Buying a UPVC Conservatory? 5 things to keep in mind.
A UPVC conservatory is an excellent way to extend your home. The installation process is much quicker than having a brick extension, and you might also be able to do it without planning permission.
UPVC conservatory costs are also far lower than those of a traditional extension, so you can either save money or get more space for your money.
But before you rush out and get one, here are 5 things we think you should consider Before Buying a UPVC Conservatory.
1 What is your budget?
Prices for UPVC conservatories can vary a lot. The 2 biggest factors will be the size and, secondly, the design.
With many suppliers around the country, you could find a good lean to conservatory for under £8,000. At the other end of the scale you could be looking at a bespoke design in the region of £20,000.
Some homeowners use a loan to finance the purchase. Whether it be a mortgage top up or other type of financing. In cases like these, you should be positive that you can afford the repayments for the full term of the loan. Always speak to a professional advisor if you are thinking of using any type of finance option.
Once you have decided on a budget, does it include decorating and furnishing the conservatory?
- Allow an extra 5% to 10% of your budget for “unforeseen” problems – then stick to your budget.
2 How much space do you have for your conservatory?
Appearance can be deceptive, even a 3m x 3m extension can take up more room than you think.
A quick way to gauge this is to mark the outline of your proposed conservatory on the floor. You can use pegs & string-line, chalk, cement dust (or even flour if you are stuck).
With an outline on the floor it can also help you decide which side is best for the door. This will give you a very good understanding of how your garden will impacted by the structure.
You should also bear in mind, that if you are thinking of a larger room, then you could need to get planning permission to build it:
- More guidance on planning permission for conservatories here. UK Planning Portal
3 What do you want to use the conservatory for?
The most popular use of a conservatory is for living or dining space. But did you think about how the furnishings are going to fit?
If you are going for home office use, you may need extra power outlets for all your electronics. Maybe even a hard-line socket for an internet connection & landline.
Don’t forget about heating & cooling.
However, if you are thinking along the lines of using it as an extension to your kitchen, there’s a lot of extra things to think about. What about a sufficient power supply for the appliances and possibly water supply or drainage if you are placing a sink or dishwasher.
4 What conservatory design to choose – which one suits your budget and fits with your property best?
There are lots of variations of conservatories to choose from in the market.
The simplest, in terms of design, can be the lean-to conservatory. However, there are some excellent examples of very modern designs that look stunning.
More fancy and ornate designs such as the Victorian, Georgian or Regency may be better suited to period homes. For larger rooms you can consider designs such as the P-shape, T-shape, B-shape or L-shape.
Or you could go totally bespoke and have one designed to order specifically to your own personal taste.
One other element of conservatories design will have a big impact, and that is the type of roof. Glazed roofing is the “standard option” for a new conservatory, either double glazed or polycarbonate sheeted.
Even though it is costlier upfront, solid roofing is becoming more popular. Tiles, slates, shingles, composite panels, synthetic tiles, metal tiles are all available in the market. Solid roofing can totally change the look and feel of the room.
