Conservatory or extension – which should you choose?

Renovating your home is one of the biggest, most costly projects you can undertake. Your home is often your biggest asset so its important to get major decisions on the scale of your renovation right in the first place, instead of starting to have regrets midway through. One of the most pressing choices you might be weighing up is whether to go for a conservatory or extension.

Will a conservatory meet your expectations and provide a functional space? Or is it worth going the whole hog and constructing a full extension? These are the questions we’ll help you to answer in this article, using our decades of experience in the UFH industry to give you some valuable insights.

Read on:

1. Conservatory pros and cons
2. Extension pros and cons
3. What’s the difference in price?
4. Planning permission consideration

Conservatory, or extension?

Let’s jump straight into the basic differences between a conservatory and an extension so that you can make an informed decision. Read on for more details.

Conservatory pros and cons

Pros

• Quicker to construct, versus extensions which can take quite a long time to get off the ground
• They are a lot more affordable than extensions and are usually sold as a set package, so you won’t have to worry about surprise costs
• They usually do not require planning permission if they meet certain criteria according to Permitted Development rights – see more on planning permission below.
• They can be built with little disruption to the existing house
• It provides a sheltered space for you to sit and look out on your garden

Cons

• It is a lot harder to maintain a comfortable temperature when heating a conservatory, though the installation of electric underfloor heating can combat this in the winter months
• Although cheaper, they don’t add as much value as an extension might
• Traditional conservatories can look quite old-fashioned and there isn’t an overwhelming level of design choices, so you might not find something that suits your home’s existing architecture
• They are made almost entirely of glass, so cleaning takes up a lot of time, and dust can show up easily
• They can only really be used for day-time purposes like as a dining or sitting room
• You need to be careful what you keep in your conservatory as anything valuable will be instantly visible to intruders unless blinds are fitted

Read more: Adding a conservatory to your home – what you need to know

Extension pros and cons

Pros

• Much more freedom in terms of design
• The outside of an extension is lower maintenance than the outside of a conservatory
• They can greatly increase the value of your home
• Your extension can run over 2 floors or more
• Greater insulation, cooling, and heating options are available
• More choice on where they can be added to your home, whereas conservatories can generally only be retrofitted to the back of a property
• They can be used for whatever you want – a bedroom, bathroom, office, to expand your kitchen or living space… the list goes on

Cons

• They incur a much higher cost than conservatories do
• You have to be very wary of hidden costs that may come up at any stage during construction
• Planning restrictions almost always apply with extensions
• Construction takes a lot longer and is much more disruptive to your existing home than a conservatory

What’s the difference in price?

Budget is usually what pushes people to decide between a conservatory or an extension. Generally, conservatories are low-risk project that usually don’t incur any hidden extra costs along the way. Whereas extensions require a lot more planning, integration with the current home and materials and labour tend to come at a higher price.

• A conservatory can cost an average of £9k to £18k depending on the style you choose[ii]
• A standard 20m2 extension costs on average £42.7k[iii]

As you can see, conservatories do cost considerably less. However, an extension can add 10 – 20% to your property value. If you’re thinking of installing a conservatory purely because you are on a budget, you should always consider whether it is worth holding off for long enough to save up for an extension instead – but this completely depends on what use you want from the project.

Planning permission considerations

Before you undertake any construction work on your property, you need to make sure you are in the clear legally. There are strict planning permission laws in place that outline when you do and don’t need to apply for permission to construct a conservatory, extension, or any other structure on your property.

Conservatories fall under the same rules as extensions but are considered easier to build as they are far less likely to exceed the conditions under which you can extend your home without planning permission. The basics are that you are free to extend your home as you wish as long as certain limitations and conditions.

These are the rules for all extensions, including conservatories[iv]:

1. You can only cover 50% of the land around your property (this includes any other structures that have been built like sheds)
2. If your extension comes within 2m of the boundary between your and your neighbour’s houses, it cannot be taller than 3m
3. You can’t construct anything that comes further forward than the existing front elevation of the house
4. You will need planning permission if you are planning to include
   1. An antenna, ariel, or satellite dish
   1. A balcony, raised platform, or veranda
   1. A flue, soil and vent pipes, or a chimney
   1. Altering the existing roof

You’ll have to apply for planning permission if you want to build anything that goes above what is set out above.

Refer to Planning Portal for the full rules and regulations.

You should always check with your local planning office before going ahead with any work just to be on the safe side. There may be specific additional rules in your area that need to be followed.

Deciding between a conservatory and an extension

Has the above helped you to make up your mind between choosing a conservatory or an extension? To recap, you need to consider all of the following:

• The pros and cons of an extension
• The pros and cons of a conservatory
• The differences in price
• Whether or not you’ll need planning permission

It definitely isn’t the easiest decision to make but take your time and weigh up the pros and cons of each, and what difference each option could make to your life.

Sources

[i] https://www.conservatoryonlineprices.co.uk/how-long-to-build-a-conservatory

[ii] https://www.checkatrade.com/blog/cost-guides/conservatory-cost/

[iii] https://www.checkatrade.com/blog/cost-guides/house-extension-cost/

[iv] https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects/conservatories/planning-permission