Help deciding whether or not to replace conservatory??

Brilley

Hi all,

..just looking for some opinions please...

Background:- 20 odd years ago we added a conservatory to the back of our house. It is all wood, (too the floor), top 2/3rds glass, bottom 1/3rd wooden panel, with a traditional "plastic" roof. Usual problem, of too hot in summer and too cold in Winter...and it is now rotting away faster than I can repair it!

We are geting quotes to replace "like for like", but in plastic, possibly with a tiled roof. (This would mean we could (probably), keep the existing base?) 

Also considering the option to enlarge it with a proper dwarf wall and again either a tiled roof, or some of the latest "glass" roof that keeps the temperture down. (Would need a complete new base / foundations).

Problem is that we may well be looking to move in the next couple of years, so looking for the most cost effective / appealing option for a new buyer?

If we were statying then it would be a "no brainer" to build a larger / more solid "sun room".

NB A Nother suggestion has been to just knock it down and make the bse into a patio area??

Your thoughts would be welcome.

HouseMartin567

When I’ve been looking at houses I have been put off by ‘old’ conservatories, and in some cases it’s been a deal-breaker. Saw a house was a huge conservatory, the width of the whole house, but when I researched putting a proper roof on it, it would have been £15-20k.

So for me, I’d say update it with a proper roof. You’ll get the enjoyment for a few years, and it will make the property more attractive when you come to sell.

kinger101

I pretty much ruled out any house with a conservatory in my search because I don't want to be paying for a poorly designed and badly executed after-thought that occupies otherwise perfectly good garden.  I know you can get better ones these days (which are really proper extensions),  but > 95% of them seem to terribly dated and cannot be used most of the year.  They very worse ones are where they've knocked through a wall from to the conservatory to another room, effectively making the issues of too hot / too cold a problem larger.

I tend to see lots of properties stuck on Rightmove for ages have these, mostly because nobody has aspirations of living in the 1980s anymore.  They're about as desirable as a teasmaid or those bizarre bits of carpet people used to put round their toilet.  People stopped for very sound reasons.

So if you need or want the extra room, get a proper extension done which you'll enjoy.  If not, it might me more cost effective to either demolish and make good, patching it up as best you can. Just make sure you don't have unrealistic expectations about it adding value. 

Doozergirl

I don't like conservatories.  I certainly wouldn't pay a premium for one, in fact I'd be budgeting to remove it.  

Liz1966

I like having a conservatory but careful consideration is needed to ensure it is a benefit. On my house:
The conservatory overlooks the garden whereas sitting room overlooks the road. I want to relax next to the garden not the road.
Was refitted last year and benefits from uptodate temperature control glass and blinds.
Has external quality door between conservatory & house to further help control heat.
Can be used on sunny spring & autumn days to heat the house.
Has a glass roof and lets lots of light in whereas solid roof would make the house too dark.
Yes, it's hot in summer but on those days I'll be in the garden anyway.

I think when it comes to conservatories, it is more about what the house is like. If you already have a choice of reception rooms and at least one overlooking the garden then I would never bother with a conservatory. 
Hope that helps.

Sea_Shell

We have a "proper" conservatory.   

Dwarf wall (full on north wall facing neighbours), plus glass roof.

Ours still retains a patio door to the lounge, so at extremes, we can keep it closed.

We love ours and spend most of our time out there.  Even today on a cloudy day, it's the warmest place in the house.

When we bought, it had an old wooden one, but we knew we'd be staying, so replaced it in 2009.

Not sure I'd spend much on it, if I was looking at moving fairly soon though.

powerful_Rogue

Another conservatory fan here. We have an amazing view from it.

Got a company coming tomorrow to put an insulated roof on, so it's cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.

Sea_Shell

I'd miss my views of the blue sky, fluffy clouds and aircraft if we put a solid roof on.

It would make the lounge dark too.

We've seen the late Queen's last flight, Red Arrows and hot air balloons...all from the comfort of a leather recliner 😇

Plus even seeing the ISS at night.

Brilley

Hi all, and many thanks for all your feedback. A bit of a mixed bag, (as expected), biut  ore food for thought. Our conservatory, although old and starting to leak, does actully suit the house, it is not a "lean to" type, but appreciate it is getting a little "long in the tooth"...(like me!!). I am sure the house benefits (in principle) to having the extra room. I was going to consider a "proper" roof, but I was concerned about the reduction of light into the dining room. However after visiting a local conservatory supplier, I understand that the new "glass" roofs give the benefit of all the light, but also prevent some of the "heat" issues associated with the older type conservatory roofs...

SootySweep1

Hi
What does the conservatory add to your house ? How do you use the space ?
If it's a rarely used extra seating area that you use to dry your laundry then get rid.
If it's a well used space then upgrade.
When we extended our house we had a lantern roof installed which we love !

Silvertabby

What are your foundations like?  Sadly, many conservatory bases are just ... bases.  When we had our first conservatory fitted, back in the early 1990s, we opted for deep concrete foundations. 

20 years later we looked at changing the polycarbonate roof for glass, but a couple of the windows had 'blown' and the UPVC was starting to discolour, so we looked at other options.  To cut a long story short, because our foundations were so good we were able to knock the old conny down to foundation level and re-build it as more of an orangery - more brick walls than the old dwarf wall/windows all round combo, including floor to roof brick wall on one complete side, but with a tinted glass roof.

We love it, and use it all year round.