Converting a Conservatory Into an Extension

If you have a largely glass conservatory, you may find that winter heat loss is a significant problem, making the space less usable as the days get cooler and shorter.

Whatever the case, if you’re thinking about whether or not to convert it into an extension and what this involves, this blog is for you. Let’s dive in!

Note: A conservatory must be converted by professionals. It’s also important to hire professionals to determine what work is needed and whether or not a given type of conservation is safe and feasible to begin with.

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Types of Conservatory to Extension Conversions

There exists a range of ways to convert a conservatory into an extension. Let’s explore several notable approaches.

Note: Whatever type you opt for, if thermal efficiency is a concern, be sure to emphasise this with the professionals you hire so that a range of options can be explored.

Along with having roof windows replaced with a more conventional extension roof, you may want to have more insulation added to the structure (or a new replacement structure).

Conservatory Renovation

If you’re looking to have your conservatory converted into an extension through a renovation, you’ll likely save a lot of money.

After all, refurbishing an existing space will generally cost much less than demolishing an existing structure before having a new extension (possibly larger than the prior conservatory) constructed as well.

Renovating your conservatory into an extension with a new look and use can mean many things. Of course, it is most likely to involve significantly reducing the number and/or scale of the windows, removing the stereotypical look and benefits of a conservatory to give way to an extension with fresh functionality.

A key factor in whether or not a conservatory renovation will be possible is the state and design of the existing structure. Along with considering whether or not the existing walls are of sufficient quality and durability, the load-bearing capacity of the walls must also be taken into account. Suitable professionals should determine this.

A relatively simple approach to renovating a conservatory can involve having the roof replaced and redecorating the rest of the interior in a suitable and feasible manner.

Full Replacement

If you’d prefer to go with a full replacement, this will entail having the existing conservatory demolished before a new extension is constructed from scratch.

This approach will be more expensive. However, it does offer an opportunity to offer an entirely new structure or act as a solution if the existing conservatory cannot be renovated for one or more reasons.

Another upside to a full replacement is the chance to opt for a larger extension. This will make a lot of sense if you want a significantly larger structure.

Renovate and Extend

While this could technically fall under the first type of conversion, the approach deserves its own sub-category given the unique value and yet potential challenges (e.g. higher cost) of renovating and extending a conservatory.

While likely to prove more expensive than renovating a conservatory and sticking with the same structure and size, this solution will probably prove less expensive than a full replacement where demolition is also needed, not to mention building a fresh structure for the full space.

Whether or not renovating and extending will be possible will depend on the current condition of your conservatory.

Building Regulations and Planning Permission

Professionals working on any project of this nature must adhere to Building Regulations. Any respectable professional should know what is involved and how to ensure your project meets the regulations. A fee may also apply.

Planning permission may or may not be needed depending on the type of conversion taking place and potentially other factors, such as where your property is located. If planning approval is required, a fee of around £150 to £300 will likely apply. That said, the cost could prove less or more depending on a range of factors. You can clarify with your local council if in doubt.

Key rules for planning permission in relation to an extension are covered on the Planning Portal. These rules apply to England and Wales, thus rules may differ for Scotland and Wales. Either way, please verify with your local council to err on the side of caution. We expand on the reasoning behind this recommendation below.

See, since we’re talking about a conservatory to extension conversion, how this is achieved can vary, falling into a range of categories as discussed in the prior section.

Therefore, the details in the Planning Portal may not always apply in the exact manner stated due to the added consideration of turning a conservatory into an extension that may involve a specific type of renovation that may include extending the space or replacing the roof. Also, in another scenario, a conservatory must be demolished first if looking to have it fully replaced with a new extension building.

Average Cost of Converting a Conservatory Into an Extension

If you’d like to stick with the existing space and have it re-designed into a more conventional extension, you could be looking at a price range of between £10,000 and £25,000.

Of course, as with any form of conservatory-extension conversion, the total cost will be shaped by a range of factors such as the extent and nature of the work involved, the type of extension you’re after, the sort of materials used and the price of labour in your region.

For a full conversion whereby you have the conservatory replaced with a new extension, you

can expect to pay somewhere in the region of £28,000 to £90,000.

Naturally, the cost of a full replacement will be heavily affected by the size of the replacement extension whereas the space will generally remain the same size if opting for a renovation of the existing space.

A new extension will likely end up somewhere between 20m² and 40m². Another key consideration is the quality of the extension you’d like, which is generally reflected by the type and quality of the materials used and the fixtures/fittings added.