Building a conservatory for a utility space?

OnTheLadder

Hi all, me and my partner have been living in our house for 7 months now. Although our kitchen is a decent size, we struggle without having space for a tumble dryer and dishwasher (first world problems, I know). We know people who have little lean to conservatories on the back of their kitchen and use this as a utility room and seems to work well.

We are therefore considering doing this ourselves. We're semi-detached. Thinking around 2m*3m, with our adjoining wall side having a full brick wall, the front of the conservatory having double french doors with dwarf wall and windows either side, and the other side having a 3/4 wall with windows at the top and glass roof. We'd have heating and lighting out there. Idea being the washing machine and tumble dryer can be up against the 3/4 wall and the remaining space maybe some nice storage. I've read a lot about how conservatories can feel really cold/really hot and people regretting having conservatories built (but not ones whose purpose were as utilities) and therefore I wanted to ask for some advice. Should we be looking at having an extension built instead of the conservatory? Considering we will only be using it for a utility room and possibly extra storage, the temperature isn't a huge concern - it's more the cost of a conservatory vs. extension and how this will affect our resale price (we don't plan on being here forever, maybe 5-10 years).

We're only young and little experience in making such big decisions (other than buying our house in the first place!) so any advice is greatly appreciated.

thescouselander

If you can afford it do it properly and build an extension. As you've said conservatories can be prone to significant temperature fluctuations and, since you intend to use the space for utilities, could become very damp in cold weather.

magn8p

I have seen a couple of houses in our locality that got sold recently where the kitchen opens into a conservatory without a proper separation. Somehow the prospective buyers think it's a great idea and some don't even know the difference between it and a proper extension.

To begin with building regulations demand that any conservatory must be separated using french doors or similar and heated should NOT be connected to the house's central heating - a lot of home owners with conservatories break these 2 rules.

While a proper extension is an ideal thing, conservatories aren't a bad idea when you play by the rules and use of good materials. It will also save cost to build when you don't intend to use the place throughout the year.

All the best.

OnTheLadder wrote: »

Hi all, me and my partner have been living in our house for 7 months now. Although our kitchen is a decent size, we struggle without having space for a tumble dryer and dishwasher (first world problems, I know). We know people who have little lean to conservatories on the back of their kitchen and use this as a utility room and seems to work well.

We are therefore considering doing this ourselves. We're semi-detached. Thinking around 2m*3m, with our adjoining wall side having a full brick wall, the front of the conservatory having double french doors with dwarf wall and windows either side, and the other side having a 3/4 wall with windows at the top and glass roof. We'd have heating and lighting out there. Idea being the washing machine and tumble dryer can be up against the 3/4 wall and the remaining space maybe some nice storage. I've read a lot about how conservatories can feel really cold/really hot and people regretting having conservatories built (but not ones whose purpose were as utilities) and therefore I wanted to ask for some advice. Should we be looking at having an extension built instead of the conservatory? Considering we will only be using it for a utility room and possibly extra storage, the temperature isn't a huge concern - it's more the cost of a conservatory vs. extension and how this will affect our resale price (we don't plan on being here forever, maybe 5-10 years).

We're only young and little experience in making such big decisions (other than buying our house in the first place!) so any advice is greatly appreciated.

OnTheLadder

Thank you both for replies! Given us points to think about.

@magn8p - we had considered opening the kitchen into a conservatory but did find out building regulations restrictions and actually think, if we went with a conervatory, it would make the whole house cold because its fairly open plan. If we do keep the kitchen and prospective conservatory closed off (with our back door remaining in place), are we allowed heaters to be connected to the house's central heating? We had a conservatory company round this week who is including heating in the quote, and did not mention that this would need building regulations.

Doozergirl

OnTheLadder wrote: »

We had a conservatory company round this week who is including heating in the quote, and did not mention that this would need building regulations.

Why would they? They want to tell people what they want to hear. Conservatories are not supposed to be habitable rooms, but that’s ultimately what people want.

I’m not convinced that a room with a lot of windows is the right design for what is essentailly a utility if youMre talking about washing and storage. You want to shut the door and leave it, not see it through windows from inside and outside.

magn8p

Agree with Doozergirl, don't take anything the marketing people say seriously.

Central heating can only be installed in habitable rooms and conservatory isn't considered to be one. Having said that the glasses and other materials used to build conservatories are getting better and as a result of that conservatories aren't as cold as they used to be.

Separate it from the main building using french doors, install underfloor heating like http://amzn.to/2iIep3c which is slightly expensive but evenly heats the place or go for something cheaper like the oil filled electric heaters like http://amzn.to/2hoAF5J and then you are alright.

An extension costs about £1000 per square metre but is worth every penny. So compare it with the best conservatory quote you get and then make a decision.

OnTheLadder

You're probably right Doozergirl, hadn't thought of it from that perspective so thank you.

We're just trying to think of an affordable way to get a bit more space - currently, washing hangs in our spare room/living room and can take days to dry and gets in the way of life.

Will look into cost of extension vs. conservatory. Maybe it's worth waiting a while longer for the extension...

Davesnave

A utility conservatory won't add much if any value to your property, although it might make the kitchen feel more spacious.

Therefore, go for the extension option if you can, but consider what light you'll lose, especially if this elevation faces towards north. Velux roof lights can help.

It's a delicate balance of cost, convenience and potential pay-back, so do plenty of homework with costings.

moneyistooshorttomention

following....as I'm thinking along same lines.

Davesnave

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

following....as I'm thinking along same lines.

You're in a bungalow, so may have fewer options, as roof pitch for tiles may be unattainable, unless it's sited on a gable wall.

PhilE

Do yourself a big favor and get a proper extension built, if possible.

Value to your house, don't have to be concrned about it deteriorating within 10 years or less.

If your going to have a conservatory, at least get proper foundations and plan rainwater drainage properly.