Bungalows and conservatories

Sapindus

Well this has turned into a nice debate on the general merits of conservatories, which I don't dispute, but my main point was it's odd having one over a kitchen or bedroom window, or having the only access into it off a bedroom.  Seems to make more sense having one opening off the living room, if you have to sacrifice a window at all.

I sometimes think it's one of those things people add to their house because it's on a tick list, without really thinking about how it adds to the livability of the space.  Like porches with no room to do anything except open the next door.

thegreenone

I agree @Sapindus perhaps if you find one over a kitchen window, look to see if the units could be reconfigured to put in a door (someone else mentioned this above).  

We are lucky to have ours off the lounge and it's my favourite room - I'm in my chair there now.  We had a very old, wooden one when we moved in and took years to replace it with same footprint but with pitch roof.  Underfloor heating and solar reflective glass in the roof - hindsight we would've had more.   Unfortunately, if we had had a proper roof extension our lounge would be a black hole.

Slinky

Sapindus said:

Well this has turned into a nice debate on the general merits of conservatories, which I don't dispute, but my main point was it's odd having one over a kitchen or bedroom window, or having the only access into it off a bedroom.  Seems to make more sense having one opening off the living room, if you have to sacrifice a window at all.

I sometimes think it's one of those things people add to their house because it's on a tick list, without really thinking about how it adds to the livability of the space.  Like porches with no room to do anything except open the next door.

Conservatories tend to be at the back of properties. Your gripe needs to be with the builders who put the living room at the front.

If push comes to shove, I'd rather have the conservatory off the kitchen than a bedroom.

ReadySteadyPop

Sapindus said:

Looking for a bungalow for my mother.  Why do so many bungalows have conservatories slapped over bedroom or kitchen windows?  Don't people want fresh air/daylight?  How difficult would it be to knock the conservatory down if we bought one of these monstrosities, would it need planning permission to do so?  No mortgage involved.

People thought they would "add value" (too many property shows on TV back in the day I guess) didn`t quite work out because I believe bungalows are quite hard to sell now, but they are easy to knock down (the conservatories not the bungalows!)

thegreenone

ReadySteadyPop said:

Sapindus said:

Looking for a bungalow for my mother.  Why do so many bungalows have conservatories slapped over bedroom or kitchen windows?  Don't people want fresh air/daylight?  How difficult would it be to knock the conservatory down if we bought one of these monstrosities, would it need planning permission to do so?  No mortgage involved.

because I believe bungalows are quite hard to sell now, 

Not where I live in Surrey!

Section62

ReadySteadyPop said:

Sapindus said:

Looking for a bungalow for my mother.  Why do so many bungalows have conservatories slapped over bedroom or kitchen windows?  Don't people want fresh air/daylight?  How difficult would it be to knock the conservatory down if we bought one of these monstrosities, would it need planning permission to do so?  No mortgage involved.

People thought they would "add value" (too many property shows on TV back in the day I guess) didn`t quite work out because I believe bungalows are quite hard to sell now, but they are easy to knock down (the conservatories not the bungalows!)

I understood there was a shortage of bungalows (hence 'sought after') because there is more money to be made building houses (more units per ha) and converting the existing stock into houses is quite popular.

FreeBear

thegreenone said:

ReadySteadyPop said:

Sapindus said:

Looking for a bungalow for my mother.  Why do so many bungalows have conservatories slapped over bedroom or kitchen windows?  Don't people want fresh air/daylight?  How difficult would it be to knock the conservatory down if we bought one of these monstrosities, would it need planning permission to do so?  No mortgage involved.

because I believe bungalows are quite hard to sell now, 

Not where I live in Surrey!

Same round here. Bungalows get snapped up pretty quick as soon as they hit the market - Sis is looking for one in *this area, and offers get accepted from other buyers before she has a chance to book a viewing.

Slinky

ReadySteadyPop said:

Sapindus said:

Looking for a bungalow for my mother.  Why do so many bungalows have conservatories slapped over bedroom or kitchen windows?  Don't people want fresh air/daylight?  How difficult would it be to knock the conservatory down if we bought one of these monstrosities, would it need planning permission to do so?  No mortgage involved.

 bungalows are quite hard to sell now,

Rubbish. The population is ageing. In many places very few bungalows are built, it's all houses and blocks of flats. People who want single storey living don't necessarily want to live in a flat. Bungalows often sell at a premium in a lot of places.

Silvertabby

thegreenone said:

ReadySteadyPop said:

Sapindus said:

Looking for a bungalow for my mother.  Why do so many bungalows have conservatories slapped over bedroom or kitchen windows?  Don't people want fresh air/daylight?  How difficult would it be to knock the conservatory down if we bought one of these monstrosities, would it need planning permission to do so?  No mortgage involved.

because I believe bungalows are quite hard to sell now, 

Not where I live in Surrey!

....or here 'oop north'!

Even though the cost of a 3 bed bungalow is on a par with a 4 bed house, they sell like hot cakes 

ReadySteadyPop

Silvertabby said:

thegreenone said:

ReadySteadyPop said:

Sapindus said:

Looking for a bungalow for my mother.  Why do so many bungalows have conservatories slapped over bedroom or kitchen windows?  Don't people want fresh air/daylight?  How difficult would it be to knock the conservatory down if we bought one of these monstrosities, would it need planning permission to do so?  No mortgage involved.

because I believe bungalows are quite hard to sell now, 

Not where I live in Surrey!

....or here 'oop north'!

Even though the cost of a 3 bed bungalow is on a par with a 4 bed house, they sell like hot cakes 

Comments on the "Trying to sell for six months" thread are saying the opposite.