Conservatory Installers Near Me

Find Conservatory Installers Near Me

We will help you find the best possible conservatory installers in your neighborhood for the refurbishment or construction of your conservatory in this article. We will outline the main things to look out for when screening contractors, what questions to ask them, and what the average installation charges should cost you. We will also try to give you some tips on what kind of conservatory might best fit you. As you go over this information, you will familiarise yourself with some of the concepts you need to know to sound knowledgeable enough to get a good deal from an installation company.

What is the average price of a conservatory installation?

As there is a wide range of conservatory designs, the price range for conservatories can range from £8,000 up to £100,000. However, suppose you are going for an average 4m x 4m (16 m2) Edwardian conservatory (with a moderate amount of intricacy) with intermediate insulation and a typical foundation. In that case, you can expect to spend around £15,000 on the final product. This can very well be the cost of a large lean-to conservatory that uses superior materials or a smaller Victorian conservatory with polycarbonate roofing.
Installation charges can range from £500 to £50,000. Some simple DIY conservatory kits cost as little as £3,000 that would cost you nothing for installation. If you go for a massively ornate Victorian conservatory or an orangery for a luxury home, the final installation cost might be pretty massive. An average type of conservatory design installation detailed above should cost around £2,500 to £3,000.

Get a Quote

Once you have a general idea of what your project will cost you and have short-listed some installers with a high average rating, you can call them and ask them for a site visit and get a quotation. You should outline what you expect to use your new extension for and get as much information as you can from these contractors when they make their site visit. Ask for their opinion on what type of design, roofing, walling and foundation would best fit your needs. They can also answer most questions regarding building control and planning permission regulations. After deciding what you want your conservatory to be, you can ask them for free quotes.

National Or Local Installer

You have quite a few options when looking for your conservatory installer. You can either go for a national or local conservatory installer, and you can go for a general builder with conservatory experience. You also have to decide whether you go for an independent contractor or choose from a host of local conservatory companies.

National conservatory companies

National conservatory builders have some advantages that local installers near your home don’t. Since they buy their materials in bulk, they often have special sourcing rates than independent contractors and small firms. They can also host a vast range of workers and designers for each type of conservatory and even for the different sizes of conservatories. The final result of an excellent national installer tends to be more professional than a local installer’s. They will also have a lot of experience within the company itself, which allows for many ready-made solutions to common problems for their customers. National builders also do a great job with local authorities since they have more experience with permitted development. These installers can also give expert advice on what kind of construction work is required.

Local conservatory installers

While national installers have their advantages, you might benefit from going for specialised local conservatory installers if you are going for a highly customised and time-consuming job. They will take the time to listen to your needs and create a unique design for you as a service. A small family run business might also provide you with much better and customer-friendly long-term service in the long run.
 
There are instances when a first-class service-oriented local company, a family-run business, does an excellent job on the building work required for extra space, whereas national companies have failed. If you find a fully qualified local tradesperson that can give great advice and also has rave reviews on completed work, you might just be lucky enough to get some original building work done from them.
 
Try to get quotes from each installer type before making your final decision. The final decision should consider your specific needs, experience, installation timeline, cost, warranty, and responsiveness.

What can conservatory installers do?

Conservatory installers engage in a wide range of activities. They can build a conservatory from scratch, replace your existing glass paneling for you, or fix conservatory roofs, floors, windows, doors, and even your structure. The amount you can expect to pay depends on the amount of skill needed for the job, the experience required, and, of course, the time it will take the conservatory installer to finish the job. A professional conservatory installer will give you the best long-term solution to fit your budget.

New Conservatory

Professional conservatory installers can also install everything from start to finish. This includes the initial ground preparation and any wall demolition and support in preparation for the installation. Then the foundation with the proper footing depth needs to be made. All the right supplies need to be calculated and ordered to fit a tight timeline during this initial phase. Then the walls, windows and doors need to be fitted. The next step after this is the roof installation. Finally, the flooring can be put in along with any finishing touches without damaging your lawn or any part of the original house.

New glazing

One of the most common jobs professional conservatory installers get is to replace the glass panelling for an existing conservatory. The windows, doors, walling and roofing might contain old glass panelling that leaks heat into the outside environment. A popular solution to this problem is to go for double glazing, triple glazing and/or the application of a low-E coating to glass. The contractor removes all the old glass panelling and proceeds to install the more advanced glass paneling to insulate your conservatory better. The most popular option homeowners go for is double-glazing the glass panelling.

New Skylight window

Tiled conservatory roofs are the most expensive to make, both material-wise and labour-wise. While they have many advantages, one of the disadvantages of old tiled roofing is the lack of light compared to other roofing options. A great way to get up to 95% of the sunlight of a glass or polycarbonate roof is to install a skylight on your old tiled roof. This job is quite complex to pull off without any leakage or insulation loss and needs professional conservatory installers with an expert skill level.

Conservatory Roof Replacement

Routine jobs that conservatory installers need to do are conservatory roof repairs or installing new roofs. Some old conservatories have roofs that lose a lot of heat and could be improved if replaced or have frames that need replacing (wood is warped, rotting or infested). An older polycarbonate roof might also need replacement with a new conservatory roof due to the lack of proper insulation or the look becoming a little too shabby. A good conservatory installer will carefully remove the conservatory top without damaging the pre-existing structure and replace just the necessary parts for a beautifully refurbished conservatory.

Conservatory Roof Insulation

There are a few options for improving the insulation of your conservatory roof. If you have a conservatory that is too cold during the winter and makes you bleed money through heating bills, you should consider better insulating your roof. Professional conservatory installers will be able to replace your roof with either thick polycarbonate, glazed glass or tile for a much better-insulated conservatory. Suppose your roof is not insulated correctly due to the wooden, polycarbonate or aluminium frame being warped. In that case, the solution might be just to replace the warped parts for a very low-cost resolution.

Conservatory Window Replacement

There are a few reasons why you might use conservatory installers to replace your windows. The windows on your conservatory might be old and chipped, the beading might have dried out, or you might just want your conservatory to be better insulated. A sound installation company will be able to tell you what your lowest cost option is and make some repairs, or just put in some new double or triple glazed windows to fix the issue.

Conservatory Door Repair and Replacement

Conservatory doors can have a range of issues from being chipped, scratched, badly beaded, warped, having insufficient locking mechanisms or having inadequate opening/closing mechanisms as time goes on. Good conservatory installers will be able to tell you what type of solution will best suit your needs. Most doors, including French and bi-fold, can be repaired with better locking fixtures or opening/closing mechanisms. Sometimes the job might just entail the installation of better beading between the glass and the door frames. If the problem is the glass itself, a better option might be to just go for a replacement.

Conservatory Floor Repair and Replacement

For tiled floors, specialist conservatory builders can either replace individual tiles that have been cracked or replace the whole floor area with more modern tiles. If the wear and tear on a wood flooring can be fixed with a cut, buff and varnish, then that’s the cheapest option to go for. If the damage is too extensive for any type of repair, the conservatory installers should be skilled enough to take apart the whole floor and replace it without damaging the rest of the construction.

What to ask your conservatory installation company?

You need to ask a potential conservatory installer quite a few questions.

Questions to ask when getting quotes.

• What type of conservatory design is best suited for my home (Victorian, Edwardian, lean-to, other)?
• What conservatory shape will best suit my home (standard, P-shape, L-shape)?
• What type of foundation will I need, and how deep should the footing be?
• What kind of frame should I go for (wood, aluminium or uPVC)?
• What type of insulating materials should I go for to use the conservatory all year round?
• Should I go for a tiled, glass or polycarbonate roof?
• Should I go for a dwarf wall, a full-height glass wall with polycarbonate panelling or a full-height glass wall?
• What type of flooring will best suit my needs?
• What will your charges be for the service provided?
• Are there any ways to reduce the cost without cheapening the overall construction?

These questions will serve a double purpose, and they will help increase your knowledge of pricing and design while letting your contractor know that you know the installation process.

Accreditation of conservatory builders

There is a long list of builders’ accreditations in the UK. Many accreditations allow builders to build extensions and stand-alone units without submitting plans to building authorities for approval. Working with an accredited conservatory builder might save you the hassle of getting your conservatory’s building plan approved by the local building authority.
If you are looking to get some high standard work done on conservatory windows, doors, roof windows or roof lights, you should look for conservatory builders with a FENSA certificate. These conservatory installers will have the ability to certify that your conservatory is up to building code after they finish their work. National or local conservatory builders with CERTASS accreditation will be competent in installations adhering to the building regulations set forth by the MHCLG (Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government). They will also have the ability to self-certify their work after construction.

Should I build an orangery or a conservatory?

An orangery and a Victorian conservatory have more in common architecturally than a Victorian conservatory does with a lean-to conservatory. It also depends on your current house’s architectural type, and Orangeries and Victorian conservatories suit period houses more than they do modern dwellings. If you have a sleek, high-tech, minimalist, monochrome and rectangular home, then you should go for either an Edwardian or lean-to conservatory.

Suppose your house’s architecture is more than a century old or is a modern house whose design drew its inspiration from the Edwardian or older eras. In that case, you have a choice of either an orangery, Victorian conservatory or Edwardian conservatory. Orangeries and Victorian conservatories generally look better when built-in larger dimensions in an area with ample property space. Their curvy faceted architecture looks cramped and cheap unless enough volume is present to go with the design.
 
While the building authority that your home falls under has the final say as to what type of conservatory you can build with and without approval, some general rules apply. The more brick there is, the larger the foundation and the deeper the footing needs to be. The more your extension looks like a permanent fixture to the house with a more significant foundation, the stricter the restrictions on what you can build without building authority approval.
 
Suppose you have a period house from an earlier era, and you have the financial capacity to go for a moderately large conservatory. In that case, you should probably go for an orangery or a Victorian conservatory. If you have a smaller property, budgetary constraints and a newer and sleeker home design, you should go for either an Edwardian conservatory or a lean-to conservatory.

Should I get an extension or a conservatory?

The differences between a home extension and a conservatory

While the building of a conservatory technically falls under the ‘home extension’ category, in this context, a home extension is an extension made to your home in a more permanent style. For example, expanding your brick home with a couple of extra bedrooms will count as a home extension. Conservatories are generally made with different materials, though there might be a few overlaps. Whether you go for an extension or a conservatory will depend solely on your needs and budget.

Home extension advantages and disadvantages

Home extensions generally serve a very different purpose to conservatories. People opt for different types of storage spaces, living spaces or extra bedroom space with home extensions. The new extension can be of the same design as your original house or a completely different style. Extensions are generally very solid compared to conservatories and much longer-lasting. Home extensions can be customised to fit almost any needs that you might have. There are no restrictions on what design to follow, what architecture style to follow or a limit on size or purpose for a home extension. A home extension’s solid and permanent nature usually translates to more extended construction periods and a much higher bill at the end of the construction.

Conservatory advantages and disadvantages

If you are looking for a light, sun-filled room that feels airy and is in tune with nature, you can’t do better than a conservatory. Conservatories are quicker to build and have fewer building permit requirements than housing extensions. They are also generally smaller in size and can be installed at a fraction of the cost of installing a housing extension. However, the value of your home won’t increase as much with a conservatory when compared to an extension. There is also only limited use for a conservatory, while house extensions can fit almost any home expansion need you have.

Factors to consider when making your final decision on the type of extension

If you are looking for a way to increase your living space on a smaller budget, then a conservatory might be the right choice for you. This is especially true if you want to use your new space as a kitchen, living room or dining room. If you also want this area to have an abundance of natural sunlight during the summer and winter months, you choose a conservatory.
If you are looking to build a permanent construction to complement your house that will dramatically increase the value of your home, then you might want to look at a building extension. However, you will need to ensure that you can cover the more significant required expenditure and the time to get through the more time-consuming building approval and installation periods.

FAQs

How much does it cost to supply and fit a conservatory?

While there is a massive variability in a conservatory’s pricing and fitting charges, the average cost of a moderately sized conservatory with a design of moderate complexity is around £15,000. However, if you are going for a simple lean-to design, using cheaper materials that are easier to install with low to no foundation, the final cost can be as low as £8,000.

How much value does a conservatory add to your home?

Conservatories can add much more than their original cost to the overall house’s price. On average, a conservatory will increase a home’s price by about 7%. If your house is worth £270,000 (which is currently the average cost of a British home), you can expect your conservatory to add around £19,000 to the house’s value. This is assuming that you go for at least an average-sized Edwardian conservatory.
 
Since the average Edwardian conservatory costs around £14,000, you could make a profit of £5,000 by installing one. Estate agents report that houses with conservatories appeal to a broader market as families with higher budgets go for homes with additional rooms.

Do I need planning permission for a conservatory?

The requirements of your local building authority determine whether you will need planning permission before building your conservatory. It is generally recommended that you get your plans authorised by the local building authority before you start construction. You can enlist the help of your conservatory installer for this, as they have had a lot of experience in this area. The requirements of your local building authority are also subject to change without notice, so it’s always good to be safer than sorry.
 
However, you can follow a few rules of thumb building regulations when building your conservatory. You can make an extension or conservatory 4 metres from the rear wall of a detached property and 3 metres from an attached property. If you want to go for something bigger, you might have to consult your neighbours and get their official go-ahead to proceed. Your conservatory should not exceed a height of 4 metres or the height of your roof, whichever is lower. You should also not build on more than 50% of the original available ground space.

Is an extension cheaper than a conservatory?

Yes. The average conservatory build is significantly smaller than the average home extension, though a conservatory is technically a home extension itself. In this context, what people refer to as a home extension is a brick structure that’s built using the original house’s style to increase floor space. A 30 m2 (average home extension size) extension built with a moderate budget can range from £30,000 to £48,000 and has an average cost of about £39,000.
 
Conservatories use a lot of low-cost walling, such as glass, so the cost is quite a bit lower. Conservatories also have an average size of around 16 m2 (4m x 4m). While final conservatory costs can range from £8,000 to £100,000, the average price for a conservatory of this size would come to around £15,000. When looking at the average square meter costs, a housing extension would cost £1,300 per m2 and a conservatory just £938 per m2.

What foundations do you need for a conservatory?

The size of the foundation and its quality should be determined by the type of conservatory and the type of ground your building is on. A Victorian conservatory built on soft land in an area with a lot of rainfall may need deeper footing than other types of ground.
 
Suppose you are building a full-height glass lean-to conservatory with bottom polycarbonate panelling and a polycarbonate roof on hard soil. In that case, the footing can be shallow, and the foundation can be light.

How long does it usually take to build a conservatory?

The average conservatory installation period is 1 month across all styles. If you are going for a simple lean-to conservatory with extremely experienced conservatory builders, the installation period could be as short as 2 weeks. If you are going for a complicated Victorian conservatory with an over-stretched installation team, the installation period could last up to 6 months.

Can you get a triple glazed conservatory?

Yes, you can get triple-glazed windows and doors on any conservatory you choose. You can also get a low-E (low emissivity) coating on your triple-glazed paneling for maximum insulation. However, these options will cost you considerably more than if you went for double-glazing. If it takes more than 10 years to recover the additional expenditure for triple glazing, you may not want to go for that option.
 
There are a couple of other negatives to triple-glazing. No matter how clear, it will reduce the sunlight entering the conservatory. Low-E (low emissivity) coating (especially hard Low-E) causes light to be somewhat disturbed when going through the pane. However, triple-glazing is quite good for the roof since hot air rises to the top, and most heat is lost through the roof’s glass panelling.

How can I keep my conservatory warm in winter?

The average homeowner relies on double-glazed glass panelling and floor heating to keep their conservatory warm. However, there are a couple of other options to increase your heat conservation. You can opt to go for triple-glazing for maximum heat retention. Glazed glass traps insulating gas such as argon within its panes, so a triple-glazed glass will have an additional pane of glass within it for insulation.
 
You can also go for the low-E (low emissivity) options. Glazed glass panelling can have soft low-E coating on the inside of glass pane. If you are going for a lower-cost option, you can go for ordinary glass with a hard low-E coating.

Can a conservatory be used all year round?

This depends on the temperatures you get all year round, the level of insulation your glass and roof provides, and the heating (underfloor/radiators/electric heaters) you have in the conservatory.