Conservatories For All

It is very difficult if not impossible to give an answer to the question that many homeowners ask, which is, ‘How much does a conservatory cost?’  Conservatories prices vary greatly, as there are a large amount of factors involved in calculating the final figure you may be asked to pay.

The main piece of advice that you should keep in mind is to treat every quote you receive separately, whether they be for an aluminium, uPVC or a hardwood conservatory , try to get quotes that compare like with like and do not get rushed into making a commitment due to the attentions of over eager salespeople.

The most inexpensive conservatories that will be available to the homeowner are probably those in the DIY category.  If you are, or have been involved in the construction business, or if you are an enthusiastic DIY person, then this is certainly a route you should explore.  An entire conservatory kit can be delivered to your home and you can yourself, or possible preferably with the help of friends, erect the structure on your property and you will undoubtedly save a lot of money on installation costs.

However, be warned that erecting a solid conservatory structure is not as simple as it sounds and there are several things that you must consider first.  Planning permission is certainly an issue that can sometimes get overlooked in the rush to build and enjoy that conservatory you have dreamed of.  Planning is often not required for structures under a certain size, and especially if they are being erected to the rear of the residence, but you really should check this out with your local planning department first.  You may find that your local authotity favours particular types of conservatories, such as wooden conservatories, especially if your home happens to be a listed building due to its architectural importance, or for some other reason.

A conservatory will need a proper foundation, if it is to stand up properly to the rigours of harsh inclement weather and family living.  Many casual tradespeople think that it is adequate to put down a very light concrete base if you are erecting a conservatory.  This may suffice for several years, but over time you may regret not installing a foundation similar to the type that you would lay if you were building a traditional extension.

Another issue that needs to be studied and addressed is the possible alteration of existing drainage pipes and manholes that may be in the way of your proposed extension.  A temptation may be to build over these pipes and to leave the manholes in place, but again in time a burst or flooded pipe or manhole could leave you regretting the fact that you did not do the job properly.

All of these factors and more have to be considered if you are thinking of purchasing the sunroom yourself.  There are people out there that purchase trade price conservatories, get friends to work with them and in the end they have a quality structure that cost them a fraction of what they would have had to pay if they went through the normal channels.

The lowest conservatory price quote that you get to purchase and erect a conservatory is not necessarily the best price.  A supplier may cut the quality of the materials that it takes to produce a conservatory in order to be able to quote very keen conservatory prices to customers.  It is important to engage with a reputable firm when you are looking for quotes for your conservatory.  It is easy for a firm to make wild claims about after sales service and 10 year warranties if they are unlikely to be in business that long.

If you are in Great Britain you can look for firms that are registered with FENSA which is a self regulating body which was set up by the Glass and Glazing Federation and is wholly recognised within the industry.

A trusted and established company will be able to send out salespeople to your home and they can offer you advice on design layouts and specifications that will be specific to your needs, without putting you under the pressure to purchase that less professional companies may try to put you under.

The internet is an excellent source of information when you are trying to navigate through different conservatories prices.  If you are flexible regarding what type of sunroom you might select you can wait to see what might come on offer in a conservatory sale by a manufacturer.  Go online, enter a term such as conservatories price followed by your country such as UK or Ireland, depending on your geographical location and you will get plenty of conservatory manufacturing companies to choose from in your area.  Internet forums are also places that you can ask more specific questions of fellow homeowners and experts in the field of conservatories.

When a homeowner decides to construct a conservatory and goes in search of keen conservatory prices from manufacturers and installers for the project, he or she will find that there is a huge variation of conservatory prices available.  As with many products however, this should not be all that surprising, as there is also a large variation in the production quality of conservatories, between the materials being used and the craftsmanship employed in construction.

There are various differences between timber conservatories and uPVC and aluminium structures in terms of pricing of materials, maintenance required, etc and these factors should all be considered before you make any decisions.

Treat bargain conservatory prices with caution – the price you are being quoted could be an excellent price, but before you accept it consider the following points to see if the conservatory you are considering is up to standard.

1. Material Quality

Some homeowners consider a conservatory to be an add-on to the home that can be made of light or inferior products.  This is a mistake and you have to consider that as it is connected to the residence, any heat loss from the conservatory will affect the main residence also.  A properly insulated structure will actually help improve the insulation of the entire residence.  Selecting a conservatory with a light window frame could well lead to problems in time, as these window frames are actually operating as walls also and are therefore subject to pressure during times of high wind and other inclement weather conditions.  If you are considering a timber conservatory, be prepared to pay for a hardwood conservatory, as the quality of the timber has to be good if your structure is to last a long time.

Added to this is the fact conservatories can be reinforced or fully reinforced depending on the quality of the structure.  A reinforced conservatory has sections that are over 600mm long strengthened, whereas a fully reinforced conservatory has the entire frame strengthened.  A Conservatory price will obviously vary depending on the quality and strength of the framework of the structure.

2. Security

Once again you have to bear in mind that if your sunroom is going to be adjoining your residence, then factors such as security are as relevant to the extension as to the rest of the home.  Ensure that the locks that will be used in the frames and doors are of good quality.  It is difficult to put a price on good security for your home.  Quality uPVC frames and doors will have multi-point locking systems set into the frames and these, along with double glazing, should offer excellent security for your extension.

3. Foundations

Purchasing the sunroom from the manufacturer is separate from site preparation and the construction of the foundations.  Again, some people consider a conservatory to be a light structure and decide to save some money by putting in very light foundations.  Again be aware it is going to be part of your home and that any future structural difficulties will affect the entire residence.  You should employ the traditional types of foundations that you would use if you were building a proper extension.

4. Temperature Control

A properly insulated sunroom or solarium will help to keep the temperature within the structure regulated, and that applies to keeping heat out as well as helping to retain heat.  If you are using a roof made of polycarbonate it is important to select one that is of reasonable thickness.  Again a conservatories price can be kept down if you choose a polycarbonate roof with a thickness of say 16 mm, but as the standard thickness is 25mm, you would do better to have a roof of at least this thickness.  This will mean that your sunroom will be in a better position to retain heat in the colder months and reflect heat in the summer.  In the long term this should save you money on the excessive usage of heating and cooling systems in order to maintain temperature control.

5. Conservatory Style

There can be offers on conservatories for sale at various times, especially if a company is trying to offload a conservatory style that has not sold very well.  In order to save money you might be tempted to purchase on of these structures in a conservatory sale.  However you should study the details of this offer closely and consider the impactof the conservatory on your residence when it is constructed.

If you want to look up conservatories prices for your particular country online, you can narrow down the search results by inserting your country into the search – search under ‘conservatories Ireland price’ for example.