Conservatory costs/hassle

diggingdude

Doozergirl wrote: »

Extensions of a similar size to the conservatory are very likely to fall under Permitted Development Rights. Permitted Development Rights on a modest terraced house probably cover the size limit of what is fair to the neighbours and the ceiling price, hence the lack of formal applications.

Thanks, its just a thought at the minute but the extra room would make a cheaper house work better. I am thinking the conservatory is affordable so would proceed on that footing and if a builder can get me an extension instead even better

seven-day-weekend

Silvertabby wrote: »

Ours has proper foundations, part brick/part glass walls, double layer glass roof and a radiator. It's east facing and, with an extra oil filled radiator in the coldest weather, is in constant use all year round.

Ours too is like this, we have an electric heater in there whose thermostat keeps it at a constant 15 in the winter . With the windows open it is not too hot in summer as it is built with a thermal glass roof. We use it as a dining room and will soon be using it for seven people at Christmas dinner. It's north facing but as it is on a bungalow, still gets light from the top.

It is 5m x 4m and cost £18k in 2015.

It's similar to this one:

https://www.wombourne-windows.co.uk/wp-content/gallery/wombourne-windows-orangerys/orangery-gallery-5.jpg

Davesnave

Just look at the loss of light if you go for a solid roof. Find ways to get around that.

As smallholders, we don't give a monkeys about the heat thing in summer, as we'll be outdoors or hiding in our cool kitchen/diner then, although we have 8m2 of openings if we really want them.

The best part of our conservatory is at this time of year when light levels are low + spring and autumn. Of course, there are days to shut the doors and forget it, but if we need the space we can still use it without doing more than running the woodburner harder. We've never heated it directly, even when it was -6c.

If you suffer from SAD you'll get what I'm saying, but avoid a cheapo conservatory at all costs. The roof might just be double glazed, but everything else should be as it is in a normal extension, especially foundations.