Orangery cost

Furts

halogen wrote: »

I'm struggling to even get a quote for a conservatory/orangery. Everest, Anglian ( who I booked visits from) never showed up and the only local builder never even replied.

I could buy the kit for what I want at Homebase for £3000 but I simply can't find anyone to build it and do the plans the council will need. I'm finding it very frustrating


As for what type of oranges- my thing is actully lemons. :-) growing citrus plants is exactly why I want a conservatory.

Reputable builders, and reputable contractors, are not going to be interested in conservatories or those with the modern trendy term of "orangery". Which leaves the market wide open to bodgers, cowboys and the likes of Everest, Anglian and Safestyle.

You mention buying a kit from Homebase. Here I wish you well because there is close to zero chance that any contractor will entertain getting involved.

Now face glaring realities. If you wish to grow lemons then do the obvious. Seek a glasshouse, or an agricultural building, and you will find contractors do exist to meet your needs.

Seek a "conservatory" and by definition you are seeking unregulated work that you are accepting will be bodged. Which means reputable contractors are not interested.

Gloomendoom

halogen wrote: »

I could buy the kit for what I want at Homebase for £3000 but I simply can't find anyone to build it and do the plans the council will need. I'm finding it very frustrating

I drew my own plans. In the dim and distant past, I used to work in a drawing office so not really outside my comfort zone.

Some of the applications I looked at for guidance were very simply drawn, particularly ones from nationally known conservatory companies. Certainly doable by an enthusiastic amateur.

Bimbly

Bifold doors...

Slinky wrote: »

I struggle to see the practicalities of these also. We have a pair of French doors into our sunroom, and usually open just one of them and can get a lot of insects coming in. They seem a lot of expense for the limited amount of time you could realistically have them wide open in this cold windy country.

I had bifold doors installed in September. They are the best thing! They bring so much light into the room and, in the winter, give a great view of the garden.

But it's when the weather improves that they come into their own. It's 23rd May and I've had them fully open 4 or 5 times already. No insect issues, as the insects mostly aren't interested in coming inside (certainly no worse than just opening a window). Just brilliant.

The doors are south facing and this makes a difference. I also have an awing outside to shade the house as sun hitting the glass can be very hot. This also allows me to sit in the shade on a sunny day with the doors fully open.

What was there before were sliding patio doors and it was just awful because half the glass area could never be opened and the heat was horrible. French doors would have been an improvement, but I opened up the back with the bifolds. They really are brilliant and visitors have been jealous.

Sorry, slightly off topic, there. I can't comment on orangeries, but I've observed some people with conservatories lose their access to the garden from the main house and it can make the main part of the building dark. It depends on the design of your house. A friend has the conservatory off the dining room while the lounge has French doors into the garden which is the best of both worlds. But she's fortunate the design of her house has two downstairs rooms which open onto the back (unlike mine / many house(s)).

Davesnave

Bimbly wrote: »

Bifold doors...
No insect issues, as the insects mostly aren't interested in coming inside (certainly no worse than just opening a window). Just brilliant.

Sadly, there is a dearth of insects in many places, though not where I live. They're therefore a consideration which some people ought to bear in mind.

halogen

Furts wrote: »

Now face glaring realities. If you wish to grow lemons then do the obvious. Seek a glasshouse, or an agricultural building, and you will find contractors do exist to meet your needs.

Seek a "conservatory" and by definition you are seeking unregulated work that you are accepting will be bodged. Which means reputable contractors are not interested.

I have a greenhouse already and no garden room for an 'agricultrual building'. I was hoping NOT to buy from everest etc, I was simply disparing about them not showing up.


You seem very negative about conservatories. it's just an extension made of glass...or a greenhouse connected to the house.

Aylesbury_Duck

halogen wrote: »

You seem very negative about conservatories. [STRIKE]it's just an extension made of glass..[/STRIKE].or a greenhouse connected to the house.

It's the latter.

UncleZen

just to clarify any confusion about orangeries and conservatories which some people on here think are the same:


Orangery construction is < 75% glazed

Conservatory construction is >75% glazed and must have a glass roof.

Aylesbury_Duck

UncleZen wrote: »

just to clarify any confusion about orangeries and conservatories which some people on here think are the same:


Orangery construction is < 75% glazed - so my kitchen extension is an orangery? Damn. I better get planting.

Conservatory construction is >75% glazed and must have a glass roof.

Just to clarify any confusion about orangeries and conservatories.

A conservatory is a cheap, medium term extension to a house, mostly glazed.

An orangery is a structure for housing and growing fruit trees. It has recently become a pretentious descriptor of an extension with a skylight.

System

UncleZen wrote: »

just to clarify any confusion about orangeries and conservatories which some people on here think are the same:


Orangery construction is < 75% glazed

Conservatory construction is >75% glazed and must have a glass roof.

that definition doesn't apply anymore

AndyMc.....

UncleZen wrote: »

just to clarify any confusion about orangeries and conservatories which some people on here think are the same:


Orangery construction is < 75% glazed

Conservatory construction is >75% glazed and must have a glass roof.

So what are those upvc things on the back of people’s homes? You know the ones with dwarf walls, plastic windows, a patio door and a polycarbonate roof.