If you find that your conservatory is too cold in the winter and too hot in the summer, you may be left considering whether to replace conservatory with extension. This can be an effective way to create extra space in your home that can be used all year round.
However, before making the decision to replace your conservatory with an extension, you’ll need to carefully weigh up the pros and cons of doing so, as well as considering the alternatives.
In this article, we’ll explain everything you need to know about replacing your conservatory with an extension, as well as talking you through alternative options to transform your conservatory into a room that you can enjoy all year round.
Can I Replace A Conservatory With An Extension?
The short answer to this question is yes – you can replace your conservatory with an extension. However, there are a few things you’ll need to take into consideration before making the decision.
Firstly, you’ll need to check whether you will require planning permission to enable you to extend your home in the way that you want to. If you do need planning permission, the good news is that most applications are approved if they meet the relevant planning regulations.
It’s also important to remember that replacing a conservatory with an extension will not be cheap. You can expect to pay tens of thousands of pounds for a good quality extension, so you’ll need to make sure that you have the funds available to cover this cost.
Finally, you’ll need to consider how the extension will impact on your home. If the extension is significantly larger than the conservatory it’s replacing, it may affect the value of your property when it comes time to sell. Whilst it will usually increase the value of your home, if it takes up a large proportion of your garden you may find that it puts off potential buyers.
Pros And Cons Of Replacing Your Conservatory With An Extension
As with anything, there are both pros and cons of replacing your conservatory with an extension. It’s important that you consider these advantages and disadvantages carefully, weighing them up before you make your decision.
Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of replacing your conservatory with an extension.
Advantages
- An extension can provide you with extra space that can be used all year round.
- It’s a relatively straightforward process to replace a conservatory with an extension, and most applications are approved if they meet the relevant planning regulations.
- An extension can add value to your property when it comes time to sell.
- Extensions typically have better insulation than conservatories, so they’ll remain at a consistent temperature all year round.
Disadvantages
- Replacing a conservatory with an extension can be expensive – expect to pay tens of thousands of pounds for a good quality extension.
- The extension may have an impact on the value of your property when it comes time to sell, if it takes up a large proportion of your garden.
- You may require planning permission to replace your conservatory with an extension.
- Building an extension is a messy process, so expect to experience some inconvenience during the building works.
Do I Need Planning Permission To Replace A Conservatory With An Extension?
If you want to replace your conservatory with an extension, the first thing you’ll need to check is whether you will require planning permission. This will depend on the local council area in which you live, as well as the size of the extension that you are planning.
In many council areas, single storey rear extensions do not require planning permission, providing they do not extend more than three metres of the rear of the property for semi-detached properties, or four metres for detached properties. However, it’s essential that you confirm this with your local planning authority, as there may be regional variations.
Most applications for extensions are approved if they meet the relevant planning regulations, but it’s important to check with your local authority before starting any building works.
How Much Does It Cost To Convert A Conservatory To An Extension?
Converting a conservatory to an extension is not a cheap process, and you can expect to pay tens of thousands of pounds for a good quality extension. This cost will be in addition to the cost of demolishing your conservatory and building the new extension.
The exact cost will depend on a range of factors, including the size of the extension, the specification that you choose and the builder that you decide to use.
However, an extension can provide you with extra space that can be used all year round, so it may be worth the investment worth making.
How Easy Is It To Convert A Conservatory Into An Extension?
The process of converting a conservatory into an extension involves dismantling the conservatory and building an extension in its place. This is a relatively straightforward process, and most applications are approved if they meet the relevant planning regulations.
Alternatively, you could consider replacing your existing conservatory roof with a solid tiled roof. This would add extra insulation to your conservatory, keeping it cool in the summer and warm in the winter. This can enable you to use your conservatory throughout the year, without the need to replace the conservatory with an extension.
Is An Extension Cheaper Than A Conservatory?
If you’re considering adding extra space to your home, you might be wondering whether you should opt for a conservatory or an extension. You’ll generally find that the cost of building a conservatory is lower than the price of an extension.
However, the cost of either a conservatory or an extension will vary depending on the specification that you choose, so it’s important to shop around and compare quotes from different builders.
Does An Extension Add More Value Than A Conservatory?
If you’re thinking of selling your home in the future, you might be wondering what impact replacing your conservatory with an extension could have on the value of your property.
Whilst both a conservatory and an extension will usually add value to a property, as they add extra living space to your home, you’ll usually find that an extension will add more value to your home than a conservatory. This is because extensions typically are more insulated than conservatories, meaning that they can be used throughout the year without being too hot or too cold depending on the season.
Can I Build An Extension On My Conservatory Foundations?
If you’re considering replacing your conservatory with an extension, you might be wondering whether you can build your new extension on the existing foundations of your conservatory.
This is generally not possible, as the foundations of a conservatory are not designed to support the weight of an extension. If you try to build your extension on the existing foundations, you could run the risk of the extension collapsing. This is because an extension typically weighs more than a conservatory due to the materials used.
It’s therefore important that you factor in the cost of demolishing your conservatory and replacing the foundations when budgeting for your extension.
Should I Knock Down My Conservatory?
If you’re considering converting your conservatory into an extension, you might be wondering whether you should demolish your conservatory and start from scratch.
If you plan to replace your conservatory with an extension, you will need to completely remove the conservatory before you can build an extension. Alternatively, you could consider replacing your conservatory roof with a solid roof. This will transform your conservatory into a versatile space that you can use all year round, without the need to replace the entire conservatory.
Can You Knock Through Into A Conservatory?
Many people wonder whether it’s possible to knock through into your conservatory and create one large open-plan space.
This is generally not permitted under UK planning regulation. This is because a conservatory is designed to be a temporary structure, retaining the external doors between the property and the conservatory. If you were to knock through into your conservatory, you would be removing these external doors and changing the use of the conservatory from a temporary structure to a permanent one, which is not permitted under planning regulations.
In Summary
If you find that your conservatory is too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter, you might be looking for alternatives such as replacing your existing conservatory roof with a solid roof or replacing your conservatory with an extension.
In this article, we’ve explained the process of replace conservatory with extension, as well as exploring the alternative options available to transform your conservatory into a versatile living space that can be used year-round.