Conservatory Or Extension – The Pros And Cons
3 August 2017
When looking for a way to create more space at home, without having to go through all the stress of moving, you may find yourself trying to decide between whether to have a conservatory or an extension. Both options have their advantages ad disadvantages, but ultimately which one to go for often depends on how much extra space you really need and how you want to use it.
Let’s have a look at the pros and cons.
There are many options when it comes to conservatory design, such as the roof shape, materials and types of doors. They are so versatile and can be designed to suit any style of home. Unlike having an extension added to your home, a conservatory does not usually need planning permission and having it built will be much less disruptive and messy that an extension. Conservatories are often cheaper than an extension, too, although they don’t add the same value an extension does and they aren’t everyone’s cup of tea.
Keeping a conservatory at a good temperature can be a struggle, with them often being too cold in winter and too hot in the summer. Heating a conservatory effectively can be expensive and ongoing during the colder months. On the flip side, depending on the direction your conservatory faces they can become very hot during the summer. There is the option to have special windows put in which help to regulate the temperature, but they are expensive and not all that efficient.
If your garden is overlooked, which many houses in London boroughs will be, a conservatory offers no privacy. And not many people would be happy having their neighbours gawp at them whilst they eat their dinner.
A conservatory is perfect if you don’t need to use the room all the time and want a smallish room. Otherwise, you might want to consider choosing to have an extension built.
Being constructed from more robust materials than a conservatory, an extension will last longer and be useable all year round. New rooms created by an extension can be used for almost anything, whether you need extra bedrooms or a bigger kitchen. Plus, an extension will add more value to your home than a conservatory. With many design options such as sliding or bifold doors, and all the glazing options available, it is still possible to get that feeling of bringing the outdoors in with an extension.
It can’t be avoided that the cost of an extension is higher than that of a conservatory. But an extension is, arguable, better value for money, allowing you to create much more space that you can use all year round.
It is worth noting that building an extension may require planning permission, it’s a good idea to make sure you have these in place before you start your extension to avoid issues further down the line. Plus, unlike the set cost of a conservatory, you could find yourself with extra costs if any issues arise or changes need to be made to the design.
Having an extension built onto your home can be more invasive than having a conservatory added, you could potentially end up living on a building site with some of your home inaccessible for an extended period of time.
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Here at Extension Architecture we have a knowledgeable, friendly team with many years’ experience helping people create their dream homes. With in-house creative architects, interior designers and planning consultants we can look after every aspect of your extension from start to finish.
We have completed projects all over London, in boroughs such as Islington, Dorking, and Reigate and Banstead , and as such have cultivated strong relationships with planning offices in many London Boroughs. No matter the project, whether you want a small porch extension or a large loft conversion we would love to speak to you.
To find out more about our previous projects or perhaps you are looking for a little inspiration, then take a look at our case study page.
If you would like to discuss your options or arrange a site visit then please do not hesitate to give us a call, or pop by our office in Battersea or Worcester Park, we’d love to meet you!
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