Home Extensions
Manchester
Extensions | Orangeries | Conservatories
Home extensions 101?
Extensions – Conservatories – Orangeries
Which is best for you?
When you are seeking that much needed added space to your property it is important you consider all the factors to ensure you are getting value for money. While extending your home is often a costly investment your home’s value will often increase as a result making it a worthwhile project. Sometimes a little extra space is all that is needed, so you may opt for a more affordable solution such as a conservatory or orangery.
Home Extensions 101
Extensions – Conservatories – Orangeries Which is best for you?
When you are seeking that much needed added space to your property it is important you consider all the factors to ensure you are getting value for money. While extending your home is often a costly investment your home’s value will often increase as a result making it a worthwhile project. Sometimes a little extra space is all that is needed, so you may opt for a more affordable solution such as a conservatory or orangery.
Option 1 – Conservatories
Conservatories are a highly versatile extension option with multiple configurations available to you from T & P-Shaped designs to smaller lean-to conservatories. Made up predominantly of glazing a conservatory offers you a unique home extension that truly allows you to enjoy your garden space.
The Benefits of a Conservatory
Adds Value to Your Home
A well-constructed conservatory can add value to your home if it is within your ceiling price. This means your conservatory will not only give you better usability but also become a worthwhile investment.
Aesthetic Appeal
Conservatories can be a beautiful extension to any home. The use of large amounts of glazing will add significantly more natural light and will look great all year round.
Enjoy Your Garden Much More
A Conservatory seamlessly connects your home to your garden offering you a space that you can relax and unwind in, making it feel like you are outside. A conservatory can be used all year round and provide much needed shelter during the unpredictable British weather.
More Functionality for Your Home
While many people opt to use conservatories as lounge or social areas the additional space can be used in a variety of ways to meet your needs. Your conservatory can be installed with electrics meaning you could use it for an office space, an additional bedroom or even a children’s play area.
The Cheapest Extension Option
As less materials are used during its construction a conservatory is much cheaper than a full extension or orangery. Meaning you can get much more space for less cost when comparted to its counter parts. Conservatories can also be disassembled and taken with you if your ever move property.
Conservatory Drawbacks
While there are many benefits to a new conservatory there are also some drawbacks to this option. Conservatories are renowned for becoming over warm during the summer months with the volume of glazing absorbing sunlight and not providing sufficient ventilation. This issue can be combated with an alternative roofing solution however that will add additional cost to your project which will make an orangery alternative seem more attractive for a little extra cost.
Option 2 – Orangery
An orangery provides you with a perfect middle ground in between an extension and a conservatory. Orangeries are more affordable than home extensions, while being much more substantial than conservatories. Utilising built up walls around its entire permitter an orangery will feel like a natural extension to your home. Its flat roof will allow for additions such as sky lights ensuring you are not missing on natural light from your home extension.
The Benefits of an Orangery
Increases Your Homes’ Value
An addition of an Orangery to your home can often increase its value, dependant on size of the addition and your homes’ ceiling price. Orangeries are seen as more fluid part of your building rather than a conservatory making your home much more appealing to potential buyers.
Seamless Extension to Your Home
As Orangeries use built up floor to ceiling walls they feel much more like a natural extension to your home. Walling around the perimeter of the construction makes your new room feel much more secure and substantial.
Energy Efficient
Orangeries can be made to be incredibly energy efficient. Unlike conservatories they won’t overheat during the summer and will more easily maintain warmth in the winter. The energy efficiency of your orangery can be further improved with the use of UPVC Windows and Bi-fold doors ensuring that no heat is escaping from your home, helping you save money on energy bills.
A Versatile Option
An Orangery room while often still used as an additional living area or relaxation space the possibilities of its function are nearly endless. The addition of walling around the structure will make the installation of appliances much easier within, if you were seeking to extend your kitchen. Because Orangeries feel stable and secure, they also work very well as home offices or additional bedrooms for when family or friends come to stay.
Performs All Year Round
Your orangery will be a dream to use all year round with its exterior walls providing insulation and UPVC windows and doors helping retain heat and repel cold weather. The energy efficiency of an orangery will also mean your home will lose much less heat than it would with a conservatory.
Drawbacks to Consider with Orangeries
More Expensive Than Conservatories
The requirement of more materials and labour will mean your orangery will be a more expensive than a conservatory.
Add-ons are Also Expensive
While not necessarily needed the addition of things like sky pods & bi-fold doors can really transform an orangery. These sought after additions can be relatively costly increasing your extension budget if you are trying to keep costs down.
Option 3 – Complete Home Extension
A complete home extension is the best possible way to add space and function to your home. A home extension will also increase its value much more than an orangery or a conservatory. Home extensions will provide you with the most versatility when it comes to space allowing you to add features such as bathrooms, utility rooms, kitchens, bedrooms and living areas.
The Benefits of a Home Extension
Substantially Increase Your Home’s Value
A home extension will easily add the most value to your home often making it a worthwhile investment for many homeowners. A good rule of thumb is not to spend more on your extension than the value it will add, so it is always best practice to check your homes’ ceiling price and get it appraised prior to any development.
Provides Much Needed Space
A home extension can provide you with all the space you have dreamed of whether it be an open plan kitchen or additional rooms for things like downstairs toilets, guest rooms or bedrooms. Extensions can take the form of many shapes and sizes, while the most popular choice is a single storey extension perfect for kitchens and living spaces you can also opt for wrap-around and multi-storey extensions. A wrap around extension will allow you to extend to the side of your property as well as the rear providing much more space for utilities as well as achieving all the benefits of a single storey development. A multi-storey extension will be the costliest but can completely transform your home extending to the rear of the property and upward giving you the space, you need for any function.
Saves You from Moving
If you love your area and don’t want to relocate a home extension can be the best option for you, providing you with room for additional family members or children. In some circumstances you may find that is more cost effective to extend your existing property than upscaling to a more expensive home that already has the space you require.
Aesthetic Appeal
A home extension can look beautiful once complete. Your new extension will give you complete control over how it looks from roofing and glazing to size and function.
Changes the Way you use Your Home
A home extension can completely transform the way you use your space. The additional room will make using your home a dream with you having the space for the rooms you desire with a functionality of your choosing.
Some Drawbacks of Home Extensions
Very Costly
A Home extension will without doubt be the most expensive development option when compared to an orangery or conservatory. Due to the size of extension projects, they can often run very quickly over budget if all factors are not adequately considered. You will have to budget for many factors such as materials & architectural drawings.
Planning Permission
If you have friends or family that have extended before you would of without doubt heard horror stories about trying to obtain planning permission. This process can often be a long and stressful task. It is best to find a builder who has experience obtaining planning permission to help you throughout the process.
Time Consuming
Home Extensions can often take a long time to construct and be subject to many delays. They will also take up a lot of your time in the early stages from obtaining drawings to getting planning permission. A complete home extension can be a stressful experience however your building company can help guide you through the process ensuring you are saving money and time throughout the process.
In Conclusion
When extending your home there are a variety of factors to consider. You will find having a detailed plan on what steps to take you will help you stay focused on what you need to do to get your project running.
It is wise to have a set budget in place with a backup contingency budget available, in case anything goes wrong. You should be completely upfront with your builder about what you can and can’t afford so they can help assist you to stay within your budget. While extending can be stressful the result will always be well worth it, and a skilled building company should help make the process much easier for you.