So you’re thinking of buying a conservatory, but you’re wondering about the cost and whether or not you can afford one. In all honesty, it’s difficult to say for sure how much a conservatory will cost as much depends on the size, style and functionality of your space.
Having said that, we can certainly give you a rough idea on cost, as well as explaining how you can potentially reduce the cost of your conservatory based on the one you opt for. We’ll also point out how a conservatory can actually save you money in the long run, once you’ve made your initial investment.
Benefits Of A Conservatory
Before we look into how much a conservatory costs and how its price tag can be trimmed down, first let’s remind ourselves of why people choose to invest in them in the first place.
A conservatory provides the perfect link between the outdoors and indoors, connecting your home and garden seamlessly. So whether you enjoy putting your feet up with a book in your hand, or taking in your quiet tranquil surroundings, this makes a conservatory the perfect place to relax and unwind.
In addition, a conservatory offers the ideal additional space for hosting guests or enjoying some scenic dining, making it a versatile space you can use for a range of purposes. This is what makes a conservatory such a desirable investment, but is it an affordable one? Let’s delve into the cost, as well as exploring some strategies to make them more affordable.
Cost Of A Conservatory
As we pointed out above, the cost of a conservatory depends on a range of factors, but on average you should usually expect to pay around £9-15k.
A conservatory will usually consist of glass walls and a roof, held together with wood or uPVC beams and columns. In addition, you’ll also need to choose a floor and the cost of additional features such as cooling and heating systems should be taken into consideration.
The initial outlay will be heavily determined by what you choose. Clearly, a conservatory with underfloor heating and a top-of-the-range climate control system will incur higher costs than one without.
However, having said that, sometimes it may be worth investing more on your conservatory so you can save in the long run. For instance, choosing a conservatory with triple glazing windows and superior insulation may come with a higher initial cost, but in the long run you would save money on your energy bills.
Likewise, opting for a larger conservatory will set you back more initially. But with more space, you may be able to turn your conservatory into a home gym, which could save you money on membership fees every month.
There are so many different uses for a conservatory, so bear this in mind as you may be able to save more in the future by investing slightly more up front.
One final consideration to make: a conservatory can add or reduce your home’s value significantly. If you’re selling a home with a pristine, state-of-the-art conservatory the clearly this will be favourable to potential buyers so you’ll be able to command a higher asking price.
Alternatively, a creaky, poorly-maintained conservatory is likely to put them off and devalue your home, so once again, putting in more upfront could pay dividends in future.
Conservatory vs. Extension
In comparison to conventional home extensions, a conservatory typically offers a more cost-effective way of adding extra space to a property.
Extensions often involve higher construction costs, more complex (and costly) planning permissions and longer project durations. This means that if you’re not careful, the costs can quickly start to escalate and that’s before you’ve even chosen your appliances and decorated your new space!
On the contrary, conservatories are usually less disruptive, with faster installation periods and lower initial material and labour costs.
Strategies For Cost Reduction
To help keep your expenses low without compromising on quality, consider several strategies. Opt for cost-effective materials without sacrificing durability or aesthetics. uPVC should tick those boxes as it comes with a lower cost than timber, but usually looks great and suits most properties.
Additionally, try incorporating energy-efficient features like insulated glazing or efficient heating systems as this will reduce energy bills. Although this may cost more up front, you’ll be using your conservatory for years or even decades, so this will be repaid many times over.
Lastly, by transforming a conservatory into a multifunctional space, this means you can get more value from your investment. There are various ways you can utilise your new living space.
From turning it into a home gym or cinema, or even using it as a space to host parties rather than hiring venues, once you put your mind to it, you’ll find there are so many ways to save money with your new living space.
So that should give you an idea of whether conservatories are expensive or not. In the end, there’s not really an easy answer to the question. A conservatory’s price tag will be heavily dependent on the size, materials and appliances used.
If you decide on a timber conservatory with the most expensive glass, stone flooring and all the mod cons, then it could start to get pricey. However, with some careful budgeting and meticulous planning, we can ensure you get the bespoke conservatory of your dreams – and for an affordable price.