A conservatory is the perfect addition to your property if you want something that bridges the gap between your home and your garden. Whether you want to use it as a dining room, a play room or just another living space, a light-filled conservatory can add value to your home. Find out how much different types of conservatory will cost in our cost guides.
If you’re looking for a budget conservatory, uPVC is certainly the material to go for. How much a uPVC conservatory costs will depend on the type of conservatory you choose, but generally, the cheapest type of conservatory is a lean-to. A 3.5m x 3.5m lean-to conservatory can cost as little as £9,000, but the average cost is £12,000 for supply and installation.
Mid-range conservatory cost
Mid-range conservatories can be made from uPVC, but you can also find mid-range conservatories made from wood. A good option for an average-priced conservatory is an Edwardian-style, which is usually square or rectangular in shape. It has sleek lines with a pitched roof and a flat front, making them ideal for looking out onto your garden. Edwardian conservatories cost around £11,000 in uPVC and around £17,500 in wood for a 3.5m x 3.5m structure.
Luxury conservatory cost
The most luxurious type of conservatory material is aluminium, as it has great thermal properties, offers slim frames to allow the most light in through your windows and needs virtually no maintenance. Aluminium conservatories generally cost 25% more than uPVC ones, so you should expect to pay at least £11,250 for a lean-to and £13,750 for an Edwardian conservatory. Victorian conservatories are a more ornate version of an Edwardian conservatory and can cost around £15,000 for a uPVC version, £16,750 for a wooden version and £18,700 for an aluminium one.
Cost Guides for Other Common Conservatory Jobs
Conservatory FAQs
Is it cheaper to have an extension or conservatory?
It’s usually cheaper to have a conservatory built rather than an extension. Extensions require many more materials to construct them and you will probably incur more fees. For example, you’ll probably need to hire an architect to help you draw up plans, and you may need to apply for planning permission before you can build your extension. Most conservatories don’t require planning permission under Permitted Development rights, so you’ll save money on application fees. Plus, conservatories take much less time to build than extensions, so you’ll pay less in labour.
Do you need foundations for a conservatory?
Yes, you do need foundations for a conservatory, just like you would for any other building. While conservatories that are separate from the main house don’t require Building Regulations approval, making foundations optional, it’s not a good idea to build a conservatory without foundations.
Your conservatory should be built on a solid, damp-proof footing to keep it stable. You could end up with subsidence if your conservatory doesn’t have proper foundations.
If your conservatory has open access to the house or has its own heating inside, you’ll need Building Regulations approval, which means your conservatory must have foundations.
Do I need permission to put a roof on a conservatory?
No, you don’t need permission to put a roof on a conservatory in most cases. It’s becoming more and more popular to have solid roofs fitted to conservatories as they’re more thermally efficient and reduce noise. Since 2010, you don’t need planning permission to add a solid roof to a conservatory, so you can improve the thermal properties of your conservatory without the added fees.