If you’re looking to add extra space to your home, you may be considering a conservatory, orangery, or extension. While they may seem similar at first glance, each of these structures has its unique features and advantages. In this article, we’ll cover the main differences between conservatories, orangeries, and extensions to help you make an informed decision for your home.
Differences
To begin we need to understand the differences between conservatories, orangeries and extensions to help you make the most informed decision. Therefore, we have the defined the three as the following:
Conservatories
A conservatory is a glass structure that is designed to be an extension of your home. They are typically built on a separate foundation and feature a fully glazed roof, walls, and doors. Conservatories are often used as a way to bring more natural light into your home and provide an extra living space that can be used year-round.
Orangeries
Orangeries are similar to conservatories in that they are made of glass, but they feature a more solid construction with brick or stone walls and a glazed roof. Orangeries provide an extra living space that is both bright and warm.
Extensions
Extensions are a more traditional way to add extra space to your home. They are typically built using brick or stone and can be designed to fit seamlessly with your home’s existing architecture. Extensions provide a wide range of options in terms of the size, layout, and design of the new space.
Advantages and disadvantages
Whilst conservatories, orangeries and extensions all provide that much needed living space to your home as well as blending your home and garden there are some notable advantages and disadvantages of each.
Advantages of Conservatories:
- Provides a bright, airy space with lots of natural light
- Can be customised to fit the style and design of your home
- Usually quicker and less disruptive to install than extensions
Disadvantages of Conservatories:
- Can be too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter without proper heating and insulation
- May not be suitable for all types of homes or properties
Advantages of Orangeries:
- Provide a balance of natural light and solid construction
- Can be customised to fit the style and design of your home
- Provide an extra living space that can be used year-round
Disadvantages of Orangeries:
- Can be expensive due to the combination of solid walls and glazed roof
- May require planning permission depending on the size and design
- Can take longer to install than conservatories due to the need for more extensive construction work
Advantages of Extensions:
- Provide a permanent and seamless addition to your home
- Can be customised to fit your specific needs and preferences
- Can add significant value to your property
Disadvantages of Extensions:
- Can be more expensive, especially if extensive construction work is required
- May require planning permission depending on the size and design
- Can take longer to install than conservatories or orangeries due to the need for extensive construction work
Property value increases
The value added to a property by a conservatory, orangery or extension can vary depending on a number of factors such as location, size, materials, and the quality of the work done. However, adding any of these structures to your property can generally increase its value, as they provide additional living space and enhance the overall appeal of your home.
According to a recent study, a well-designed and constructed conservatory can add up to 5% to the value of your property, while a single-storey extension can increase it by 15-20%.
In the case of orangeries, they tend to be a more premium option, and can potentially add more value to your property than a conservatory due to the solid brick or stone walls and the high-quality glazing used. It’s estimated that an orangery can add up to 7-10% to the value of your property.
It’s also worth keeping in mind that the overall value added by a conservatory, orangery or extension will depend on a range of other factors, such as the quality of the materials used, the size of the structure, and whether or not it is properly integrated with the rest of your home’s design. Additionally, property value can fluctuate over time and can be influenced by external factors such as the state of the housing market and changes in local economic conditions. We would always recommend speaking to an estate agent to see how much value a conservatory, orangery or extension can add to your property prior to commissioning a project.
Cost differences
In general, conservatories tend to be the most affordable option, while orangeries and extensions can be more expensive due to the additional structural elements involved. However, it’s important to consider the benefits that each option offers and the potential increase in property value that they can provide.
Desirability to home buyers
Whilst conservatories, orangeries and extensions can all be appealing options to prospective home buyers there are a number of factors which can determine this. All offering more living space, can enhance the architectural appeal and functionality depending on what you use your choice for. So, what does this mean in terms of statistics?
Well, a recent survey found that 42% of home buyers considered a conservatory to be a desirable feature. Orangeries were considered to be more of a premium option and as such are harder to collect data across the home buying population. Similarly with orangeries, the true desirability of home extensions can be found in the amount of searches for larger homes or homes with larger living areas. The result being that terraced homes with parking and gardens tend to be the most popular type of home ranking at 42% of searches by home buyers.
It is also worth noting that some home buyers will not be interested in the maintenance or upkeep of a conservatory or orangery compared to an extension. Further they may be off put by a poorly designed conservatory or orangery or if they do not fit with the aesthetic of the property. Additionally, some buyers in fact may prefer more of a larger garden than additional living space. To access the most accurate and up to date data, we would recommend speaking to a local estate agent to follow the trends in your local area. Other factors such as proximity to amenities, schools, parking, a garage, or larger garden may of course influence property prices.
Contact Us Today!
We hope that this helps you make the most informed decision when choosing between a conservatory, orangery or extending your home. If you would like more information or advice, we are here to help. Contact us on 01535 653530.