Extension vs conservatory with a guardian roof

Saint84

Hi, i am currently considering expanding my detached home and torn between an extension or opting for an outbuilding with a Guardian roof (Edwardarwin style). This building will essentially attach to my kitchen and I will remove my current french doors so it will be a straight walk through, 

The extension would be ideal but it’s about £80k and the conservatory with guardian roof (will be lots of bricks instead of glass) as needs to be useable all year - will be around £45-50k and less disruption. I don;’t have the budget for £80k at the moment. 

I would like to know for people’s thoughts on this? And would i regret not going for the extension?

secla

A extension will always be better and add more value to your house than a conservatory.

One thing to consider is that to remove the doors between house an conservatory will require building regs sign off where they will take into account the thermal performance (as it will now affect the whole house) so if you decide to go ahead with a conservatory make sure thats taken into account in the design

stuart45

If you're taking the doors off It'll classed as an extension.

Saint84

secla said:

A extension will always be better and add more value to your house than a conservatory.

One thing to consider is that to remove the doors between house an conservatory will require building regs sign off where they will take into account the thermal performance (as it will now affect the whole house) so if you decide to go ahead with a conservatory make sure thats taken into account in the design

thanks, it will be getting build reg sign off at each stage they said. 

stuart45 said:

If you're taking the doors off It'll classed as an extension.

really? its just won't be truly open plan as the internal walls will still be there. we will be plastering the outer brick wall.

what do people think of guardian roofs?

Albermarle

To be classed as a conservatory, there has to be external quality doors between it and the house.
Plus it should be heated separately ( not with the main house central heating system) 

grumpy_codger

Saint84 said:

secla said:

A extension will always be better and add more value to your house than a conservatory.

One thing to consider is that to remove the doors between house an conservatory will require building regs sign off where they will take into account the thermal performance (as it will now affect the whole house) so if you decide to go ahead with a conservatory make sure thats taken into account in the design

thanks, it will be getting build reg sign off at each stage they said. 

stuart45 said:

If you're taking the doors off It'll classed as an extension.

really? its just won't be truly open plan as the internal walls will still be there. we will be plastering the outer brick wall.

what do people think of guardian roofs?

You'd better have the plans approved first than to fail the work signed of in the middle of the project. If it's a habitable spaice, not a concerfatory, it has to meet strict requirements for heat loss. They affect the % of glazed area, the walls and the roof insulation. Not sure about your 'guardian', but at first look this is aimed at concervatories, not living spaces. For the later, IIRC, about 30cm of insulation is required, possibly less for PIR insulation. 

Section62

Saint84 said:

secla said:

A extension will always be better and add more value to your house than a conservatory.

One thing to consider is that to remove the doors between house an conservatory will require building regs sign off where they will take into account the thermal performance (as it will now affect the whole house) so if you decide to go ahead with a conservatory make sure thats taken into account in the design

thanks, it will be getting build reg sign off at each stage they said. 

Builders often say that, then when you ask them for a copy of the signoff they express surprise and claim signoff wasn't needed.

If they have agreed to take the external doors out with a 'conservatory' then you can expect to have problems with BR compliance and signoff.

Saint84 said:

stuart45 said:

If you're taking the doors off It'll classed as an extension.

really? its just won't be truly open plan as the internal walls will still be there. we will be plastering the outer brick wall.

what do people think of guardian roofs?

Really.

A defining feature of a conservatory is having external grade doors between it and the rest of the house.  A conservatory without these doors is an extension, with all the implications which flow from that.

Saint84

This is the guidance i got

As I am having a tiled design roof we can remove the doors and kitchen window under building regulations and no planning permission is needed. If this was a glass roof conservatory then you would need planning permission as the thermal efficiency is not the same.

does anyone have experience of Guardian roofs? 

https://guardianbuildingsystems.co.uk/

secla

plenty of companys to similar things and they work and make the room more usable throughout the year but the bigger issue is opening it up to the main house, As soon as you do that you have different rules to adhere to as its no longer an enclosed structure. It will need to have the same thermal properties as an extension would.
Also conservatories heating system cant be plumbed in to your main house system.

Saint84

secla said:

plenty of companys to similar things and they work and make the room more usable throughout the year but the bigger issue is opening it up to the main house, As soon as you do that you have different rules to adhere to as its no longer an enclosed structure. It will need to have the same thermal properties as an extension would.
Also conservatories heating system cant be plumbed in to your main house system.

I get that but this is what they said to me

“As you are  having a tiled design roof we can remove the doors and kitchen window under building regulations and no planning permission is needed. If this was a glass roof conservatory then you would need planning permission as the thermal efficiency is not the same.”

what else would you check?

stuart45

Saint84 said

what else would you check?

Check with Building Control.