The cost of a conservatory

DREAMING OF A NEW CONSERVATORY, BUT WONDERING HOW TO WORK OUT YOUR BUDGET? HERE’S EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW…

Conservatories are cropping up at the rear of more houses across the country, and it's not hard to see why. Aside from creating more space in the home, a conservatory is a wonderful way to admire the garden from a comfortable indoor setting. To understand exactly how much a conservatory costs, and where the high price tag comes from, it's helpful to break down the figure into its separate components.

PRICE UP THE FOUNDATIONS 

The materials for building the base of the conservatory might be either bricks, concrete, steel or paving slabs. ‘These materials shouldn’t set you back a significant amount, but the specific cost will depend on the depth and complexity of the foundation you build,’ explains Fiona Davies, research director at building developer Kosy Living (kosyliving.co.uk). Steel conservatory bases are the quickest to build and usually the most cost-effective. To give an example, ConservaBase from ConservatoryLand (conservatoryland. com) is a steel base that can be laid in two days, and costs around £520 per square metre.

DECIDE ON SIZE AND FRAME

Obviously, larger conservatories will cost more. Most companies offer quotations based on price per square metre, so it’s helpful to know exactly how much space you’d like your addition to take up. For instance, conservatories at Thames Valley Windows start at £2,400 per square metre.

As for the conservatory frame, this can be made from a range of materials, including uPVC, timber and aluminium. Depending on the material you opt for, the cost will fluctuate.