A conservatory is an asset to the home. What choices are involved in building and designing a conservatory? Check here an overview of prices and handy tips for putting together your conservatory.
Building a conservatory: the cost
The cost of building a conservatory depends entirely on your wishes. The following components determine the total price:
- The material
- The labour costs: Depending on the type of conservatory
- The dimensions
Check out the average cost of building a conservatory in the table below.
| Number of m2 | Average price including materials, labour costs and VAT |
|---|---|
| Serre of 10 m2 | £17.500 |
| Serre of 15 m2 | £ 26,000 |
| Serre of 20 m2 | £ 35,000 |
| Serre of 30 m2 | £ 25.000 |
| Serre of 50 m2 | £ 80,000 |
Find the best specialist for your project and get free quotes.
Start
Building a conservatory: from design to fit-out
Building a conservatory is a big investment. You then naturally want the conservatory to be built completely according to your wishes. Wondering how the process goes from design to fitting out? Read the steps below.
- Map your own wishes
You would like to extend your living space with a conservatory. A conservatory is fully customised and made to your requirements. Get inspiration online and check out the various options. For example, consult brochures, home magazines or the internet. If you put everything down on paper, a specialist will soon be able to give appropriate advice based on your wishes. - Finding a conservatory specialist for your situation
The next step in your path to building a conservatory is to find a conservatory specialist. By comparing several professionals, you can be sure to find the best specialist for your project. What to look out for when comparing quotes: - The price.
Compare prices of specialists and be sure you don’t overpay.
The specialist’s seals of approval/reviews. Check these online or request the seals of approval.
The specialist’s capabilities. Does the specialist have all the knowledge and expertise to meet your needs? For example, does he also supply customised blinds for your new conservatory? Check this out carefully. - Orientation talks
Have you found a conservatory specialist for your project? Then start with an exploratory interview. After this meeting, the professional will visit you to take a look at your space and assess the possibilities, draw up a blueprint and a final price quotation. - The blueprint
You will have received the blueprint and final price quotation. This lists all your wishes and the additional building work. In some cases, the front wall has to be broken through and the specialist has to install new support beams. This work involves a lot of time and costs. You will find all this in the construction drawing and the quotation. - The planning
Once the construction drawing is finalised, the specialist can start building the conservatory. Do you opt for a prefabricated conservatory? Then most of your conservatory is made ready-made in the factory. Then the craftsman installs the conservatory. The number of days of rebuilding depends on the type of conservatory. A prefabricated conservatory can be installed within 1 day. A custom-made conservatory takes 3 to 4 working days. A schedule will be drawn up together with the specialist.
Building a garden or residential conservatory?
We distinguish 2 types of conservatories. Depending on your requirements and wishes, you can choose a garden conservatory or residential conservatory. Compare the 2 types in the table below.
| Characteristic | Garden conservatory | Dwelling conservatory |
|---|---|---|
| Isolated | No | Yes |
| Expanding your living space | Yes, but is not part of the house itself. | Yes, for example to the living room or kitchen. |
| Additional light | No, not in the dwelling itself. The conservatory does create a space full of light. | Yes, the living conservatory creates a house full of light because of the glass walls (and sometimes even roof). |
| Enjoy your garden in winter | Yes, a garden conservatory is built onto your house, giving you an extra space in your garden. | Yes, with a living conservatory you enjoy your garden all year round. |
| Relatively small. The conservatory is placed against the house. | Relatively large because the facade often has to be broken through. | |
| Price | Price is on average lower. | Price is on average higher than a garden conservatory due to high conversion costs. |
Building a conservatory in different styles
The style of your conservatory is determined by the choice of materials. Will you have your conservatory built of wood? Then you will create a classic and rural look. In the table below, compare the different types of materials and their prices.
| Material | Average price per m2, including materials, labour and VAT | Advantages | Aesthetics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plastic conservatory | Wood conservatory: £ 1750 Garden conservatory: £ 800 |
Low maintenance, good insulation value, available in any colour, inexpensive | A sleek, modern look |
| Wooden conservatory | Garden conservatory: £ 1700 Garden conservatory: £ 750 |
Aesthetic, strong material, workable | A classic look |
| Aluminium conservatory | Living conservatory: £ 1700 Garden conservatory: £ 750 |
Strong material, does not rust, thin profile, original look, low maintenance | Perfect for modern homes |
| Glass conservatory | Door conservatory: £ 1700 Garden conservatory: £ 750 |
Glass sliding walls possible, plenty of natural light | A modern and fresh look that suits almost every home due to the choice of frame |
| Masonry conservatory | Living conservatory: £ 1700 Garden conservatory: Not possible |
Fitting to the house, high insulation value, low maintenance, strong construction | The conservatory will be built with bricks that match your house |
| Masonry conservatory | Family conservatory: £ 1700 Garden conservatory: not possible |
Strong material, good insulation value, available in many colours, long lifespan | A classic look |
Other choices that come into play when building your conservatory
The cost of a conservatory is mainly determined by the choice of materials and whether you choose a residential conservatory or garden conservatory. But the dimensions, type of glass and other additional options also affect the total price. Check out the components here.
- Dimensions
The number of square metres your conservatory will take up is an important choice. You determine the ideal dimensions of your conservatory on the basis of the following 3 points:- The permit you will get for building your conservatory
- How many square metres you want to extend your living space
- Your budget for building a conservatory
- Glass type
A conservatory comes standard with double glazing. Do you prefer an extra high insulation value? Check the table below for options.
| Glass type | More price including VAT, excluding labour costs | U-value* (the lower the better) |
|---|---|---|
| Double glazing | Standard | 2.7 |
| HR | £5 per m2 of glass | 1.7 – 2.0 |
| HR+ | £10 per m2 of glass | 1.3 – 1.6 |
| HR++ | £15 per m2 of glass | 1,2 |
| HR++ | £ 55 per m2 of glass | 0.5 – 0.9 |
* The lower the U-value, the better the insulation and the more you save on your energy bill. Going for the best value for money? Then choose HR++ glass.
- Extras
With extra options, you can make your conservatory even more beautiful. See the table below for the various additional options and their prices.
| Extra option | Average additional price including material, labour costs and VAT |
|---|---|
| Sun blinds | £ 200 (per m2) |
| Tiles to be laid | £ 50 (per m2) |
| Laminate to be laid | £ 10 (per m2) |
| Air conditioning | £ 1.500 (per unit) |
| Painting | £ 35 (per m2) |
| Central heating | £ 1,000 |
| Floor heating | £ 750 (up to 20 m2) |
| Sliding door | £ 1.000 (per façade) |
| Sliding roof | £ 1,700 (per m2) |
| Lightwell | £ 2.000 (per m2) |
Find the best specialist for your project and get free quotes.
Start
