories tend to get very cold in winter. A conservatory is best used when the weather is OK (in bright sunshine it will need shading or it will get too hot).

SuzieSue

ed110220 wrote: »

Can't say how much it would be, but I wouldn't think it will be suitable as conservatories tend to get very cold in winter. A conservatory is best used when the weather is OK (in bright sunshine it will need shading or it will get too hot).

Agreed, depending on which way your garden faces, you will only be able to use it between March and October. The rest of the time it will be too cold unless you want to spend a fortune heating it. If your garden is south-facing, it will probably be too hot in the summer.

SuzieSue

Depending on the size and quality, you can pay anything from around £7k to £20k plus. Most are around £10k. You might find that a single story extension might not be much more expensive as they both need proper foundations.

Sgt_Pepper_2

About 8k same as a room of the same size.

Annieuk75

Thanks everyone, we only thought about a conservatory because we thought it would be the cheapest option. How much then would it be to get an extension? Thanks

Sgt_Pepper_2

Annieuk75 wrote: »

Thanks everyone, we only thought about a conservatory because we thought it would be the cheapest option. How much then would it be to get an extension? Thanks

Sgt_Pepper wrote: »

About 8k same as a room of the same size.

Anywhere upwards.

sillygoose

Well I use mine all year! it cost nearer £13K but is high quality and a good size with a high pitch glass roof and adds about 40% again to our living area. Its built so the flooring is exactly level with the lounge floor and has a sliding folding door (nearly £2K) between the lounge/conservatory that when folded back makes the rooms connected like open plan. It has underfloor electric heating and there is a generous sized radiator in the lounge this is turned up a bit extra. The conservatory is 20 degrees like the rest of the house any weather. Although if its not being used for a while it is closed off and the heating off.

Fortunately its East/West so can be hot in the mornings but not so opening an outside door doesn't sort it, its then shaded by the house so is fine. The glass is all solar blocking.

We have a large L-shaped sofa in there and I am writing this on my notebook looking up at the night sky in the conservatory now.

My point is if you want to do it, it can work with the right planning.

Arfa__

Similar to SillyGoose, we use our conservatory year round, as dining room/kids playroom. Its 4m x 4.2m, one side 3/4 height side wall, decent blue glass roof, big radiator off central heating and sky light. Cost about £13K ish (can't remember exactly, as we got a few windows replaced at same time).

We're in East London, with the conservatory East facing. Last winter it was a bit chilly, supplemented the radiator with a 3K electric heater, which made it useable. But then last winter was crazy cold. Been fine throughout this winter, gets nicely warm in the mornings. Biggest problem this winter has been condensation, have to leave a couple of windows locked ajar, to let moisture out. We ditched the door between house and conservatory over the summer (I know, against building regs), but haven't missed it over winter. The 3/4 wall helps keep heat in. In hindsight, underfloor heating or a second radiator would make it really cosy in winter, but its definitely useable as is.

In summer it can get warm, definitely recommend the sky light, really helps get the hot air out.

Either way, don't dismiss it too quickly. Sure, it won't be as good as a proper extension, but it will be much cheaper, and can certainly be a workable solution.

Alan_M_2

Don't discount a loft conversion, they can liberate a tremendous amount of space in bungalows depedning on roof shape, you may even end up with two upstairs rooms.

Annieuk75

We thought about a loft conversion, only problem is, they have found an asbestos flue in our loft and they may have to seal the loft. We are renting as well. X