Conservatory Estimates and Options for First Timer

tomkap

Hi,
I am getting a new build home (near St Albans) and have plans to include add a conservatory to it. We are first time home buyers and of course, learning about conservatories as we go!

We are thinking of UPVC grey exterior lean-to conservatory with 4.5M width and 3M projection, and using self-cleaning blue glass for roof and double glazed frames. The side walls would be fully built up with - See attached the exact render image. We were planning to use the space for dining aroud the year and for that reason, will be adding a electric heater to the space.

Few questions I had were;
1. Would these glass options keep the space warm and cold?
2. What would one normally spend on this - full build i.e. including flooring, insulation, electrical work etc..
3. Would one need planning/building permit for this, if the land has permitted developments rights?

Thanks,
Tom

Silvertabby

Our conservatory is rounded, but has more brick than usual and so our brick to glass ratio is probably similar to yours.
Ours is east facing, which makes a difference to year round temperature.  We have a normal radiator fitted, and an additional oil filled electric rad keeps us toastie in the winter.  We use ours as a second lounge, but do indeed use it all year round.  Need the doors open on a hot day, though.

Can't comment on planning permission or cost, I'm afraid as ours was built some time ago.

As for 'self cleaning glass roof'.  Sorry, but that just means that bird droppings don't stick like glue - they dry in the sun, and are then washed away by the next heavy rain.  You still need to clean off the general dust and grime - Mr S has rigged up a Heath Robinson gizmo involving a soft brush and an extending pole, but it works !

tomkap

Silvertabby said:

Our conservatory is rounded, but has more brick than usual and so our brick to glass ratio is probably similar to yours.
Ours is east facing, which makes a difference to year round temperature.  We have a normal radiator fitted, and an additional oil filled electric rad keeps us toastie in the winter.  We use ours as a second lounge, but do indeed use it all year round.  Need the doors open on a hot day, though.

Can't comment on planning permission or cost, I'm afraid as ours was built some time ago.

As for 'self cleaning glass roof'.  Sorry, but that just means that bird droppings don't stick like glue - they dry in the sun, and are then washed away by the next heavy rain.  You still need to clean off the general dust and grime - Mr S has rigged up a Heath Robinson gizmo involving a soft brush and an extending pole, but it works !

Thanks for the detials here, definitely helpful! 
I am getting quotes ~£22K (only 2 so far) for the complete works and honestly, wasn't sure what is a good price. Any thoughts? 

Silvertabby

tomkap said:

Silvertabby said:

Our conservatory is rounded, but has more brick than usual and so our brick to glass ratio is probably similar to yours.
Ours is east facing, which makes a difference to year round temperature.  We have a normal radiator fitted, and an additional oil filled electric rad keeps us toastie in the winter.  We use ours as a second lounge, but do indeed use it all year round.  Need the doors open on a hot day, though.

Can't comment on planning permission or cost, I'm afraid as ours was built some time ago.

As for 'self cleaning glass roof'.  Sorry, but that just means that bird droppings don't stick like glue - they dry in the sun, and are then washed away by the next heavy rain.  You still need to clean off the general dust and grime - Mr S has rigged up a Heath Robinson gizmo involving a soft brush and an extending pole, but it works !

Thanks for the detials here, definitely helpful! 
I am getting quotes ~£22K (only 2 so far) for the complete works and honestly, wasn't sure what is a good price. Any thoughts? 

Based on what we paid (not London) if I really had to come up with a figure then I would have said at least £20K, so I wouldn't blink at £22K.
Make sure you get decent foundations, though.   Ours were dug out with a mini digger, hard core and cement laid, and left to dry for a couple of weeks before building began.  Our conservatory is rock solid, with no signs of pulling away from the house.  Unlike some conservatories built on quick and cheap foundations.

Rosa_Damascena

Having bought a new build 20 years ago, I remember having to seek permission from the developer to make any changes outside of the covenant for the first 5 years. This included permission to erect a garden shed.

If you're going to have work done, make the conservatory as big as possible (I think the limits are 4m to the boundary without blocking your neighbour's line of sight, but check). And plan ahead by making sure the foundations are deep enough for a double storey structure. This will add to the cost now but could save you a small fortune later.

tomkap

Rosa_Damascena said:

Having bought a new build 20 years ago, I remember having to seek permission from the developer to make any changes outside of the covenant for the first 5 years. This included permission to erect a garden shed.

If you're going to have work done, make the conservatory as big as possible (I think the limits are 4m to the boundary without blocking your neighbour's line of sight, but check). And plan ahead by making sure the foundations are deep enough for a double storey structure. This will add to the cost now but could save you a small fortune later.

The rule seeking developers approval still stands and I am sorting this out now via my lawyers. 
Interesting you both bring up foundations. One of the quotes were from conservatoryland.com who has a very different approach to foundation compared to others. Conservatory is built on a leveled steel frame, sitting on foundation concrete blocks. Wondering if anyone have any experience with approach? 

scottishblondie

When it came to the point of spending £20k+ on a conservatory, I would build a proper extension with a proper foundation.

TELLIT01

Self cleaning glass, as Silvertabby mentioned, does not mean you don't need to clean it manually.  It just means you have to clean it less often.  We use our conservatory year round, but have underfloor heating which we find very effective.

Silvertabby

scottishblondie said:

When it came to the point of spending £20k+ on a conservatory, I would build a proper extension with a proper foundation.

A solid roof may make the adjoining room too dark.

As for foundations, compare Conservatoryland's steel frame on blocks with our properly  dug out (full footprint ) hardcore and concrete foundations.

Forgot to mention that our conservatory builders didn't fit the flooring - we had real stone flags fitted later.  Again, they haven't moved or cracked, testament to the quality of the foundations.  

scottishblondie

Silvertabby said:
A solid roof may make the adjoining room too dark.

There are options other than a conservatory type roof, though.  We considered adding a conservatory type extension to our previous house (a new build townhouse), but after talking to the neighbours who had already done so we decided against it.  It was freezing in the winter and boiling when the sun shone on it.  They had removed the french doors into the kitchen/diner (after passing building regs) and seriously regretted not building a proper extension which wouldn't have cost much more.  Had we stayed, we planned to add a proper extension with glass bifolds across the back and a number of large skylights in the roof to throw light into the adjoining kitchen/diner.

-taff

An extension doesn't need a solid roof, and conservatories don't need proper foundations...I think I'd go with an extension rather than a conservatory unless you really it to use as a greenhouse...