How to Reduce the Cost of a Conservatory

The addition of a conservatory to your home comes with several benefits; it can give you much needed extra living space or an enjoyable garden room, while adding value to your property. If you are thinking about installing a conservatory, one of the most important things to consider is the cost.

How much do conservatories cost?  The typical cost of installing a conservatory could run into several thousands of pounds, other costs also need to be taken into account. If the room is to be used during the winter months it will require a form of heating, while in the summer months it will need blinds to help keep temperatures down. You will also have to factor in the cost of furnishing the room once it is complete.

However, if you are on a budget, there are several things you can do to reduce the overall cost and give yourself the conservatory you desire without breaking the bank.

Considering the cost of a conservatory, with a view to saving money.

Typical conservatory costs

If you opt to use a professional builder or installer to build the conservatory, you could expect to pay around £500 per square metre for a basic contemporary style conservatory.

More traditional ornate style conservatories could cost £750 per square metre upwards, and the very high end conservatories, which use highly efficient glass and have air conditioning built-in, will cost over £1000 per square metre.

While it may be tempting to go for the cheapest installer and a cheap conservatory, it is important to make sure it is of a high quality. A badly installed conservatory will devalue your house, and will not be a pleasure to use.

The best thing to do is obtain several quotes and select the one, which provides the standard of quality you require at the most competitive price.

Ways to cut costs

The cost of a conservatory can appear daunting when you add up all of the factors, but there are ways to save money if you are prepared to do some of the work yourself, or can be a little creative with the things you buy.

If you have experience of groundworks you may be able to prepare the site for the foundations and save money on labour costs; if you have experience of fitting windows you may be able to take on that part of the job.

When it comes to furnishing the conservatory, rather than trying to afford the most expensive cane furniture, you could save money by starting off with some second hand garden furniture. You could look in local second hand shops and at local auctions for furniture, which could be used in your conservatory at a very cheap price. You can always upgrade the furniture at a later date if you desire.

Install your own conservatory

One way to reduce conservatory costs considerably is to carry out the installation yourself.

This may not be a job to take on if you lack experience, as it is a complicated task, but if you are competent with DIY it may be a project you are willing to take on.

A do-it-yourself conservatory kit can be bought and delivered to your home for anything from £1,500 to £3,500 depending on the size and style. The kit will come with full instructions and should be supplied with glass of the necessary grade to satisfy building regulations.

Cut the costs of a conservatory by doing some of the work yourself.

One of the more difficult parts of the job will be to dig the ground and lay foundations and the base for the conservatory. If you are not confident it may be best to hire a builder to carry out this part of the installation for you, and leave you to build the conservatory from the kit.

To lay the base for the conservatory a trench is dug to some 600mm and part filled with concrete. The inner leaf of the cavity wall is constructed to floor level, and hardcore, sand, and a damp proof membrane is laid, before another layer of concrete is laid to complete the floor.

The outer and inner leaves of the walls are then completed to the required level ready for the conservatory frame to be fitted on top.

Summary

The cost of a conservatory can run into the thousands, and if you have a maximum budget the price can affect the decisions you make on the style, the design, and the finish of your conservatory.

The age and style of your current house will also have a bearing on your final decision. Ultimately, no matter how much you try to reduce costs, the aim is to install a conservatory, which looks good both from the inside and the outside.

If you have an older property, a more modern conservatory may look entirely out of place. Despite being more expensive, a traditional style conservatory may be the only thing that is sympathetic to the style of your house.

If you have hardwood window frames fitted on your property then the tendency would be to erect a conservatory with hardwood frames. These do often look better than PVC conservatories, but are generally more expensive. If your window frames are PVC, a conservatory with PVC frames may well look much more in keeping with the house.

The most effective money saving techniques for reducing the cost of a conservatory, involve doing some or all of the work yourself. If you are able to take on any part of the job, you can save on the labour costs of paying a builder to do it for you.

If you are very confident with DIY, you may be able to take on the whole job yourself. This is probably the cheapest way of installing a conservatory, and with kits available as cheap as £1,500, conservatories are much more accessible than they have been in the past.

However you try to save money on the cost of a conservatory, it is essential not to cut corners on quality. Whether you have to pay a little extra for the right quality materials, or for a professional to carry out part of the work for you, it will be worth it when the conservatory is finished.